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Has "Spot" or "Patches" ever left you a little present that you weren't expecting? One that just keeps on giving? Well, here is just what any pet owner is looking for. Below you will find 7 Tips and tricks to keep your pets stain free, and also how to clean up after those little surprise "presents".
How can I prevent pet stains?
1. Let your dog or cat outside regularly. This is common sense, really.
2. Take the pet outside within an hour of eating or drinking very much.
3. The last thing you should do at night and first thing you should do in the morning is take your dog or cat outside, whether they've eaten or not. Let them outside for quite awhile ( 10-15 minutes) before bringing them back in.
4. Pay attention if your pet whines to you or scrapes at the door to go out. He or she may be trying to tell you she needs to go outside!
5. Accidents are less frequent if your dog or cat does not have access to food or water a while before they go to bed. This can prevent many accidents at night. (This is for outside trained cats)
6. Be firm with your pet if you catch him or her in the act. If you're not, you could very soon have another nasty mess on your hands! Be sure to punish with common sense and decency. If you catch your dog or cat in the act of doing something, swat them moderately on the behind and say "NO!" to them with a very stern voice. Pick the pet up and take him or her outside, so that they know the proper place to leave "presents".
7. Do not be angry at your puppy or kitty after an accident, since he or she will not understand why you're angry. Remember that these are accidents! If you find a puddle that you're puppy made earlier, do not punish them for it now. You must catch them in the act.
How to clean up after a "present" from your pet:
You must act very fast! This is the key to getting out tough pet stains. You must work quickly, because pet stains can harm the fibers and dyes in carpeting. Hardwood floors and cement can also be damaged, so time is of the essence.
1. First sponge or wipe the area with warm soapy water.
2. If this does not get the entire stain, try this solution:
1 part water
1 part lemon juice.
3. For fresh urine: clean the spot with any good carpet shampoo. Then soak it with plain old club soda, leave it for about ten minutes and blot it up.
How do I find those hidden "presents"?
If the urine has soaked the pad and the floor below that, it will be difficult to remove the odor regardless of what you use. To find spots if you're not sure where they are, you can get an UV lamp that has the filter built in it. Urine shows up in black light, so this is a great tool. You can get these at hardware stores and large hobby or discount stores. The UV source is safe as long as you use the long-wave lamp.
Products with Enzymes
The enzymes in laundry products are the same as those in the expensive pet products and odor-killing products, but they cost less than 1/3 as much. They work just as well. Regular dish liquid, laundry soap, and dry bleach all work, but Biz is one product that works great for pet stains. You'll find this in the laundry section of the supermarket. Remember you must soak the area and then cover it to keep it from drying out. The smelly area must be wet with the enzyme for at least 24 hours.
Spray Deodorizers
Those cheap air fresheners aren't worth the time, energy, or money that you will spend. Lysol is good for killing germs, but the best product of all for cutting odor is Fabreeze. This is a miracle worker for pet owners! You just spray it on the smelly fabric or carpet, and the whole room is fresh!
Carpet Deodorizers
One of the best and cheapest products is still plain old-fashioned baking soda, but of course, there are many different products on the market today. I am talking about those pet deodorizers and carpet powders.
Washable Items
On washable items, put in the washing machine with a cup of vinegar and no detergent, then wash again as usual. This is good for urine and other "presents".
Hopefully this article will help you to prevent pet stains and to clean them up quick and easily, while you save some extra money for pet treats. This way you can be the one who gives your pet a present!
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