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How to Clean Up Pet Messes

Cleaning Up Pet Messes.

It’s inevitable.

Even the best animals make messes sometimes.

Here’s how to clean them up, as painlessly as possible.

1. Cat and dog piddle.

Animal accidents on carpet and upholstery can be removed, especially if you attack them while they’re still fresh.

Start by soaking up excess liquid with a white rag or paper towels.

Blot on a solution of one-quarter teaspoon of mild liquid laundry detergent and one cup of warm water. Repeat until there is no more stain transferring to your towel or rag.

If needed to fully remove both the stain and its odor, follow the detergent application with a solution of one cup white vinegar to two cups water. Blot dry.

Cover the area with several layers of paper towels weighed down with a heavy, non-fading object. Continue changing the paper towels until the carpet is dry.

2. Party pooper.

Gently scoop up excess with a spoon or spatula. Deposit into a bag that you can immediately take outside.

Blot area with the vinegar ammonia solution as described above. Allow the area to soak for several minutes.

Blot and repeat until the stain is removed. Rinse with cold water. Blot dry. To remove lingering carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda on the spot.

Let it sit overnight, and then vacuum.

If you can’t remove the stain, however, consider recovering the furniture item or replacing the carpet. This might also be a great time to consider the benefits of a good animal trainer.

3. Kitty litter boxes.

It’s a messy task, but someone has to do it.

Make it less unpleasant by keeping all of your litter-box-cleaning tools together near the litter box: liners (great to cut down on weekly cleanings), scooper, gloves, and bags.

Each day, scoop the lumps out of your litter box as many times a day as you have cats. (Using a clumping litter helps with this task.)

Each week, take the litter box outside for a thorough cleaning. First, empty the contents into the garbage. Then, using a scraper, dislodge any lumps of wet litter remaining.

Fill the empty box with hot water, and then add a half-cup of bleach. Allow this mixture to sit and disinfect for at least 10 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly, allow to dry in the sun outdoors, or use clean rags to dry. Add fresh litter.

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.