How To Care For Your Carpets And Rugs In A Pet Household

Posted on: 27 September 2022

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Living in a home with both pets and rugs can be a challenge. Whether you have a cat, dog, or multiples of each, pet hair, dirty paw prints, and the occasional accident are unavoidable.

To keep rugs clean and smelling fresh in a pet household, it's important to take each of the following actions:

Keep Dirt Outdoors

The easiest way to keep your home's rugs clean is to keep the dirt outside. The best way to do so is to use area rugs on the inside and outside of all exterior doors. It's also a good idea to have everyone take off their shoes before coming inside. 

Control High-Traffic Indoor Spots with Area Rugs

If you have wall-to-wall carpets or large rugs, you can extend their longevity and keep them looking uniform by layering smaller area rugs on top in high-traffic areas. 

Additionally, if your pets have certain spots where they like to lay on the rug, then placing an area rug there will make rug cleaning easier and protect the underlying carpet.

Vacuum Regularly Using the Correct Technique

Pet hair on a carpet will wrap itself around the fibers and become nearly impossible to remove. Over time, trapped pet hair makes the carpet appear dirty and worn.

To avoid this, regular vacuuming is required—not just running the vacuum quickly over the carpet, but vacuuming in at least two different directions. By using this technique, you will loosen up the pet hair on one pass and remove it on the second.

Avoid Spot Cleaners

Spray spot cleaners often cause more problems than they solve.

For example, if your cat upchucks on the carpet and you clean it with a spot cleaner, then the carpet will look clean for a bit but then that area will attract dirt and you will end up with a larger stain. 

Use Enzymatic Cleaning Solutions on Pet Urine Stains

All pet urine stains require enzymatic cleaning solutions and immediate cleaning, ideally with a handheld, walk-behind, or rented carpet cleaning machine.

Enzymatic cleaning solutions neutralize uric acid and urea while eliminating starches and proteins. This leaves the urine spot both clean and odor-free.

Clean with the Appropriate Tools and Technique

All rugs and carpets need regular machine cleanings. The best option is to have the rug cleaning done by a professional carpet cleaning company. The next best option is renting a machine or buying one for home use.

Periodically Move Furniture

Finally, to extend the longevity of your rugs, make sure you periodically move around your furniture. This changes traffic patterns and ensures the rug will wear more evenly. The perfect opportunity to move your furniture is after rug cleaning.

Reach out to a company like Conscientious Carpet Care to find out more.