Pets and Clean Carpets? You Can Have It All

Pet owners may think they have to choose between their furry family members and carpets, but that is not the case. A little extra effort makes it easy to have a clean, fresh-smelling home even with dogs and cats.

Benefits of Carpets

Carpets make homes feel warmer and more comfortable. The warmth can encourage pets to spend more time on the floor and keep pet fur off the furniture. The material silences clicking pet nails as the animals walk. Carpeted floors also prevent the pet from a slip or fall, which is very helpful for larger dogs with arthritis that struggle to stand or walk on wood and tile floors.  

Options to Choose

Homeowners should choose a durable, low-pile carpet in polyester or nylon for their pet-friendly home. Pets do not catch their toenails as easily in a low-pile carpet. Polyester and nylon clean easier than other materials and will withstand the wear of active pets. All carpets should have a stain protectant added to the surface to help repel liquid to prevent stains.  

Another option is to use carpet tiles. The easy-to-replace tiles may be the most affordable solution in a home with older, incontinent pets or multiple pets. The tiles are easy to remove and replace when they become damaged.

Solutions for Messes

Invest in a bio-enzymatic cleaner and a moisture-extraction vacuum. The cleaner contains bacteria and microbial nutrients that digest biological stains. The bacteria are safe for the environment, pets, and people and can quickly remove the stain and odor from the carpet.  

A vacuum or spot-removal tool will extract moisture from a carpet to prevent the growth of mold or mildew. This method is better than the use of rags or paper towels to soak up wet messes. When you rub rags or paper towels across stains, you can push the moisture deeper into the carpet fibers.

Habits to Develop

Learn to dry the paws of all pets as they come inside. Keep a rag bucket or old towel near the entrance the animals use most often, so they don't leave a trail to where the towels are kept. Tend to any carpet spills as soon as they happen so the moisture does not have time to soak into the pad. Vacuum as often as possible, even before you see any visible pet fur or debris.

Help to Hire

Prevent unmonitored pet accidents during the day with a pet sitter or dog walker. A mid-day visit from someone of this type could avoid messes that would otherwise be on the carpet for hours before anyone arrives home to clean.

Carpet cleaners should also become a regular professional in the home. A quiet home with a single pet may need only an annual deep clean. A busy house with multiple pets may benefit from a professional carpet cleaning every few months.

Extras to Consider

Buy a small area rug or runner, and place it in the area where the pet likes to play and sleep. A good option is to put the area rug underneath a favorite pet bed and a runner along the path they take to their bed. The removable rug will reduce the wear the carpet receives in this area. The carpets also shake out easily and can be aired out in the sunshine to help prevent odors.

It does take extra effort, but you can have beautiful, clean carpets as well as your pets at your side. At Carpet Cleaning Supply of Indiana, we can help you to do the deep cleaning that will maintain the carpet over the long term. We even offer extra services, like water extraction, if the unexpected occurs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.