If you have a dog or cat, then there's a good chance you've experienced at least one "accident" in your home. What can make such a situation especially frustrating, however, is when said accident occurs on your carpet. In such situations, removing not only the stain, but the odor, can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to make dealing with pet stains on carpet easier on you.

DO Use Baking Soda to Remove Odors

Baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer, so it's one of the best ingredients out there for getting rid of the odor of pet urine. The best way to use baking soda for odor removal in carpets is to create a paste out of it by combining three parts baking soda to one part water. After the stain itself has been blotted, go ahead and apply the paste to the stain and allow it to dry. Once it's dry, vacuum up the remaining baking soda and your carpet odor should be no more.

DON'T Try to Scrub the Stain

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when removing a pet stain from your carpet is scrubbing the stain rather than blotting it. When you scrub the stain to try and remove it, what you really end up doing is embedding the stain into the padding underneath the carpet, making it even more difficult to remove. Using a clean, dry cloth to blot away the stain will yield better results.

DO Try a Pet-Marking Repellent

If accidents are a common problem with your pet, you might be dealing with a territorial issue where your pet is intentionally marking the carpet. If you suspect this may be the case, consider trying a pet-marking repellent spray, which you can spritz on the affected area of the carpet after cleaning it. The smell of the spray is designed to keep pets from marking on it, which can prevent future accidents and carpet damage. Of course, you should never rule out the possibility that your pet's marking is due to a health ailment, so consider making a vet appointment.

DON'T Use a Steam Cleaner

Finally, avoid using a steam cleaner to remove a pet stain from your carpet. The steam from the cleaner will only set the odor in. Instead, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service, like Doug's Rug Spa, to take care of the stain if you find that your own at-home methods don't appear to be working.

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