We all love our four-legged friends, but we don’t always love the little accidents and aromas they can leave around the house. No matter how good they are, it’s just a matter of time.

But loving your fuzzy friends doesn’t mean giving up on having a beautiful home, and a clean carpet. It might take a little work, and sometimes a touch of professional input, but it’s absolutely possible!

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked about carpet cleaning with pets. Also, check out our handy tips post: Carpet Cleaning Tip #6: Removing Pet Stains.

Can carpet cleaning remove dog urine?

There are two main issues with a doggy accident – first is the stain and second is the smell. Not to mention the fact that the smell can encourage your pooch to come back and use the same spot again.

If you get to the area before it’s set, follow the tips in our post linked above. If the stain has set, you’ll need to work on getting the smell out with a mix of 50% vinegar and 50% water. Don’t use steam cleaners – they may seem like a good idea, but they can set the stain and make it impossible to remove.

While there are plenty of cleaners on the market that claim to clean up pet messes and urine, many of these are, ironically, not safe to use around pets. Others mask the smell, or remove the smell but not the stain.

The final thing you might be worried about is hygiene – getting rid of the smell and appearance of a pet accident is one thing, but making sure the area is sanitary is also important. A lot of off-the-shelf cleaners don’t actually sanitise the area, so make sure you’re choosing the right option.

Ultimately, if you want to fully restore your carpet after an accident, your best option is to use a professional cleaning company – like us for instance! We use pet-friendly solutions and completely sanitise everything.

Do enzyme cleaners work for pet smells?

Enzyme cleaners are supposed to break things down on a molecular level to remove dog urine, cat urine, and odours from your carpets and soft furnishings. Some people swear by them and others find they don’t work at all.

The main issue is that the cleaner may or may not have penetrated deeply enough into the surface to fully reach every molecule of the stain. If it does, that’s great, chances are your stain will be odour-free. But if not, you’ll still have an odour creeping back after the smell of the cleaner dissipates.

It’s important to check reviews for these cleaners. There are so many on the market, and many of them are little more than snake oil, while others could actually damage your carpets. Do your research before trying any of them out.

If you try and it doesn’t work, we’re always here to help or advise.

Can carpet cleaning remove fleas?

One of the least amazing things about pets is the potential for fleas. If you’ve ever had a flea infestation, you’ll know that getting on top of it quickly is essential if you want to avoid a lot of stress and itchy bites.

Many people don’t want to call in an exterminator, because the chemicals they use to rid your house of fleas aren’t safe for your pets to be around – which can make the whole process much more difficult to deal with.

A deep clean from a professional company can certainly help tackle your problem, but you need to consider the other areas in your home that they might be hiding – make sure you wash your pet’s bed on a high temperature. You should consider having your upholstery professionally cleaned, too, whether your pets sleep on the sofa or not (don't forget fleas can jump pretty high).

If you decide to use chemical cleaning agents – and we know that getting rid of the pests is the most important thing – having a carpet clean afterwards can help freshen things up and return you to normal. Plus it’s an excellent way of getting rid of the itchy feeling you get when you think about what might be lurking.

What carpet cleaning works when you have pets?

The most effective DIY carpet cleaning you can do when you have pets is to be consistent. Vacuum regularly – especially in warmer weather, when pets starting shedding everywhere.

For light odours, a sprinkle of baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) over the affected area, left to sit for a little while, then vacuumed up, can help freshen things up. Avoid carpet powders – they contain ingredients that might be harmful.

If you can, try and keep your pet’s paws clean as they come in from outside – it’s amazing how much dirt, dust, and grit they can bring in. We’ve seen some lovely videos of dogs being taught to wipe their paws on the doormat!

Once in a while, treat yourself and your carpets to a professional clean. No matter how much TLC you spend on keeping things nice, bringing in a professional every now and again will help bring the life back into your carpet and keep it sanitised and fresh.  

Is carpet cleaning safe for pets?

There are lots of different types of carpet cleaning – some that are fine for pets and others to be wary of.

If you’re using cleaning products from the supermarket, always check the labels for warnings and ingredients you might be concerned about. It’s important to check every time you buy, as some products change their formulations and it won’t always be obvious that they have.

Eco-cleaners tend to be safer, although it’s still always worth checking the ingredients, just in case.

Professional cleaning companies can also vary in what types of machines and products they use, so always ask the question and let them know that you have pets before you sign up to anything.

Here at A Cleaning Service, we use pet-friendly (and child-friendly!) cleaners, so you always have peace of mind that your home will be safe for everyone who lives there.