Cleaning experts have revealed a super cheap hack when it comes to cleaning up after your four-legged friends this summer.
According to research, 34 percent of UK households own a dog, while 28 percent own a cat - meaning that spills and stains are a typical occurrence.
It can be difficult to clean up after a pet, whether they've knocked something over or even had an accident in their early years. Thankfully, the cleaning experts at Gtech have shared top tips for handling some of the most common cleaning woes that pet owners experience.
How to get rid of pet stains on carpet
From muddy paw prints to puppy pee puddles, stains are a common enemy for pet owners, especially those with either very young or elderly animals.
The best way to get rid of these is to act fast. For urine or another liquid stain, spray the stain with cold water and absorb the liquid with paper towels.
Then sprinkle the affected area with bicarbonate of soda, leaving for at least an hour. Once it’s soaked in, vacuum the carpet, and repeat until the stain and odours have gone.
Bicarbonate of soda is the perfect solution to a messy home, and it costs as little as 65p from supermarkets like Tesco.
Give the area an additional few rounds of spot cleaning if necessary but try not to rub your carpet fibres too much as this could damage the finish.
When it comes to tackling mud, let it dry first - no, really! Then vacuum up as much of the mud as possible, and use a blunt knife to scrape away the excess.
Now you can follow the same process as you would with a liquid stain, using bicarbonate of soda and spot cleaning to freshen up your carpet.
For particularly tough stains, consider using cleaning agents, such as white vinegar or a carpet cleaner for serious stains. Just ensure that you use an agent that is suitable for your carpet.
How to keep cascading pet hair under control
While cats and dogs tend to shed more in certain seasons, it is still a year-round struggle for owners to stay on top of, especially for those with extra fluffy, long-haired pets.
So, when it comes to tackling pet hair, consistency is key - check out these top tips:
Vacuuming frequently and thoroughly is essential for removing pet hair from surfaces in your home, such as carpets, sofas, and wooden floors. Pet hair can be stubborn, so make sure you have a high performance vacuum cleaner that caters specifically to pet hair and fur
One of the best ways to remove pet hair from carpet is to gently scrape the surface with a pumice stone, which you might more typically think to use for exfoliating skin. By scraping gently, you will be able to collect enough hair without damaging the fibres of your carpet. Alternatively, you can use a squeegee to cover more surface area
To prevent pet hair covering your home, brush your furry friend a couple of times every week
How to minimise smelly odours in the home
Whether an excitable puppy has caused an accident, or your pet just needs a good bath, owners will sometimes have to contend with unpleasant odours in their homes.
In fact, there has been a 75 percent increase in searches for ‘how to get rid of pet odour’ in the past year.
Follow these tips to get rid of those lingering smells:
Keeping on top of general cleaning maintenance, such as and wiping surfaces, will help rid your home of all sorts of unwelcome dirt around the home that can cause nasty smells
Strategically placing air fresheners around your home will help to reduce the smells caused by pets. Target the worst-smelling rooms first and foremost – or your pet’s favourite spots – make sure to promptly replace them once they run out
Another quick fix for removing odours from carpets is to sprinkle bicarbonate on the affected areas, leaving it to soak for around an hour before vacuuming
If you want to get rid of any lingering pet smells, increase the lifespan of your floor, and transform its appearance, then give it a yearly steam clean. Just make sure that you don’t use a steam cleaner if you have any untreated urine stains, as a steam clean could cause them to set into the floor
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