5 Tips for Cleaning Up After Pets

Got pets? Then you’ve got messes. A lot of them. Fur on the couches. Piddle and worse - just about anywhere. And odors galore. Here are 5 simple tips to help you win the battle of clean and still love those creatures that call your house home.

❶ Removing Hair

Cat hair is notoriously difficult to remove from clothing as well as upholstery. My favorite method of getting it off furniture is simply to dampen my hand and rub it gently along the surface. The fur sticks to my hand and I just rinse it off. If you’re too squeamish for that method, try rubbing it with a dampened sponge. Still another approach is to vacuum the upholstery at least once a week.

❷ Removing Odors

A new product called Febreeze does a nice job of eliminating pet smells and it’s safe for most upholstery and carpets. Or, you could try placing a scented fabric softener sheet between the cushions of the sofa (or wherever the animal naps).

❸ Removing Stains

Pet Piddle: This problem requires a three-step solution. And a lot of time and effort. (Sorry).

1. Absorb excess liquid with a white rag or paper towels. Blot on a solution of one-quarter teaspoon of mild liquid laundry detergent and one cup warm water. Repeat until there is no more stain transferring to your towel or rag. (Never rub the carpet.)

2. Blot the spot with a solution of two tablespoons ammonia in one cup water. Rinse with warm water. Repeat and blot dry. Then blot the area again with a solution of one cup white vinegar and two cups water. Rinse again.

3. Cover the area with several layers of paper towels weighed down with a heavy object. (I sometimes just stand on the towels.) Continue changing the paper towels until the carpet is dry.

Pet Poop: An even messier problem to remove.

1. Gently scoop up the solids with a spoon or spatula. Take outside.
2. Blot with a solution of two tablespoons of ammonia in one cup of water. Let soak for several minutes. Blot and repeat until the stain is removed.
3. Rinse with cold water.
4. Blot dry.

If any odor remains, sprinkle baking soda on the spot. Let it sit overnight, then vacuum.

Warning: Some stains just won’t come out. And be careful not to use too much water on the spot. If the urine gets into the pad underneath, you’ll never get it out. The carpet will look clean, but then the urine will wick back up from the pad. If this happens, patch the carpet (as well as the pad).

❹ Cleaning the Litter box

We swear by the clumping cat litter. Urine clumps so you can scoop it and other solids out of the litter box without changing all the litter. Scoop the box as many times a day as you have cats. One cat: once a day. Three cats: three times a day. You get the idea.

Always use gloves when you clean the litter box as cat urine and feces can carry viruses, worms and bacteria.

At least once a week, change the entire contents of the box. Fill the pan with hot water and a half-cup of bleach and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then rinse well and dry.

Add fresh litter and your cat is back in business.