DIY Carpet Cleaning Solutions for Pets | Best Homemade Remedies with Instructions

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As a pet parent, you want your home to be clean and hygienic for them. However, having one is like having a toddler. They make so much mess in such a short time. Your carpet is probably one of their favorite places to stay, and that means it needs to be frequently cleaned. 

Two common issues you may have to deal with are fur and urine. The pets may also carry insects on their bodies while playing outside and transfer them to your carpet. You have to find a way to clean up your carpets without causing harm to the fabric or those living in your house (see also ‘How Often to Shampoo Carpet With Pets‘). In addition, you’ll have to find a way to do it without spending too much on supplies. 

Keep reading to find out more about the best DIY carpet cleaning solution for pets and how to go about it. On a related note, make sure to check out our ‘Best Carpet Shampooer for Pets‘ post, too.

Best Homemade DIY Carpet Cleaning Solutions for Pets

A natural homemade carpet cleaner is made of simple ingredients in your kitchen. A mixture of natural ingredients like water, vinegar, and baking soda is safe for pets and humans. Baking soda and vinegar cleaning solutions are some of the best carpet cleaners for pets’ urine and blood pet stains.

Natural cleaning agents contain powerful surfactants such as citric acid and lauramine, which pull the dirt to the surface by binding on to dirt particles. Once they are on the surface, you can easily wipe off the dirt.

baking soda

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons baking soda
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 cups white vinegar

Instructions:

Put the water in a bowl, add vinegar and mix thoroughly. Use a cloth to dry the excess pet urine as much as possible. Over the spot, sprinkle the baking soda, then pour the vinegar solution over it. To get the best results, allow the DIY solution to sit for five minutes, then gently rub with a soft cloth. Then blot to dry. 

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

While hydrogen peroxide is readily available over the counter and has been used to clean wounds or cause vomit, this chemical is very harmful in large doses. 

It is one of the most effective ingredients of a good carpet cleaner, especially for removing urine stains, but it can also be a hazard. 

Use it modestly to avoid accidental ingestion by a pet. Dilute it with equal parts of water for a safe mixture. Spot test the solution before using this method as hydrogen peroxide is very harsh to the carpet fibers. 

Hydrogen Peroxide

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • 1teaspoon liquid dish soap
  • 1 cup baking soda

Instructions:

Mix the hydrogen peroxide with the liquid dish soap. Soak up any excess pet urine from the spot using a paper towel. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, then pour hydrogen peroxide solution over it. Use a scrub brush to scrub the affected area gently. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then clean thoroughly using a clean cloth or vacuum. 

Cornstarch, Cornmeal, Baking Soda, and Borax

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon borax

Instructions:

Use a food processor to mix all the ingredients into a uniform consistency. Pour the powder into a small bowl. Sprinkle the powder on the pet stain, and brush the carpet using a hand brush to ensure the powder spreads properly into the fibers. 

Let it sit for up to 12 hours, vacuum it or wipe off using a clean cloth. Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and 2-3 dried bay leaves for a fresh scent.

Enzymatic Cleaning Agent

If you have stubborn stains and odor, enzymatic cleaners are your answer. They use enzymes to break down pet stains. They contain entirely non-toxic ingredients and therefore are safe for pets.

They are eco-friendly and save on cost. You can recycle leftover kitchen scraps to make an enzymatic agent. You require patience to make the enzymatic cleaning agents because it takes weeks, but it will be worth the wait.  

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon yeast
  • 2 cups citrus peelings
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2-liter jar

Instructions:

Place the peelings in the jar and add water. Add the brown sugar and yeast and mix. Cover the jar tightly and shake vigorously. To ferment, place the jar in a warm dark place. Shake the content and burp the jar at least once every day. After four weeks, put the liquid in a spray bottle. Use a cloth to strain the mixture.

Why Should I Consider a Homemade Remedy?

An excellent homemade carpet cleaner will save you money. It is more economical than a commercial carpet cleaner. Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and water are easily accessible and inexpensive. 

Homemade enzymatic cleaning agents utilize and recycle kitchen waste, making them more environmentally friendly than commercial cleaners. They are biodegradable and less toxic since they contain kitchen waste like orange peels. In most cases, enzymatic pet stain removers get rid of carpet stains when other agents fail.

When you make your homemade carpet cleaner, you are in control of the ingredients and the amounts you use. You understand your house cleaning requirements better than anyone else. You also know if any pets or family members suffer from allergies. This knowledge will determine the proportions of ingredients you use. 

A big dog on a carpet

How Do I Make Carpet Cleaner Pet Friendly?

Some carpet cleaners emit volatile organic compounds(VOCs), which evaporate and become part of the air we breathe. They cause allergies, coughs, difficulty breathing, irritation in the eyes, and poisoning in ingestion. Many cleaning agents fall under this category, including hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.

When making a homemade carpet cleaner, ensure that it is safe for the pets by using safe ingredients and in the right concentration. If your pets have severe allergies, avoid the highly toxic ingredients and use mild ones. The lesser the chemicals, the better. Borax is highly corrosive when ingested. Use it modestly and cautiously. 

The Golden Rule for Cleaners

Always spot test any homemade carpet cleaning solutions before using them. Observe its reaction over 24 hours. If it does not damage the material, use it on the rest of the surface. While testing for any damages on the carpet, also observe for any reactions from the animal.  

If you notice any reaction such as corrosion, try to dilute the solution further and spot test again., Avoid using it and source for a different solution if the response persists. Make a less corrosive solution if you own a synthetic carpet. Synthetic fibers erode more quickly than natural fibers.

Sponging the stain on a carpet

How Do I Make Sure I Am Getting All the Stains?

Include a more extensive area beyond the visible stains when marking the stains. Use UV blacklight; it makes the pet stains glow when you shine the light over the carpet.

What Home Remedy Gets Pet Odor Out of Carpet?

Baking soda is an effective odor neutralizer. Dust the baking soda over the affected area, then let it sit overnight to maximize odor absorption. Then vacuum it or clean it up using paper towels. 

Vinegar is another option for getting rid of the stench. Put vinegar in a spray bottle, dilute with equal amounts of water, then spray on the carpet and let it sit.

Simple Steps to Cleaning Pet Urine Yourself

  • Clean the pet stains as soon as possible
  • Dry the spot as much as possible using a dry cloth or a paper towel.
  • Pour the cleaning solution on the dirty spot and scrub from the outside of the stain inwards.
  • Clean all the layers of the carpet, including the carpet padding.
  • Pat the area, dry or vacuum it to ensure that you leave the carpet completely dry.

How to Avoid Re-staining

Once you have thoroughly cleaned the carpet, you may want to maintain it that way, clean. However, pets are known to mark their territory by the odor they leave behind. Therefore, the most effective solution to avoid re-staining is complete odor neutralization. Using rosemary essential oil, you can use the following homemade DIY pet stain remover.

Ingredients: 

  • 1 teaspoon rosemary essential oil
  • ½ cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1 bar castile soap
  • 2 ½ cups boiling water

Instructions:

Mix the water and the castile soap in a jar. Stir until the soap is melted. Let it sit to cool. Add the rubbing alcohol and rosemary essential oil. Close the jar and shake thoroughly. Pour a teaspoon of the solution onto a brush. Gently scrub the spot from out inwards. Leave it for 10 minutes, then dry with paper towels.

Clean on a carpet

Conclusion

Maintaining a clean environment for your furry friends reduces the risk of the pets falling ill or contracting infections. Animal hygiene is vital in the entire house as humans can contract some diseases from pets. Besides cleaning, you can take preventive measures such as potty training the pets and using pet-friendly urine repellent.

You will find that you have some items in the house that you can use to make homemade cleaning agents, such as water, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. These ingredients may be toxic in certain amounts, so you must use safe proportions. You must spot test for any reactions to the pets and the fabric before using the solution.

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