Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[lmallen30]

Hi,
My dog likes to pee on my poor toddler's things.... I am looking for non-toxic ways to clean various things.

First, I have a fabric tent that is pretty large and can't go in the washing machine. It has mesh windows on part of where the dog peed, and my baby likes to press his face against the mesh and kiss me through it. So, I don't want to use anything harmful, but I want to be sure that whatever I use will completely get rid of the dog pee. I don't care if the fabric gets discolored from whatever I use. My main priorities are effectiveness and safety.

Second, the dog pees on the baby's floor. It's hardwood. I used a vinegar/water mixture but I'm not sure if that's good enough?

Third, he (the dog) pees on the carpet, and I usually have the carpet cleaner man just come and clean it. But, that's getting expensive and I'm worried that the chemicals he uses could be harmful.

Fourth, does anyone want a dog?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Laura

[cleanway]

Baby wash products are pretty safe to use. Just take care to resort to a branded product, don't go by the cheap ones.

Besides vinegar/water, make sure to use a flooring disinfectant. This is good in all other cases as well, besides the pet urine.

Choose the right carpet cleaning professionals and they will know (and they should!) the right solution for each fabric type. There are so many techniques today by which carpet cleaning is done which restores and increases the longevity of the carpet fabrics as against damaging them.

And lastly, I am not looking for pets :-)

[mrscleannw]

The most common mistake people make when removing a pet stain on carpet is to use detergent to clean it up. Soap leaves a residue and is just about impossible to completely remove from carpeting. This residue will attract any dirt it come in contact with in the future, which is why the stain will keep coming back.

Instead, first blot up as much liquid as possible. Use plain water to dilute the stain and blot again with a clean cloth to remove remaining liquid.

If you do not have an enzymatic cleaners made for pet stains, use a mixture of 50/50 water & vinegar in a spray bottle to saturate the area, then blot again with a clean cloth. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and antibacterial. Remember to avoid scrubbing which can fray carpet fibers. Work from the outside in rather than rubbing back and forth which will spread your problem over a larger area.

I don't want a dog either. ;)

good luck

[kywawa]

if it's possible..let the dog far away..

[Anna K.]

Totally agree to this. the best way is to keep the dog away. Dogs are not supposed to live indoors.

[anderson]

Cleaning up the urine can be difficult when carpets are involved because the liquid (urine and cleaner) will soak through to the floor beneath. While you clean the surface, the urine moves farther out of reach.
The best way to do that is to place under the carpet a wad of newspaper or other thick paper that absorbs liquid. Put another wad on the top of the carpet and apply heavy pressure to the surface. You can do this by walking or standing on the paper.This will force the urine out of the carpet and onto the paper. Replace the paper as it becomes wet. Continue this technique until the paper is as dry as possible.
Now Saturate the area with your vinegar/water mixture and blot it up as before. Vinegar neutralizes odor and active ingredients in urine.

Carpet Cleaning Lancashire