Cleaning Pet Stains The Wrong Way Can Make Them Worse!

Pet stains can be frustrating. What can be even more frustrating is repeat accidents. Some cleaning methods might actually make the situation worse.

Are you making your pet stains worse? If you are using vinegar, your dog is more likely to go to the bathroom in the spot you cleaned with it.

Vinegar Is The Worst Thing You Can Use To Clean Pet Stains

One of the most recommended ways to clean pet stains is with vinegar. Vinegar is usually readily available. It is inexpensive. It has an acidic base which can break down stains. However it is the worst thing you can use to clean pet stains.

Pets urinate based on scent. Whether it be a dog or a cat, they are drawn to go to the bathroom in the same spot based on where they have gone to the bathroom before or where another animal has gone. Like vinegar, urine has an acidic base. Both pet urine and vinegar share similar pH levels. If you clean a pet stain with vinegar, you are essentially reinforcing your pet to go to the bathroom in that spot.

Cat odor has be one of the most difficult odors to remove. Using vinegar only makes it worse!

Reoccurring Odor

Pet stains and odors often become a problem when the urine seeps below the surface of the carpet and into the padding. When this happens, the visible stain can be easily removed at the surface. However the odor remains a problem for several reasons. First, it makes it unbearable to be in that area. More importantly, that scent in the padding will bring your pet back to that spot and your cat or dog will continue to go to the bathroom in that spot repeatedly. If you clean the area with vinegar, you are only making that acidic based odor stronger. While it may smell clean to you initially, your pet can not differentiate the scent of their urine with the scent of vinegar. As a result, the cycle continues.

Properly Clean Pet Stains

To properly clean pet stains, a surfactant based cleaner should be used. Cleaners like Genesis 950 work with water to break the bonds of stains and remove them from the carpet. In doing so, the area not only becomes stain free, but the bacteria and germs causing the odors are removed and the area is deodorized.

When cleaning these types of stains, it is best to use a carpet cleaning machine to ensure that not only the surface is cleaned, but also to ensure the padding is cleaned as well. Only by doing this will you remove the odor. This will also prevent your pet from being drawn back to that spot.