As any seasoned pet owner will tell you, when you have an animal, accidents happen. While dealing with stains and odors caused by pets can be frustrating, it’s par for the course. The good news is there are some ways you can tackle these problems so that they don’t keep coming back to haunt you. Here are a few helpful tips from your Snohomish vet on eliminating pet stains and odors from your home.

First and foremost, if your pet is eliminating in your home on a regular basis and you’re not in the middle of training them, it’s important that you discuss the problem with your Snohomish vet. You want to make sure there is no underlying medical condition that is causing your pet to have repeated accidents.

Once your pet receives a clean bill of health, and you’ve got a game plan on addressing the behavior, it’s also important that you address any stains or odors quickly. Not only will this help keep your home and belongings clean, but it will also prevent your pet from returning to the same areas again and again to eliminate.

Floors and Carpets

• Clean the mess as soon as you see it! If you can clean up urine while it’s still wet, you’ll have a much better chance of completely eliminating the associated odor and any staining before they have the chance to set in.

• Neutralize the smell of urine by combining a 50/50 ratio of warm water and white vinegar and spraying it onto the surface of where the urine was, then blotting it dry.

For lingering urine odors and stains that have set in, mix ¾ cup of warm water with ¼ cup of baking soda into a spray bottle. Spray the area, blot it and allow it to dry thoroughly. Once dry, sprinkle the area with baking soda, allow it to sit overnight, and then vacuum thoroughly the next day.

Laundry

If your cat or dog has decided to use your clothing as a bathroom, it’s important that you work as quickly as possible.

• Blot the area to remove as much excess liquid as possible.

• Use a pre-stain removal product, as directed, applied to the front and back of the affected area. Allow the product to set in for a few minutes and then launder as usual.

• Once washed, allow the garment to air-dry to be sure the odor and stain are completely gone.

Stubborn Stains and Odors

If you’ve followed these instructions and are still having a problem with lingering pet odors and stains, discuss it with your Snohomish vet. They may be able to recommend some specific products that are designed to address these issues once and for all.