How to Keep Carpet Clean - with Pets (updated)

Providing carpet cleaning services in Massachusetts for 30 years, we hear a number of complaints from pet owners about their carpet. They are sharing their home with a furry friend that causes a number of undesirable things such as pet stains, pet accidents, hair, chewing and scratching- you name it! But worry not, there are a few tricks that when put in place, maintaining the carpet while keeping your pets happy will be a success. 

Top Tips to Maintain a Fresh, Clean Carpet
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1. Prevention Is Better than Cure: Set up a pet grooming routine. Sounds obvious right? But dirt and grime removed through grooming is dirt not lying around the house. Even though you must not apply pet shampoo too often, you can brush your cat or dog daily, you can also run a quick wash down with plain water. Keep damp dogs confined to one area, preferably with an easy to clean floor like the kitchen or laundry room. Thoroughly dry them afterwards to avoid the wet dog smell. You'll be surprised at how spending 5 minutes brushing or washing your pet will cut down the hair that floats around your home. This also gets rid of dead skin and you'll observe that your pet looks and smells better after. Depending on the breed, they may also need trimming or de-shedding use a professional dog groomer for a thorough job. ​For Dirt: Place mats at both the outside and inside of every door. Gently wipe your pet's paws each time they enter the home from outdoors. This will cut down the dirt that may transfer inside the house. Just make sure that the mats are washable, so you can throw them in the wash as needed.​  For Pet food: Keep pet food in covered storage. Do not leave them left open, as they can attract bugs and rodents. Damage: Placing area rugs or runners in high traffic pet areas can limit the damage to the actual carpet. Strategically place the rugs so that the majority of the time the pet is on the rug, not the carpet.Odors: Put your favorite scent in a fabric softener sheet and place it under the sofa or cushions where your pet likes to hang out. 
2. Choosing the right sofa - The wrong material can act like a hair magnet, show up the slightest stain, and hold undesirable odors. While looking for a new sofa, seek tightly woven materials ideally in a similar shade to your pets. If springing for a new sofa is not your thing, you can add a pet friendly throw that can be chucked in the wash when needed.
3. Buy a quality vacuum cleaner - Look for an appropriate vacuum cleaner for pets to pick up pesky hairs and help banish odors. You'll need a quality filter, an extra strong suction, and a good brush suction to pull hair out instead of gliding over the surface. Make sure to regularly clean out the filer too as a hair and dirt clogged filter will spread the smell of the pet hair wherever you vacuum. 
4. Regular vacuuming - It is always important to vacuum often as pets will always shed. If it's just you and one pet, you can get away with vacuuming once or twice a week. However, for every person and pet you should add another vacuum to the routine. If you have a big family and more than one pet, it is good to run a quick vacuum daily. 
5. Collect hair with fur busting tool - Lint rollers are must to have on hand to collect hair in a hurry. You can also run a rubber or latex glove over carpets, furniture, rugs, etc. to collect pet hair quickly.
6. Clean your pet's things - Toys, pet beds, collars, pick up that strong dog odor and need to be cleaned regularly. Check if they are machine washable, otherwise you can wash by hand in the sink. Work on this chore for a sunny day and let them to dry outside where the sun will help kill bad odors. 
7. Fight the Bad Odor - Did you know that baking soda is great at neutralizing odors without any toxic concerns? You can shake over rugs and carpets before vacuuming or leave pots of it in offending areas to absorb odors. You will notice the difference of your fresh smelling home. Vinegar is also great for removing bad smells, use it when washing toys and beds. Spraying vinegar into the air is another way to beat pet odors as well.
8. Act quickly with accidents​ - Even the well-trained pet may have an accident from time to time. Act fast and use an enzyme-based or plant-based cleaner to minimize smells. Diluting the area with water is also a great solution. Be sure to get any solids removed as quickly as possible and dry the area thoroughly. The key to pet stains is to treat them immediately. The longer they sit, the harder they are to remove.
9.  Watch what your pet eats - Pet food comes in a variety of forms and many of them have artificial colors included. These colors can stain carpet, so purchase food without added coloring for less mess. 
10. Pet-friendly cleaning products​ - Pets may be sensitive to carpet cleaners. Many products on the market can cause eye and lung irritation, and some may lead to serious and long-term health issues. Choose green cleaning products that will keep your dogs and cats safe, while also cleaning the carpet. Try using more natural and hypoallergenic ingredients and avoid toxins. 
    
11. Open your windows - When cleaning the carpet, open the windows or turn on the air conditioning and use a powerful fan to help speed the drying process. The faster you get the moisture out of the carpet, the better. 
    
12. Spruce up your carpet with the help of professionals - Most carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction every 12 to 18 months, getting your carpet professionally cleaned by the experts, certified, and experienced carpet cleaners can extend the life of your carpet. Alpine Cleaners, the top-rated carpet cleaners in Massachusetts, have a powerful truck-mounted cleaning system that helps remove embedded dirt, stains, pet stains and odors without leaving any residues behind. 
13. Keep your pet's nails trimmed as short as possible - Keeping your dog’s claws trimmed is very important not only to their health and wellbeing but also to your carpet. Regular trimming can prevent snagging on carpets.
    
14. Wipe your pet's paws off when they come inside - This is one of the best things you can do to keep the carpet clean and help keep the bacteria out of the home. Keep a towel close to the door. They will eventually understand that they'll have to get their paws wiped off every time that they come in the house.