July 31st is Mutt Day! Time to celebrate mixed breed dogs and pet adoption from shelters and humane societies.
Our mutts are so happy to be in a loving home. The ServiceMaster canine family shown here are all mutts that were adopted from a shelter or humane society. They are glad to be in a new home, guarding the house from those dangerous squirrels, traveling with family, cuddling during down time and jealously trying to be the closest dog to a beloved person.
If you do adopt a new furry friend, you may experience some accidents while adjusting to a new home. Here are a few tips to help manage the mess.
Close off the affected area from your pet. If they have access before the smell is removed, they will simply continue to use that spot.
For carpet, sprinkle baking soda (not baking powder) over the affected area to absorb odor and any offending mess. This is not the time to be sparing so use more than 1 box if necessary to cover the entire area. Leave the baking soda undisturbed by pets or people overnight to do its work and vacuum up the powder in the morning.
Call ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens to clean your carpet if baking soda or pet neutralizer treatments don't work. Using a carpet steam cleaner will potentially set stains and smells permanently due to the high heat used.
For hardwood floors, general pet odors can be treated with a mix of 1 cup water, 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1/4 cup mild non-bleach dish soap. Be sure to test a small spot in an inconspicuous area before treating with any chemical cleaner. Spray down the area with this mix and use a light cloth to make sure it is evenly coated on the affected area. Let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it up with a damp clean cloth. Once it is wiped up, let the affected area dry completely without any traffic from people or pets.
If you have persistent pet urine odor in your home, you can use that mix on carpet or upholstery if the baking soda treatment does not work, but again test for color fastness before cleaning with any chemical. For persistent pet urine odor on hardwood floors, pour hydrogen peroxide over the affected area. Cover that with a clean cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Cover the cloth with plastic wrap, weighting down by placing something on it if necessary. Allow this to sit for at least 8 hours. The hydrogen peroxide should remove any stains and eliminate the urine odor. Be aware that hydrogen peroxide can lighten hardwood floors so the affected area may need to be sanded and refinished.
Using ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens regularly for deep cleaning of your upholstery and floors will ensure that there is no chance for pet odors to build up. This build up can make affected areas preferred spots for pets to go when they can't get outside.
Call us today to schedule your cleaning so you can enjoy your new mutt or other special pet.
