Introduction: How to Remove Pet Stains & Pet Odor From Furniture and Carpet
There comes a time when every pet owner runs into an instance where there is a stain that just won't seem to go away. Sometimes the stain isn't as bad as the odor! There are countless pet stain remover products on the market, but none have the cleaning power of Genesis 950. Genesis 950 is a cleaner unlike any others. It is a green, safe, surfactant based cleaner. Surfact based cleaners use science to remove stains and odors. Rather than attack a stain with harsh chemicals, a surfact uses water to make the stain water soluble. When a stain becomes water soluble, it breaks down and then can be rinsed clean from the surface. In addition to removing stains by breaking them down, Genesis 950 also removes odors. It's antibacterial agents will remove any germs or bacteria that might be attached to the stain. Not only does your carpet end up looking clean, but it also ends up smelling great!
Regardless of whether you own a dog or a cat, Genesis 950 is the best pet stain remover you will find. There are several other methods often suggested for cleaning. All too often, while the suggestions for removing pet stains are made in good faith, there are many issues with recommendations made. Vinegar, enzymes and household cleaners are widely recommended, however they are not always effective. Here's why:
- Vinegar - Vinegar is one of the most widely recommended agents for cleaning pet stains. While it is in fact a good, natural cleaner, it should NEVER be used for pet stains. Vinegar is a natural acid with a pH balance of 2. The acidity does help it break down stains. The problem however with pet owners is that same acidic base which can break down stains. While vinegar has a pH level of 2, urine has a pH balance of 6. Both cats and dogs urinate where they smell they have gone before. This is obvious when a dog is taken outside and he sniffs out a spot to do his business. Or, if on a walk, your dog sniffs a spot then marks on it. Dogs do this because they can smell the acidity of their own, or another dog's urine. Cats do the same thing in a litter box. The odor of their urine, or odor added to the litter leads them to that spot. In the event that a pet is going to the bathroom in the chances, chances are it is in the same spot, or general area. This typically has less to do with training, and more so with the fact the smell the acidity of their urine. They will keep going to that spot unless it is properly cleaned. A vinegar cleaning will not remove that odor. Instead, you are simply enhancing it by adding another compound with a similar acidic base.
- Enzymes - Enzymes are hailed for their natural ability to break down stains. Enzymes are everywhere. The human body has them as well. The most notable are enzymes in the digestive system. These enzymes break down food to help the digestive process. Enzymes in the stomach react to food being ingested. While they can break down food, they don't break down the stomach lining. Enzymes perform specific tasks based on their function. This is important to understand. Enzymes will only work properly if they are in the right environment to perform. This holds true with pet stains. Enzymatic cleaners might be able to clean partial portions of pet stains, but they can not completely remove them because of variations in the environment. The diet of the pet, room temperature, previously exposed chemicals on the area being cleaning, expiration date of the enzyme and so on impact an enzyme's ability to function. Nor do enzymes contain the ability to remove the odor. They do not kill the bacteria that causes the odor. In fact, many people will notice odors returning after a few days. Sometimes, worse than it had previously been.
- Household Cleaners - There are all sorts of problems using these types of cleaners. Some are notorious for discoloring carpet and creating an orange/pink tint to your carpet. Others might mask the odor briefly but not actually remove the stain or smell permanently. Soap based cleaners actually make the stains worse as the soaps attract more dirt and grime to the area. These types of cleaners leave behind a grayish tint.
Genesis 950 cleans the area safely and effectively. It can be used as a spot cleaner or in a carpet cleaning machine. For deep or old stains, it is recommended to use the mixture of Genesis 950 and water in a carpet cleaning machine. For urine based stains, the stain can extend below the surface and into the padding. When pet stains are in the padding, the odor will remain in your carpet until it is thoroughly cleaned. If it is not properly cleaned, you pet may continue to go in that spot, or odors will linger and be enhanced. Here is an example of a carpet soiled by pet urine.
Genesis 950 is also perfect as a spot cleaner. This is best advised for stains which do not go below the surface of the carpet. It is perfect for vomit stains. These types of stains might not go into the padding to cause odor issues, but they can cause severe discoloration. The reason for this is primarily from dye in pet food. This dye can cause harmful stains, especially on a white carpet! When using as a spot cleaner, it is best to remove any debris from the area, then spray with the mixture of Genesis 950 and water.
The recommended cleaning ratio for pet stains is 1/3 part Genesis 950 to 2/3 parts water, this can be increased all the way to a 50/50 mix depending on the severity of the stain. Spray the mixture onto the stain, allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean.
Step 1: Find the Stain
Cats show no mercy. They are notorious for vomiting wherever they want, and never in an easy place to clean. With this Instructable, you will be able to remove pet stains from rugs, furniture and walls.
Here are several examples of how to clean cat vomit.
#1 On the seat cushions of a microfiber sofa
#2 Dried stain on the top of a microfiber sofa
#3 On a upholstered cat perch
#4 On a painted wall
#5 On a Wool Rug
Step 2: Clean Solids
After you have found the stain, clean up as much as you can.
#1 - Microfiber Couch: This stain was still partially wet and gooey and the solid matter could be cleaned up with a towel. There were some parts of the stain that had dried onto the furniture. If the stain has dried, try to scrape off what you can. If the stain is really hard and to hard to break down, you will be able to help the process with the following step.
#2 - Top of Microfiber couch: Since this stain is basically a wet stain, there is no solid matter to remove - skip to next step.
#3 - Cat Stand: Wipe up any dried matter that you can.
#4 - Wall: Wipe up any matter that you can. There will likely be substance that has dried to the wall. DO NOT try to scrape it off. Just leave whatever you can not removing by wiping up for the next step.
#5 - Wool Rug: This stain has basically dried into the carpet so there is nothing to remove. DO NOT try to scrape the dried stain from the fibers as this aggitatin can ruin the fibers.
Step 3: Saturate the Stain
Saturate the stain with a mixture of 1/3 Genesis 950 and 2/3 water. However, you can also use the mixture in a carpet cleaning machine.
The mixture of Genesis 950 and water will help to break the bonds of the stain. It is a surfactant based cleaner, meaning the 950 breaks down the stain and the water can then infiltrate the stain, making it water soluble. When this happens, the stain can be flushed from the surface. In addition to breaking down the stain, the mixture will also remove any odor that might be in the furniture from the stain as it has antibacterial elements.
Thoroughly saturate the stain. In the areas where you have dried stains, be sure that these areas receive the most saturation.
In example #2 the attachment from a carpet cleaning machine is being used. The mixture used in the machine is 1/3 Genesis 950 to 2/3 water.
In example #3 the mixture will not remove or ruin the paint on the wall, nor will it damage the wood trim or hardwood flooring.
Step 4: Wipe Down Remaining Stains
As the mixture interacts with the stains, the dried areas become water soluble and can now be easily wiped off the surface with a rag. You can also wipe down the area where the full stain was just to remove any portion of the stain that might have left a film or residue on the furniture.
#1 Microfiber Couch: Wipe away as much as possible with rag
#2 Top Of Microfiber Couch: Repeatedly go over the area using the attachment hose of the carpet cleaning machine releasing the mixture as you go over the area.
#3 Cat Stand: Wipe up as much of the stain that has been broken down as possible
#4 Wall: Simply wipe down the wall with rag or cloth
#5 Wool Rug: Wipe up as much of the stain as possible with a rag
Step 5: Saturate Remaining Stain
Whatever couldn't be removed from the initial wipe down can be resprayed with the mixture. Thoroughly spray the area once more. If you over saturate, that is not a problem. Pet stains of this nature can easily penetrate the material and get under the surface. This is often the source of odors. If you have pet stains of any nature - vomit, urine or even worse accidents, and the odor returns after you have cleaned, it is because you have not properly cleaned the underlying area. Too often people only clean what they see. It's what you don't see that causes odor issues. Most cleaners also do not kill the odor causing bacteria. This is why Genesis 950 is so important. Not only will it remove the stains, but it will remove pet odors as well.
#1 Microfiber Couch: Saturate the area with the mixture ensuring that you get into any creases or folds in the fabric.
#2 Top of Microfiber Couch: Continue to clean with the attachment hose from the carpet cleaning machine.
#3 Cat Stand: The initial cleaning removed the majority of the stain. In this case, you do not need to saturate any further and can skip to the rinsing step. Because this is a place where the cats come into contact with, Genesis 950 is perfect for cleaning here. As a green cleaner, it is safe and does not contain the hazardous chemicals most traditional cleaners have that can create health issues with animals.
#4 Wall: Be sure to thoroughly saturate the areas where the stain could run into, such as molding, gaps in the hardwood or tight corners.
#5 Wool Rug: The initial cleaning removed the majority of the stain. In this case, you do not need to saturate any further and can skip to the rinsing step.
Step 6: Allow to Sit
For the stains that needed to be saturated again with the mixture of Genesis 950 and water, let it sit. This will give the mixture the time it needs to break down any remaining residue from the stain, as well as remove the pet odor. Typically when cleaning a small stain of this nature, you only need to let it sit for about 2 - 5 minutes. If you are removing pet stains from carpet, you should use a carpet cleaning machine and allow the mixture to sit for at least a half an hour to ensure that the padding is being cleaned properly.
#1 Microfiber Couch: Allow to sit for 2 - 5 minutes.
#4 Wall: Due to the fact that you really can't let liquid soak on a wall because of gravity, you can really only let the mixture sit for a few seconds before it starts running down the wall. To make it easier, use a towel with the mixture to rub out the stains.
#2 Top Of Microfiber Couch, #3: Cat Stand & #5 Wool Rug: With these three stains, there was no need for further saturation and you will simply move to the rinsing step.
Step 7: Rinse & Dry
After the stain has set, rinse the area with a damp cloth or sponge. You do not need to be excessive with the rinsing. After the area has been rinsed, allow to dry. After the furniture has dried, the stain is completely gone!
