Dogs bring plenty of joy to our lives, but when you have to remove a tough stain from a carpet or rug, our furry friends can’t do much to help. And since play time is encouraged with a pet, your home can be prone to mess and even dog stains.
We love our pets but we don't have to leave our house looking and smelling dirty. It's best to remove dog stains as soon as possible because they don't just smell and look bad, they can cause irritation and illness too.
Luckily, Puracy is here to help. Learn how to remove dog stains effectively using natural, eco-friendly products that are tough on stains but safe and pet-friendly for our loyal four-legged companions.
Classification of Dog Stains
Before we delve deeper into how to remove dog stains, it's important to first identify the different types of stains.
Poop Stains
Poop stains are the most dangerous because of the germs and bacteria they leave behind. When you clean up the stain and the area around it, make sure you're wearing gloves and check your dog's feet to be certain they didn't step on the poop. If they did, retrace their steps and clean up those stains too.
Pee Stains
Pee stains are perhaps the most difficult to remove when it comes to dog stains. It's best to clean these up immediately but don't wipe them up as you will just spread the stain.
Vomit Stains
Vomit stains are tricky to remove as they are typically slimy and chunky. Vomit also has a lingering odor that's similar to what your dog threw up. It's important to remove this dog stain as soon as possible because it is acidic and can harm fabric and floors.
Blood Stains
Blood stains are commonly found on furniture, upholstery, or the carpet. Dogs are prone to getting small scratches inside the house or walking outside. After checking your dog for injuries, make sure you have an enzyme-based cleaner to remove the stain.
Why is it Hard to Remove Dog Stains?
Pee, feces, blood, and vomit are difficult stains to clean and remove, even worse than red wine. They are especially challenging because they contain substances from your pet's body, such as bile, and come with strong odors.
Pet urine might be the most difficult to remove because urine has low surface tension. It will soak easily and quickly into fibers and penetrate the fabric of your rug, upholstery, or carpet.
Once the urine has seeped into your rug and carpet, it will start dealing damage. Bacteria will grow, which eats away the fibers and leads to color loss and deterioration.
Which one is harder to remove: dog stains left for weeks or hours?
The longer they stay on surfaces, the tougher it will be to remove dog stains. Depending on the fabric or floor type, dog stains left for days or weeks will alter the dye structure, resulting in permanent discoloration and staining. The dye structure may also already be damaged, even if the soluble deposits are eliminated.
The faster you remove dog stains, the more successful you will be in eliminating all traces of the mess. Speed can also prevent stains from forming so it's best to remove dog stains once you notice them.
Quick, Easy, and Effective Steps to Remove Dog Stains
When it comes to removing a stubborn dog stain, you need a reliable process that can be used on multiple surfaces. Follow these steps for an easy, painless way to tackle even the toughest stains.
Remove as much solid and liquid waste as you can
Dog urine, feces, blood, and vomit stains require the same first step: removing as much liquid and solids as possible before cleaning. Urine should be removed by dabbing the affected area with a clean cotton rag. After each dab, turn the rag so that you are using a fresh section.
Use a clean cotton cloth or a sheet of paper towel to wipe up any solids left behind by feces, diarrhea, or vomiting. Take care not to spread or push the waste into the cloth. Once the solid waste is removed, use a cotton towel to soak up any remaining liquid. Make sure you're wearing gloves before you do this step!
Don't scrub
Out of sheer exasperation and determination, pet owners often resort to scrubbing to remove dog stains. Soft surfaces, such as carpeting and upholstery, are considerably different from hard surfaces. Scrubbing just serves to further steep the stain into the fibers. Gentle blotting with a microfiber towel is the correct way to remove dog stains.
Add water and a natural cleaning product
If the pet stain is less than an hour old, fully soak the affected area with Puracy Pet Stain & Odor Remover. Combine 1 ounce of the product with 4 ounces of warm water and apply directly to the stain.
If the accident happened over an hour ago, follow the same steps above. However, you’ll need to let the stain remover solution sit on the stain for 8 hours instead of only one hour.
If you're dealing with urine, it is not always possible to see all of the stain particles. It's best to use a UV lamp in the dark to ensure you treat every inch of the mess. Urine has high levels of phosphorus, making it visible under black-lighting.
Bring out the stain-removing machine
If you have pets or children, a carpet cleaning machine is the most convenient solution to maintain the best-looking carpet and upholstery. Warm water should be used to fully rinse away any remaining stain remover and stain particles, as per the manufacturer's instructions.
The best part is that your stain remover contains enough cleaning agents to prevent the need for carpet shampoo.
Don’t have a stain-removing machine?
You can get rid of pet stains by hand, though we advise hiring a carpet cleaner. Some hardware stores allow you to hire them out by the hour. It's important to remove all traces of dog stains, even if it takes some work. Unless you want the smells to remain, of course.
Here are the steps to remove dog stains without a carpet cleaner:
- Wear gloves.
- Add warm water to a small bucket. Submerge a clean microfiber towel into the water and carefully wrung it dry (it can be slightly wet).
- Don't scrub! Gently rock the moist cloth back and forth over the stain. Keep in mind that you are attempting to absorb waste into the towel while flushing new water into the affected area.
- Repeat the process by wringing out the towel into a fresh, empty bowl or bucket, then soaking it in clean water. Continue doing this until all of the extra liquid has been absorbed.
- You might need to swap out the microfiber towel for another clean one depending on the amount of stain.
Neutralize the odor
After you remove the dog stains, the work doesn't stop there - you need to neutralize the odors left behind too. If you don't, the foul odors can irritate your nose, especially the strong ammonia smell that accompanies dog urine.
We designed our Pet Stain & Odor Remover to be applied to all upholstered and carpeted surfaces. Say goodbye to stenches that make your nose wrinkle and say "hi" to the crisp, delicate aroma of cucumber and mint.
Are Natural Stain Removers Better for Dog Stains?
Yes, they are. If you use a cleaning product that doesn't contain plant-based enzymes, you're probably simply masking the stench for a short time, not fully eliminating the foul odors.
The Puracy Pet Stain & Odor Remover contains five plant-based enzymes which are microscopic proteins that eat a wide range of organic stain particles (and their subsequent odors).
When an enzyme comes into touch with dog stains, it naturally causes a different chemical reaction. Additionally, when these compounds penetrate fibers deeply, they break down offenders until they are entirely gone. They have completed their task once they have finished chewing and feasting; the stain and scent are gone.
Looking for tips on how to remove dog odors from your car or bedding? Check out our guide to removing pet odors for even more tips and tricks.
Remove Dog Stains Safely and Effectively with Puracy
Many pet owners try to remove dog stains with homemade remedies but some stains won't budge with just vinegar and baking soda.
Our Puracy Pet Home Cleaners use natural and safe ingredients to make wonderfully effective products. From the Puracy Pet Stain & Odor Remover to the Puracy Disinfecting Surface Cleaner, we ditch the traditional chemicals and introduce solutions developed by chemists and trusted by over 8 million people.
Don't just take our word for it. Order yours today. We're so confident you'll love our products, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
