Keeping up with kitty can sometimes seem like a losing battle given the, expertise for creating the toughest stains in the worst possible places. It’s not a surprise that some cat owners feel that they need to opt for a darker colour scheme. enforce a no cat zone or just accept the inevitability that their home will have a well-used feel to it.
Being a bit obsessed with finding the best way to beat stains and because we love our feline friends, we thought we’d create this easy guide to help you share you’re space whilst maintaining the look you’ve always wanted.
CARPET SPILLAGES
For some cats a tall glass of red wine is an irresistible target. But there’s no need to choose between Friday night drinks and your furry friend. we’ve gathered some of the best tips to deal with some of the most common kitty related spills. What’s more all of them use common household supplies so no need for specialist cleaning products
Does your cat bring in MUD? Difficulty to cleanup: 2/5
You’ll Need:
- Vacuum cleaner;
- White cloth;
- Plastic bowl;
- A drop of dish detergent;
- Brush & shovel.
The Steps
- Let the Mud dry;
- Brush the dirt and vacuum the area;
- Mix the dish detergent with water in your bow;
- Vacuum the area a final time to remove soap from fibres;
- Blot the stain with the mixture.
* Tip:
“Don’t let your cloth get too damp when you blot, as this can make the stain worse. Use a suction vacuum rather than one with a rota on rugs.” – Dmitry A.Kara, professional at Fantastic Carpet Cleaners (London)
Did your cat got into a fight and left a BLOODSTAIN? – Difficulty to cleanup: 3/5
You’ll Need:
- Paper towels;
- Baking soda;
- Warm water;
- A towel.
The Steps:
- Soak up any excess blood with paper towel;
- Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the stain;
- Sprinkle water on top causing the soda to fizz;
- Vacuum the area;
- Blot the area with paper towel until dry.
* Tip: Let the baking soda fizz for a minute before blotting Don’t soak the stain in water as this can spread the stain
ALLERGIES? Pet hair? Your carpet?
If someone in the house is diagnosed with a cat allergy, don’t feel that you need to say goodbye to your cat or your family member for that rnatter. There are a nurnber of special measures you can take to help everyone to live In peace. Contrary to popular belief cat hairs are not the issue but the proteins in cat saliva and skin cells can be. Particles can become lodged in rug and carpet fibres and can sit on soft furnishings. If you also don’t want to part with these parts of your home, there are some simple ways to keep everyone happy and prevent flare ups.
How to recognize that somebody has cat allergy symptoms?
- Sneezing;
- Read and itchy eyes;
- A runny or itchy nose;
- Inflammation where a cat has licked, scratched or bitten exposed skin;
- In severe cases, hives on the chest or face.
Simple household cleaning tips:
- As well as sucking up particles, vacuuming can blow allergens into the air. Use an allergen proof vacuum cleaner for your carpet or floor with a heap (high efficiency particle filter when you clean);
- Use an anti-allergen spray on furniture and floor coverings to render allergens harmless to sufferers;
- Air purifiers fitted with a heap filter can remove a large percentage of the allergens from the air in a room. This can be particularly important in well insulated rooms where allergen can build up due to the sealed environment;
- Reduce the amount of dander (skin cells) on your cat’s fur by giving them a regular bath. An alternative for cats who are not a fan of the tub is to use a special cat cleansing wipe which can often be easier and less stressful for all involved and most importantly – it’s rug friendly.
- Grooming your cat can often propel large amounts of airborne allergens into the room. Instead try whenever possible to groom your cat outside;
IS YOUR CAT URINATING INDOORS? Here’s how to protect your flooring
For owners of cats and kittens if your cat is using your house as its new toilet it’s important to know how to clean effectively and how stop this happening in the future.
Punishment is not the answer if the problem is medical it’s likely your cat can’t control the ZN problem and needs help, if it’s a behavioural issue punishment is likely to make your cat more unsettled.
Finding Urine Stains on Floor or Carpet
No this isn’t just for CSI, LED black lights can now be purchased cheaply online for less than a ticket to the cinema. Turn off the lights and shine this on your carpets, rugs and furnishings to find the source of the problem in seconds.
Cleaning The Area
It’s important to know that a cat’s great sense of smell means that it can often detect odours tort long time after even if the area has been cleaned. Unfortunately once it senses this smell this will encourage the cat to use this site as a toilet again. To break this cycle for good:
- Blot the urine with paper towels. Apply pressure until dry;
- Use an enzyme based cleaner which break down the proteins and eliminate smells
- Dry the area thoroughly with a paper towel;
- Pour baking soda on the area add water mixed with a teaspoon of dish detergent;
- Rub lightly with a soft brush;
- Allow the area to dry and (skip this step for delicate materials) then hoover.
Advanced Toilet Training
Believe it or not, it is actually possible to train you’re cat to use the toilet, well everything but the flush. Although training is by all accounts not an easy ride a device that’s been around for the last few years sits on in the toilet and slowly helps your feline friend get the idea of its mysterious purpose.
It works by allowing you to place a litter tray over the open toilet. Over time the site of the tray can be reduced preparing your cat for the day when the device is removed completely
Cat toilet training may not be suitable for some very young or older cats. It’s important to acknowledge that switching from a tray can sometimes make owners less aware of potential changes to toileting behaviour which may alert us to an illness.
Prepare an emergency stain-clean-up kit
Regardless of how much effort you put to protect your rugs, stains are a natural part of having a cat and will happen eventually. The key point is to be prepared to handle a mess fast.
Here’s what you’ll need for an emergency carpet cleaning kit:
- Baking soda – a well-known and proven solution to stinky carpets.
- Stain removal and cleaning products – just make you triple check that each product you purchase is pet-safe.
* Important: Never, ever use ammonia! It’s known to mimic the scent of urine and that could affect your cat in a negative way. - A good portable steam cleaner – steam cleaning can do wonders!
* Important: Triple check if the carpet fabric can handle steam cleaning - Rags, dry cloth, paper towel, a regular sponge, wipes and etc. substitutes are simply mandatory. Remember to always gently blot the stains prior to applying any cleaning detergents.
* Extra tip:
Make sure that the cleaning detergent you use is suitable for your type of carpet in order to avoid discoloration. Always test first at a spot less obvious and noticeable.
