If your cat or dog has ever had an accident, you know how big a pain it is to remove the stain or odor after. But before calling in the professionals, give the recipe below a try. It’s simple to make, it’s affordable, and best of all…..it works!
The ingredients you’ll need are white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, dish washing liquid, and lemon juice. There’s a good chance you already have all of these, but if not, they aren’t very expensive. Altogether, they should cost under $5.00. The lemon juice is optional, so if you have everything else, no biggie.
Step One: If it’s a recent accident, clean it up. For urine, gently dab up as much as possible. Try not to use too much force because they will push it further into the carpet. If it is an old stain and has already dried, move on to step two
Step Two: You’ll want to soak the area with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar. Use plenty of solution to make sure the stained area is soaked thoroughly.
Important: Don’t use regular vinegar because it can stain.
Let this solution dry. Air drying is fine, or you can use a fan.
Step Three: Once the area has dried, sprinkle the area generously with baking soda. Don’t be stingy. Then you’ll want to make a solution of a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon or two of dish washing liquid mixed in. Dawn is my preference, but any will do. Optional: Add a teaspoon or two of lemon juice.
Once your solution is mixed, sprinkle it over the baking soda you put down earlier. Brush this solution in with a brush or your hands if you’re wearing gloves. Then allow it to dry.
Step Four: Vacuum the area. That’s it. It may take several treatments, so be prepared to re-treat the area if it isn’t completely cleaned the first time around. If the problem is still there after several treatments, it may be time to call in the big guns and hire a professional cleaner.