Pet owners: Keep your carpets looking new

It IS possible to have pets and nice carpeting in the same house.
(Really!) We’re not going to lie to you, though: it can feel like a losing battle with your cat or dog—unless you take these tips to heart.

Start at the door.

It’s the first line of defense against dirt, mud, gravel, and water: install hard floors (i.e. tile, laminate, vinyl) and mats by all your doors. Train your dog or cat to “pawse” before they come in so you can clean off their paws.

Keep their nails away from your carpet.

It’s a natural instinct for our feline friends that can do a lot of damage to our carpet: the urge to scratch. Buy a scratching pad to deter your cat or kitten from using your carpets to satisfy their instinct. Encourage them to use it with cat nip and some gentle prodding. You can also clip their nails to prevent damage or purchase nail guards which keep your carpet and their sharp nails a safe distance away from each other.

Dogs aren’t immune to this problem either; long nails can be damaging to their health and your carpet. Make sure you regularly trim their nails or take them to local groomer to keep their nails low and your carpet damage-free.

Restrict their access to your carpets.

If you have a puppy or dog that loooooves to chew or is still in the middle of house training, you can also consider keeping them off your carpets when you are not around (and monitor them closely when you are). Use crate training or pet gates to keep your canine away from your carpet until they can be trusted on your carpet.

Research your carpet cleaning products.

Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that your favorite furry friend is going to leave their mark on your carpet (they’ve already left their mark on your heart, right?). Your natural urge is to grab the cheapest can of spot remover to do the job. Resist the urge! Instead, talk to the experts about a carpet cleaner that doesn’t void your warranty or affect your pet’s health when they relax on your carpeting. When you find the perfect cleaner, don’t scrub the spot. Too much elbow grease can actually damage the fiber in your carpet. Instead, don’t soak the carpet with cleaner and scrub in gentle circles so the stain is a distant memory.

Carpet clean regularly.

A bi-annual or annual carpet deep clean can do wonders for how your carpet looks. It can also help you avoid any warranty issues and remove allergens and any residual odors (such as the smell of urine that could make your pet a repeat offender). Schedule a professional carpet clean, which can give your carpet a deep clean that’ll make your guests wonder if your pet still lives there.