Pets & People: Protecting Your Carpet

The United States is home to some 68 million dog owners and 73 million cat owners, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That's a lot of love?and a lot of carpet stains. Accidents on carpet require quick cleanup to remove bacteria and odor. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) suggests:

Extract the moisture. Put an inch-thick layer of paper towels on the area and a color-fast, absorbent towel on top to absorb moisture. Leave it overnight.

Seal the floor underneath. Treat under floors before installing carpet. Thoroughly clean, disinfect and seal concrete floors. With wood floors, cut out and replace wood rot. Disinfect any stained areas and apply wood sealer.

Enlist a certified professional. Without specialized chemicals and extraction equipment, pet owners may not be able to completely remove soiling from carpet.