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Cleaning up pet accidents, mud, and spills from carpets and hard floors can be a tedious task, but with the right cleaning solutions and techniques, you can get them looking clean again. Here is a step-by-step guide on effectively removing stains from both carpet and hard floors.

How To Clean Pet Accidents, Mud, and Spills from Carpet:

  1. Blot up excess liquids immediately

As soon as you notice the accident or spill, start by blotting up as much of the excess liquid as possible with paper towels or clean rags. Apply pressure and lift vertically to draw out as much liquid as you can before it seeps deeper into the carpet fibers.

  1. Sprinkle baking soda over the area

Once you’ve absorbed all the excess moisture, liberally sprinkle baking soda over the entire stain. The baking soda will help soak up any leftover liquids and also help neutralize unpleasant odors.

  1. Let baking soda sit for 10-15 minutes

Allow the baking soda to settle into the carpet fibers for 10-15 minutes. As it sits, it will continue pulling up moisture and odors from the carpet pad and base underneath.

  1. Vacuum up the baking soda

After letting it sit for 10-15 minutes, use your vacuum nozzle and thoroughly vacuum up all of the baking soda from the carpet. Baking soda has done its job of absorbing liquids and deodorizing.

  1. Spray vinegar solution and blot

In a spray bottle, mix equal parts cool water and distilled white vinegar. Liberally spray the vinegar solution over the stained area, allowing the solution to soak into the spot for 3-5 minutes. Then blot up as much liquid as you can again with clean absorbent towels.

  1. Repeat step 5 until the stain is removed

Continue spraying, allowing the vinegar solution to penetrate for several minutes, and blotting until you have removed as much of the stain and smell as possible. The acidic vinegar will help break down soiled and smelly residue.

  1. Rinse with cool water and blot dry

When you are satisfied the stain is gone, spray the area with cool clean water to rinse away any vinegar solution residue. Blot up excess moisture with towels until carpet feels almost dry to the touch.

  1. Sprinkle more baking soda and vacuum again

Sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda over the freshly cleaned carpet stain and let sit for 5 minutes. Then vacuum up the baking soda - this will remove any leftover soapy residue and deodorize. At this point, you can also put a fan or dehumidifier nearby to aid drying.

  1. Repeat cleaning if stain or smell persists

For stubborn stains or difficult to remove pet odors, you may need to repeat the cleaning process 1-2 more times over the next few days until it meets your satisfaction.

But if it is not possible to clean up the mess, you may consider buying new carpets. £600 immediate financing available from Pay As You Go Carpets for new floor coverings. Pay back in weekly £10 portions for affordability.

How To Clean Mud and Spills from Hard Floors:

  1. Scoop up excess debris with a rag or spatula

If there are thick globs of mud or solid pieces of food/waste, use an old rag or a flat spatula to scoop and wipe up as much of the mess as possible before adding any liquids to the floor. Scrape gently and fold rag over frequently to expose clean wiping surface.

  1. Blot liquids with paper towels or old rag

For spills or wet mud, blot up excess moisture standing on the surface by pressing paper towels or rag directly onto the floor. Apply pressure as you lift vertically to absorb liquids rather than smearing them around.

  1. Sweep the floor with broom

Use short “dustpan” motions and gently sweep all dried mud or debris on the floor into a centralized pile. Be careful not to aggressively sweep liquids around as this can spread the mess even more.

  1. Pick up debris with dustpan and discard

Scoop up the now centralized dried dirt or solids with a dustpan and dump in trash. Having cleaned up the excess chunks of mess will allow your cleaning solutions to work more effectively.

  1. Mix all-purpose cleaner with water in bucket

Fill a medium sized bucket with warm water, then stir in a small amount of mild, eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner. Check cleaner bottle instructions for exact dilution amounts, as using too much can sometimes leave residue.

  1. Dip mop in bucket and wring out well

Dip your string mop or sponge mop head into the prepared cleaning solution. Lift mop out allowing excess liquid to drain back into the bucket. Then firmly squeeze and wring all excess moisture out of mop strands.

  1. Spot mop stain and let solution sit briefly

Gently mop cleaning solution over the soiled area of floor, overlapping the edges of the stain by a few inches on each side. Let solution sit on stain for 2-3 minutes so it can begin breaking down stain residue before attempting to wipe up.

  1. Wipe up stained area thoroughly

Using a wrung-out mop, wipe area with parallel overlapping strokes until no more dirt or liquids lift up onto mop. Rinse mop in bucket and wring out excess liquid frequently to expose clean mop surface to floor.

  1. Rinse floor section with damp mop

Wipe cleaned floor area again using a wrung-out mop dipped in just clean water to remove any leftover cleaning solution residue which could leave streaks or film once floor dries.

  1. Allow floor to air dry completely

Set up fans or dehumidifiers focused on recently cleaned floor areas and keep pets & people off floors until they are completely dry. Lingering moisture could allow spills and muddy tracks to reappear later.

With the right cleaning solutions and some good old fashioned elbow grease, even tough pet accidents, mud tracks, and sticky spills can be effectively removed from carpets and hard floors in your home. Just be prepared to do some repeated rinsing, blotting and drying until satisfactory results are achieved.