How to get rid of pet smells

April 27th, 2010

pets

pets

Keeping a home free of ugly pet smells involves a lot of planning, lots of patience, lots of elbow grease, and a whole lot of love for four-legged family members. For those looking to keep away odors or eliminate the ones already in the house, follow the tips below for easy pet odor removal.

Take Preventative Measures.

Begin at the source by properly washing pets, especially dogs, regularly. Not only washing with a gentle shampoo, but thoroughly drying will be very important when eliminating odors. Damp fur is a breeding ground for mildew and bacteria, and washing without drying can seem to only make the pet smell worse. Give your pet special food or treats to treat bad breath, and keep your pet on a healthy diet that will promote good digestive health, as well as healthy skin and coat.

General Measures.

Pet owners that want a clean smelling home should invest time in vacuuming and or sweeping at least every other day. This will remove debris like hair and dander from the living environment. Any carpets must regularly be steam cleaned, and floors must be mopped several times a month. Remove pet odor from hard wood floors by adding a vinegar solution to mop water. If pets are sleeping in human beds, wash sheets once or twice a week, air out the room with open windows, and wash dog bedding on a regular basis.

Find the Source.

If the cause of the odor is urine, use a black light, available at many pet stores or from online vendors, to get a better idea of where the smell is coming from. Washing the sofa cushions 10 times won’t do much to stop an odor coming from the wall behind. If the odor comes from a particular room or area of the house, monitor the pet’s use of the room to identify how they continue creating such an odor.

Remove Urine Smell.

When a urine spot has been discovered, begin by blotting up as much of the stain as possible. Next, saturate the area with a white vinegar and water mixture, or with a store-bought chemical cleaner like Nature’s Miracle, or a similar pet stain and odor remover. Again, blot up as much of the affected area as possible until dry. Next, follow up by sprinkling baking soda over the area and leaving it to dry. For stains on upholstery or carpeting, rub in baking soda with dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide, after spot testing for bleaching, and then leave to dry. Follow up by vacuuming up the baking soda. If the stain or odor remains, repeat the process. If an item is machine washable like clothing or a throw pillow, throw it in the washing machine with detergent as per usual and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar to take away any remaining odor.

More Tricks.

Today’s pet odor removal products are generally quite good and will do what they say. Other quick solutions can be made out of on-hand home remedies. Some pet owners swear by solutions like bleach for removing cat odor, although it may be controversial due to the dangerous mix with ammonia. Others say that club soda removes the sour smell of pet vomit in an instant. Any time there is a visual mess, it’s time to get out enzyme neutralizers. These miracle solutions are meant to be left on the source for extended periods of time, undisturbed, and later picked up with a vacuum or broom. The important thing with pet odors is to allow products long periods of time to work to get out those really strong pet odor smells.

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How To Clean Red Wine Stains from Carpets

March 27th, 2010
red wine spill

red wine spill

Watching a red wine glass go over can be a slow motion moment of horror for homeowners with carpeted floors.  Even though many have been taught that a red wine spill will always equal a stain, there are ways to quickly and easily lift out the liquid.  Remember that the more quickly action is taken, the more easily the spot will lift.  Never panic and follow these simple steps.

Keep the Stain from Setting.

Since most people don’t carry a rag around with them at dinners or cocktail parties, act fast by counteracting the red wine’s staining tannins with another liquid.  Send a second party to fetch a white cloth or rag while getting down to stain prevention.  The top choice, surprisingly enough, is white wine!  Start from the outside in, to keep the stain from spreading, and pour enough white wine to completely cover the red wine stain.  If there is no white wine on hand, try club soda.  Using the white cloth, blot the stain until as much liquid as possible lifts out of the carpet.

Soak Up What Remains.

Next, try soaking up any remaining, hard-to-get liquid and moisture by covering the area with salt.  Allow the salt to sit on top of the stain while setting off to find a suitable solution with which to finish cleaning the carpet.  Should the stain appear to already be mostly lifted, leave the salt until completely dry, 12 to 24 hours, then vacuum up the dried salt.  Should the stain still be acting stubbornly, then continue on to the next step.

Find a Cleaning Solution.

Various home remedies can be concocted to lift any remaining red wine stain out of the carpet with ease.  Popular remedies include various combinations of hydrogen peroxide, carpet shampoo, dishwashing detergent, Oxy Carpet Cleaner, white vinegar, and a miracle product called Wine Away.  Assuming this is a first time offense, the average party host or hostess is likely to have everyday items like a spray carpet cleaner and hydrogen peroxide on hand.  Begin by vacuuming up any salt that is left atop the stain.  Cover the stained area with the mixture and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, then use warm (not hot) water and a fresh white cloth to begin blotting up the remaining stain.  Repeat the process as many times as necessary, being careful not to rub as this can ruin the carpet.

Definite “Don’ts”

When first reacting, there are several things that should NOT be done, and that are guaranteed to make the situation worse no matter what Great Aunt Maud has to say about it.

  • Do NOT use anything but cold water until the final stages of rinsing, as warm water will assist in setting the stain.
  • Also, do NOT use undiluted dish detergent to clean, as this is guaranteed to leave the carpet looking horrid, even if the spot is wine-free.
  • Lastly, do NOT just leave the stain and count on calling in a professional later, with red wine the longer it sits the worse it gets.  Keep in mind, if left long enough, red wine could stain stone, and give the carpet a helping hand by providing swift rescue assistance!

ICP Cleaning are experts, specialising in Office Cleaning in Leicestershire

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The Top Ten Dirtiest Places in Your Home: #8 The Mattress

March 17th, 2010
bed

bed

Everybody is aware, and for the most part good about, keeping bed sheets and blankets clean.  Sleeping on unclean sheets or with a dirty blanket can be an unpleasant experience accompanied by odours and itchiness.  What many people forget to pay attention to is the cleanliness of their mattress.  Mattresses can be hotbeds, literally, for dirt, dust, dust mites, pet hair, mould, mildew, and other allergens.  A good place to start is by protecting the mattress with a mattress cover.  Careful mattress owners should also be sure to flip and rotate their mattress regularly, about every six months.  However, no matter how protected a mattress may be it will eventually need to be cleaned.  Luckily, mattress cleaning is relatively simple and can often be accomplished with what is already lying around the house.

For a general mattress cleanup refresher, head as far as the fridge for some common household baking soda.  Be sure to fully remove all sheets and mattress covers before beginning to clean a mattress.  Using the baking soda, sprinkle a fine layer of powder over the surface of the mattress, and leave the mattress alone for at least a few hours.  The longer the baking soda has time to sit on the mattress, the more effectively it will remove any moisture, dirt, and odour that has become trapped in the mattress.  After settling in, use the upholstery attachment on a standard household vacuum cleaner and carefully suck up all of the baking soda.  If the weather is right, take the mattress outside for anywhere from a few hours to a full day each year to let the sunshine naturally air out and refresh the mattress, but be sure not to set it in damp grass or let it sit out overnight.  Internal moisture is a mattress’s worst enemy!  Once all the baking soda has been removed, enjoy a fresh-smelling, clean looking mattress.  Repeat this general cleaning procedure once every six months or so.

When a mattress requires more than just a light cleaning, generally a spill or stain is to blame.  The most important thing to remember when tackling a spot on a mattress is that excessive moisture is to be avoided at all times.  Once the inside of the mattress gets too wet, it will likely begin to mildew and mould before the fresh air ever gets to it.  That being said, there are ways to get out as much of a spill or stain as possible before even thinking about replacing a mattress.

The first priority is to soak up as much of a spill as possible.  For non-organic spills use a simple upholstery shampoo, laundry stain remover or the suds from a mild detergent and warm water mixture.  With a well-wrung out cloth, blot the spot with some of the shampoo, stain remover or detergent mixture until liquid is no longer lifting from the mattress surface.  Dip a sponge in warm water, and wipe the surface of the mattress ONLY with a well-wrung out sponge.  Sprinkle baking soda over the area and leave it undisturbed until dry.  Once dried, use a vacuum to suck up any baking soda and the remaining odour and moisture should lift with it.

For organic spills like blood or urine, try using a specialized cleaner made for pet or urine stains, should you have one on hand.  Blot the stain with a well wrung-out cloth, as in the example above.  Should these items not be readily available try using hydrogen peroxide.  Carefully spot-test the mattress with a bit of peroxide to ensure no bleaching occurs, then blot the stain with a rag from the outside in.  For urine stains, use a mixture of half water, half white vinegar and the same blotting process.  In either case, sprinkle the stain with baking soda after treating and vacuum when dry.  The longer the baking soda is left on the better.  To keep a treated mattress smelling fresh, try placing dryer sheets between the mattress and bedding until the next time the mattress is cleaned.

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The Top Ten Dirtiest Places in Your Home: #7 The Fridge

March 3rd, 2010
fridge

fridge

Procrastinating on cleaning the fridge can be extremely easy to do.  One look at a drippy, goopy, smelly food spill in the fridge is enough to send most people running for cover!  Instead of addressing the problem, it may be tempting to shut the door and forget it ever happened.   Tackling cleaning the fridge can seem a daunting task, which is what ultimately keeps people from doing it on a regular basis.  The good news is that cleaning the fridge, when done well and often, is a surprisingly simple process. 

Follow these simple steps to have a spotlessly clean fridge in a jiffy.

1.  Mix up a cleaning solution.  When cleaning inside the fridge, it is important to use a cleaner that will not leave dangerous or potentially poisonous chemical residue where food is kept.  A perfect solution is to make a cleaner out of backing soda and warm water.  Just add ¼ cup of baking soda per quart of warm water and thoroughly mix the two.  Baking soda is the perfect cleaner since it brightens, sanitizes, and removes odors.

2.  Empty out the fridge.  Cleaning will go more quickly if all food items are out of the fridge.  Move items to a mini fridge, or just plan on cleaning the fridge before heading out each shopping day to ensure a minimum amount of products.  Most of the time it’s fine to place items on the counter for up to 15 minutes, as long as they are stacked together to help maintain their cold temperature.

3.  Remove and clean trays, drawers and bins.  If trays and vegetable bins can be removed, do so, and stack them in the kitchen sink or in a bathtub if there is a bathroom nearby.  Vegetable bins or drawers should be filled with warm soapy water or the baking soda solution, and left to sit while the rest of the fridge is cleaned.  Trays should be wiped down with the baking soda homemade cleaner and left to begin drying.

4.  Wipe down the inside of the fridge.  Use the baking soda and water cleaner and a rag to wipe down the inside of the fridge.  Be sure to hit every surface including the walls, the inside of the door, and the rubber gasket around the edge of the door.  The cleaning solution should require no additional rinsing or wiping, but if any residue is noticed, wipe again with a cloth and warm water to remove what’s been left over.

5.  Replace trays.  Replace the clean trays in the fridge, and any possible food items.

6.  Replace bins and drawers.  Dump out the soaking water in any bins and wipe them down in the sink with the baking soda solution.  Rinse each drawer or vegetable bin thoroughly, and dry each with a clean cloth.  Replace drawers and bins in the fridge along with any food items.

7.  Clean the outside of the fridge.  Use a general purpose household, anti-bacterial cleaner and warm water to wipe down the outside of the fridge, paying special attention to the edges of the doors of the fridge and freezer, and the door handles.  If desired, sweeping or mopping under the fridge should be included between steps 3 and 4 when the fridge is entirely empty but has not yet been cleaned inside.

8.  Enjoy a nice, clean fridge!

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The Top Ten Dirtiest Places in Your Home (or office in this case): #6 Your Desk

December 23rd, 2009
Is Your Desk a Grime Crime Scene?

Is Your Desk a Grime Crime Scene?

How Clean Is Your Desk? The Perfect Home for Germs and Grime!

If asked which has more germs per square inch, the surface of the average office desk or the average office toilet seat, which would be the obvious response?  Unfortunately, whether obvious or not, the correct response in this scenario is that the average office desk has up to hundreds of times more germs than the toilet seat, yes, the same desks where millions of people eat, drink, and work day after day after day.  And it doesn’t stop there.  Anyone who uses an office printer, water cooler, owns a PDA, drinks coffee from a communal pot, talks on a phone, or generally sets foot in an office at least once in a while is susceptible.  Computer mice, keyboards, and telephones are especially grimy, and these germ-collecting hotbeds are rarely cleaned or disinfected.  With increasing concern about rapidly spreading bacteria and viruses during the approaching cold and flu season, it is especially important to clean with care.  Many office workers have gone as far as to avoid all interpersonal contact in the office to prevent the spread of germs, but hibernating in one’s office is just as, if not more, dangerous.  With this new-found knowledge in mind, it is time to start a new daily regimen towards workplace cleanliness!

If there was one singular thing each person could do to drastically decrease spreading germs around his or her desk or office it would be…. drum roll please… properly washing his or her hands!  Mum said it, and now science has proven that frequent hand washing with warm water and soap, when done for 18 to 20 seconds each and every time, cuts down on germs per square inch more than any (reasonable) amount of cleaning and disinfecting.  That doesn’t excuse anyone from actually taking a minute each day to wipe down the keyboard and mouse with a disinfectant cleaning wipe, but it does save the busy office worker from having to wipe down 10 to 20 times per day.  While disinfectant alcohols and gels made for the hands are great alternatives when hand washing is just not going to happen, unfortunately the outside of the bottle can be just as germy, if not more so, than the desk it’s sitting on.

Think it’s easy to tell which coworkers are the guiltiest of a germy desk?    Think again!  Studies have shown that women’s offices, although they appeared far tidier, actually had a significantly higher amount of germs than messier male counterparts.  As it turns out, women tend to carry more things in from the outside world, whether in a purse or pocketbook, or in the form of snacks or office decorations.  Appearances really can be deceiving!  Generally germs come into the office on hands, so the more traffic in an individual’s office, the greater the need for sterilisation.

What can be done?  Try passing out disinfectant wipes in the office, and ask co-workers to use them once a day.  Make sure any office cleaning staff is wiping down desk surfaces, not just common areas.  Make a special effort to wash hands after sneezing, coughing or eating, and try to avoid eating at the desk at all costs.  With just a few basic steps it can be easy to take a desk from the danger zone, to a home away from home once more.

Do you have any tips that you’d like to share, or requests for more information? Get in touch and our team will use thier knowledge of home and office cleaning in Leicestershire to point you in the right direction.

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