homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, March 11, 2017 | 9
Tip of the week: Cleaning up after pets
Ever come home to discover that your lovable cat or dog has left a “surprise” for you on the carpet or sofa cushion? Here are some suggestions on how to clean up the mess and eliminate the odor. n Carpeting. Soak up urine with paper towels by blotting (don’t rub). Mix 1 cup water and 1/8 teaspoon dish soap. Use a dishcloth to blot the spot with the soap solution, working toward the center. To remove soap, mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 cup water; dab with the vinegar-water and blot with paper towels. n Ceramic tile. Wipe up with your normal tile cleanser. If the tile is glazed, do no more. If the tile isn’t glazed or the liquid has spread to the grout, use a grout cleanser. Then, to remove the odor, make a thick paste with water and baking soda, rub in, let set until dry and wipe up. n Wood. If the wood flooring has a sealant, use paper towels to absorb urine and then clean with normal floor cleanser. If the urine has soaked in and the odor lingers, use an enzyme-based pet-odor remover (sold at pet stores). n Upholstery. If the cushion covers are washable, remove and launder or take them to be dry-cleaned. If the urine has leaked into the sofa cushion, try an enzyme-based pet-odor remover that you can pour on. Let it set, and then soak and blot. If this doesn’t help, find a dry cleaner who deals with fire or smoke damage and uses an ozone machine. If nothing else works, consider replacing the cushion. Source: Heloise via goodhousekeeping.com
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