How do you look after carpet when you have pets?
Vacuum at least weekly with a HEPA-filter vacuum to lift hair and dander, deal with every accident the same day by blotting and then using an enzymatic pet-odour cleaner (never ammonia or bleach), stop mud at the door with mats, and have the carpet professionally cleaned every 6 to 12 months. Urine that reaches the pad needs more than surface cleaning. Klein's Carpet Cleaning, in Waterdown, cleans carpet in pet homes across Hamilton and Halton.
What do you need right now?
Every page below answers one question and quotes its source beside the claim: the Carpet and Rug Institute for stain steps, the ASPCA for pet behaviour and pet safety, Health Canada for fleas, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology for pet allergens.
| The problem | The first thing to do | Read |
|---|---|---|
| A fresh urine accident | Blot until nearly dry; no steam, no ammonia | Urine |
| The smell keeps coming back | Find out whether it reached the pad | Pet odour |
| A pet keeps using one spot | Rule out a medical cause with your vet; clean with an enzyme cleaner | Same spot |
| Choosing an odour cleaner | An enzymatic cleaner made for pet odour, used to the label | Enzyme cleaners |
| Vomit or a hairball | Spoon up the solids, then blot | Vomit |
| A poop accident | Lift straight up; gloves on | Poop |
| Hair everywhere, or allergies | HEPA vacuuming, more often | Hair and dander |
| Fleas | Treat the pet with your vet, vacuum daily | Fleas |
| Muddy paw prints | Let it dry, then vacuum | Mud |
| Is a carpet clean safe for my pet? | Keep pets off until the carpet is dry | Pet safety |
What does a pet-owner's carpet routine look like?
- Weekly, or more: vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum, slowly, in two directions. The CRI's advice for homes with pets is to "vacuum carpet more frequently to capture pet hair and dander".
- The same day: deal with accidents. Blot, rinse with cool water, and finish with an enzymatic pet-odour cleaner.
- At the door: a mat outside and inside, and a towel for paws in wet weather.
- Every 6 to 12 months: a professional deep clean. The CRI's general advice is 12 to 18 months; homes with pets belong at the short end (see how often to clean carpets).
Which pet problems can cleaning not fix?
Urine that has soaked through to the pad or the subfloor, which keeps giving off odour whatever is done to the surface; colour that urine or vomit has changed in the fibre; and carpet a pet has chewed or clawed. Klein's tells you which is which before starting, not after. The pet urine and odour page explains how to tell.
What does it cost to clean carpet in a pet home?
The same as any home: about 50 cents a square foot, which is about $60 for a typical bedroom (about 120 square feet) or a standard staircase, with a $200 minimum. Pet areas are pre-treated as part of the clean. Every price is confirmed in writing before any work starts; see prices.
Get a free carpet cleaning quote
Tell us which rooms, how many stairs, and about any pets or stains. We reply within one business day, by phone or email, and the quote is agreed before anyone starts.