I remember those first days after my father brought our dog back home. I was in seventh heaven. He was six months old, and a half-breed. My father got him from his work colleague, and I was delighted to have a new friend to play with.
Everything was like a fairy tale to me. Questions like how to clean diarrhea out of carpet were not something that bothered me. Mom and dad would take care of the less enjoyable stuff, like cleaning after our pup or taking care of its medical needs. But, I would watch, which proved to be very useful later.
Time passed, and I moved to another city, but I did not move alone. I brought my dog with me. Having a dog is such a delight, but there are some messy moments. The other day, I woke up, and the first thing I ran into was dog poo.
The first time this happened, I was all in panic. I did not know how to get rid of it, and I was thinking that the carpet was ruined. I instantly called my mom and she gave me a few useful tips. Now, I have no problem cleaning any kind of mess, from dog urine to dog poop, no matter if it happens on hardwood floors or upholstery, or if it is on carpet.
Now, I will share the best way to clean up a mess according to what my mother taught me. I am sure it will be helpful to you, too.
How To Clean Diarrhea Out Of Carpet
Cleaning a mess made by your pet is not the best part of having one, but yet, it is necessary. When the damage has already been done, you should make sure not to make the situation worse.
The steps in the process of cleaning can vary a bit depending on the type of diarrhea and the type of carpet. You will need to have a different approach with wet diarrhea than with dried poop. Also, you have to be extra careful when treating wool carpets.
Wet Diarrhea Cleaning Tips
Treating stains caused by wet diarrhea can be successful if treated right. First and most important is to make a good preparation before treating.
There are six main steps in this process. Always remember to protect yourself first, and then start with cleaning. Follow these steps and make your carpet look good again.
Step one: Protect Your Skin
First things first. Before you get yourself all into cleaning the mess your dog just made, it is important to protect your skin. This means putting on a rubber barrier between you and the excrement you have to remove.
There is a good reason for that. Something bad caused your dog’s diarrhea. He may have eaten something bad, but on the other hand, he may be sick. This means that you can also get sick if you do not protect yourself.
It is recommended to put on latex gloves before you start cleaning. Rubber will protect you not only from germs, but it will also protect your skin from aggressive chemicals contained in cleaning products.
It is also not a bad idea to use a face mask. It does not necessarily have to be a surgical mask. You can also use a scarf or a bandana for this matter.
This way, you will protect yourself from inhaling chemicals from the cleaning products, and also add more germ protection. Also remember to put on some old clothes before you start cleaning because your clothes could be ruined in the process. Remember to not touch your face while cleaning in order to reduce the risk of getting sick.
Step Two: Remove The Dog Poop
Good preparation is half the success. Before you start with cleaning, the major step is to remove dirt as much as you can. Diarrhea is usually wet, which makes it harder to pick up. You can use paper towels. They will soak up liquid. Another way is to remove it with cardboard.
In this part of the process, it would be best to clean up as much as you can without pressing it into the carpet. Whatever you do, do not blot it into the carpet because this would make the job of removing poop stains even harder.
Once you have picked up the mess, remove the dirty paper towels or cardboard and place them in a plastic trash bag.
Step Three: Get Poop Stains Treated
Congratulations, you have successfully answered the first part of the task on how to clean diarrhea out of carpet. The first half of the job is done. Now, you have to get rid of the stains and smells.
Before you start with soaking the stain, it is good to cover the affected area with a cleaning product that contains oxygen bleach. Let it sit on the stain while you prepare a cleaning solution. It should sit for at least 10 minutes.
Wet a clean cloth in a bowl of clean, cold water. The cloth should not be too wet because you do not want to drench your carpet in water. Cool water helps to break up the feces in the carpet fiber of the stained area, so that it will be easier to get them out in the later part of the process.
Blot the wet area gently over the pet stain. Remove excessive dirty water with dry paper towels or a clean, dry cloth. Then, repeat this procedure three to four times.
First, soak a cloth in clean water, then blot it over the stained area, and then dry it with clean cloth or paper towels.
Repeat this process until the excessive water is no longer dirty, but clear. The cloth or the paper towel should not be discolored anymore. This means you have done a good job, and you can move to the next step.
Step Four: It Is Time For A Cleaner
First, you should choose a cleaner that will help you remove the rest of the dog poop stain. Enzyme-based cleaners are great stain removers, and they should be able to get the job done properly.
They work in such a way as to break up dirt particles, so that they are completely removed and gone. You should apply an enzyme cleaner, and gently rub the area until the fecal matter is gone.
If the enzyme cleaner can not remove the stains, you can try applying hydrogen peroxide or ammonia on the area. Be careful with these products because they are very aggressive. Use an eyedropper to apply it. Gently rub it with a bristle brush to remove the stain.
Both of these cleaners contain strong chemicals, which are not for everyday use, and are harmful to the environment. You should be careful when applying them, and do not let kids or pets near the area until it is completely dry.
If you do not have enzyme cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, or ammonia in your house, you can try shaving foam. Spray it over the stain and let it sit for 20 minutes. After it has sat enough, blot it with water. Another way is to vacuum it.
Step Five: Rinse It Off And Sanitize
Wash out the bucket and refill it with clean water. Now, apply clean water over the area in order to remove the soap made by the carpet cleaner. When there is no more soap, pick up the excess water with a dry cloth.
Now, to make sure that there are no remaining germs or any other bacteria, you should sanitize the area you have just cleaned. Apply rubbing alcohol or any kind of alcohol over it. You do not need to drench it, just cover the surface. You can also apply any other sanitizer.
Step Six: It Is Time For Baking Soda And Drying
After you are done cleaning, use baking soda. It will help you remove any lingering odor. Put the baking soda over the carpet and let it sit one whole day. The next day, take the vacuum and clean the remains. Baking soda is an excellent odor remover because it is natural, and it will not cause any harm to your pet if he ingests it.
You have now done all the steps and your carpet is as good as new. Now, let the wet area dry. It is good to open the windows or doors, so that the drying can work faster.
Congratulations – you have successfully learned how to clean diarrhea out of carpet.
Dry Diarrhea Cleaning Tips
Even though it would be best to clean up the mess right after the accident happened, there are situations when rapid action is simply not possible.
Maybe you now have a headache concerning how to clean diarrhea out of carpet, but do not worry – it is not the end of the world. The stain is still cleanable.
Step One: Pick Up The Dried Poop
Repetition is the mother of all knowledge, so it is not bad if I say it again. The first thing is to protect your skin. Before you start with any phase of cleaning, remember to put on latex gloves.
Now that you have, use tissues to pick up the poop and throw it into the garbage. This process should be gently done because too much pressure can make things worse.
Small chunks of poop can catch on carpet fibers, so you can use a fork or a knife to gently take them out. Be careful not to damage the carpet. When you see that nothing more can be removed, it is time for the next step.
RELATED: Why Does My Dog Poop So Much? Healthy Pooping Amounts
Step Two: It Is Time To Soak It Up
This step requires preparing a mixture of equal parts of water and vinegar. This means that if you put one cup of warm water in, then you should also put one cup of vinegar in to make the solution. Pour the solution into a spray bottle, so you can dispense it over the stain more easily.
Now, you should spray the stain with the solution, so the surface becomes wet. Leave it like that for 15 minutes. After this time, the solution will be done. Water helps with softening while acid from the vinegar helps with dissolving stubborn stains.
Step Three: It Is Time For Cleaning And Vacuuming
After the area has soaked for 15 minutes, it is time to wash it with some sort of cleaner. You can use more or less aggressive cleaners, or some natural variations.
When the stain is gone, it is time to rinse the area. Repeat this procedure until the rinse water remains clean.
The final step is to cover the wet area with baking soda in order to “kill the odor“. Let this sit for 24 hours, and then vacuum it.
The work is still not done. The final step is disinfecting the carpet. Any kind of disinfectant will do the job. You can also use rubbing alcohol for this purpose.
How To Clean Diarrhea Out Of Carpet Made Of Wool
Cleaning diarrhea out of carpet is one thing, but cleaning a wool carpet is another. Wool carpets are very sensitive, and they can easily be damaged. Most of the steps done in cleaning wool carpets are the same as in others, but there are a few differences that are very important to take into account.
I will repeat it again because it is very important – first, put on gloves, then gently remove the feces and put it in the trash can. The next step is to very gently blot the stain. Do not rub at all.
Apply a non-aggressive cleaning mixture. You can use dish soap or a vinegar solution for this purpose. It is important to cover the stain as gently as possible with a cleaner. Blot and apply the cleaner in rows until the stain is gone.
If the stain is very difficult to remove, try applying dishwashing detergent without bleach. Before applying it – dilute it.
After the stain is gone, rinse the surface with cold water and cover it with baking soda overnight. Vacuum your carpet the next day and it should look like nothing happened.
Must Have Cleaning Supplies
If you have a pet at home, then it is good to be prepared for messy situations. Rapid action in carpet cleaning is important because it leaves no time for a stain to set in.
To effectively clean dog diarrhea, it is important to clean it immediately. This way, you make sure that the cleaning will be successful. That is why it is good to be ready. Don’t go shopping when an accident happens. Supply your household with cleaning essentials in order to act quickly.
Cleaning Products And A Vacuum Cleaner
The best solution is to have specialized products on hand for cleaning this kind of mess. The most effective solution is an enzyme cleaner because they are strong enough to break down a stain so you can remove it with ease.
Besides aggressive cleaners, there are other products that can help. Most likely, you already have them in your house. If not, you can easily purchase them at the local store or online on sites, such as Amazon.
For example, basic laundry detergent can be of help. Something from your kitchen that you use for dishwashing, dish soap also has multiple purposes, including the ability to clean stubborn dirt.
More gentle and natural solutions are white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda. You can prepare a white vinegar solution and keep it in a spray bottle to be on hand in need.
Any vacuum machine will do. It is better to have one that has a strong motor and vacuum force. This way, you can be sure it will vacuum all the dirt.
Steam cleaners are leveled up vacuum machines. They are probably the best choice because they work as a disinfectant at the same time.
Steam cleaners operate with heated water. This water hits really high temperatures in which most bacteria can not live. This way, you can be sure that you will leave the area bacteria free.
Paper Towels And Gloves
When an accident happens and you have to clean a wet mess, it is perfect if you have paper towels at hand to absorb any excess liquid. What makes paper towels so useful is that they are for one-time use. This means that you can dispose of them after using them.
If you do not have any paper towels, you can clean up with some old cloth that you can either dispose of or wash and reuse. A cloth can be made out of old clothes that you no longer use.
Baby wipes are also not a bad choice. They have less absorption power than dry paper towels, but they can be of use, especially if they are scented. This way, you cover the strong poop odor.
One more thing you will need are plastic bags. You can either reuse plastic bags from grocery stores, or buy those specialized ones that fit into trash cans.
Homemade Cleaning Recipes
If you are more fond of natural cleaning solutions, there are easy DIY homemade cleaners from ingredients you have at home.
You will need non-harmful, everyday items that you can find in any store. Follow the instructions and enjoy the process.
Recipe No. 1
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons of salt
- 15 drops of essential oil
White vinegar helps remove stains, and it has a strong ability to kill pet poop odors. When diluted with water, it won’t do any harm to fabric. Salt is there if the stain is really hard to remove. It is best to use lavender oil because it has antibacterial properties.
Mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle, then add salt and drop in essential oil. Mix it all together, then spray it over the stain.
Recipe No. 2
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 1/4 cup of borax
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
Mix all the ingredients together until you have a paste. You should apply that paste over the stain, but protect your skin beforehand. Rub in the paste and let it sit for half a day until it dries. Do not let pets near it. Remove it by vacuuming, or if there are still remains, scrub them with water.
To Sum It Up
The damage has happened, and now you are wondering how to clean diarrhea out of carpet. I will not lie to you, it is a messy and kind of a gross job, but hey – you gotta do what you gotta do.
To ease this not pretty at all process, here are easy to follow steps to guide you. Remember to prepare everything before you start cleaning. Always wear protection, such as latex gloves and a mask to cover your face. Then, dig in and solve that problem.
Once you handle all the steps, the next time will be easy, and you will get rid of it with no problem. Do not forget to properly disinfect the area at the end. Now that you have done everything as it should be done, it is safe for you, your children, and your pet to play again.
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