Removing Pet Stains and Odors For Dummies, Portable Edition

by Tracy Barr

Overview

Eliminate pet stains and odors from your home!

Get proven advice on how to take care of even the toughest pet stains and odors. From carpets to hardwood floors, crates to cars, this handy guide gives you practical solutions for all types of pet cleanup chores.

Find out:

• How to choose the best pet-safe household cleaners
  
  
• The smartest way to tackle the odor, stain, and germ issues caused by pet accidents
  
  
• How to refresh and restore carpeted and hard-surface floors
  
  
• Quick cleaning techniques for a crystal-clear, algae-free fish tank
  
  
• The best pet bathing techniques
  
  
• Tips on cleaning a bird cage and maintaining a cat's litter box
  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118042892
Publisher:	Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/08/2010
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	937 KB

Table of Contents

Introduction.

About This Book.

Conventions Used in This Book.

What You’re Not to Read.

Foolish Assumptions.

How This Book Is Organized.

Icons Used in This Book.

Where to Go from Here.

Chapter 1: Mess Management: A Primer.

Key Cleanup Principles.

Act quickly.

Clean thoroughly.

Clean regularly.

Clean carefully.

Basic Cleaning Supplies.

Enzyme-based stain removers.

Everyday household products.

Other cleaning aids.

Preventing Future Problems.

Chapter 2: Urine, Yer Out!

The Problem with Pee.

What it does to floors and other surfaces.

Why it confuses your pet.

A word about cat urine.

Cleaning Urine from Your Carpets.

When it’s still wet.

After it’s dried.

Oh, My Beautiful Hardwood!

Concrete Floors.

Keeping the Litter Box Odor Free.

A bit about litter and litter boxes.

A workable cleaning regimen.

Chapter 3: Watch Where You Step!

Oh, the Messes You’ll See (Or Smell or Step In).

Pathogens poop can carry.

How to protect yourself.

The Easy Stuff: Solid Waste.

The Not-So-Easy Stuff: Diarrhea.

Outdoor Cleanup.

Poop bags.

Pooper-scoopers.

Properly Disposing of Pet Waste.

Flush it.

Bury it.

Toss it.

Mud, Muck, and Other Yucky Things.

Chapter 4: What a Bloody Mess!

Discovering the Source of the Blood.

Accidents and injuries.

Natural cycles.

Illness.

Cleaning Up Blood Stains.

General blood-stain removal guidelines.

Step-by-step instructions.

Other cleaning solutions you can try.

Look What the Cat Dragged In: Dealing with "Treasures".

Not wanted, dead or alive.

Cleaning up the remains.

Chapter 5: Tastes Better the Second Time Around: Vomit.

Why Pets Vomit and When It’s a Problem.

Retching, regurgitating, and vomiting: Know the difference.

Worry or not?

Step-by-Step Cleanup.

Cleaning up regurgitated food.

Cleaning up vomit.

Cleaning up hairballs.

Dealing with the Lingering Odor.

Solutions to try.

When the smell is in your car.

Chapter 6: Eliminating Odors in Tanks, Cages, and Homes for Other Small Creatures.

I Smell a Rat (or Bird or Fish)! Where the Odor Comes From.

Keeping Your Furry Friend’s Cage Clean.

Easy steps to an odor-free cage.

Tackling odors through bedding choices.

Bye-Bye Birdie Smell: Cleaning Your Bird Cage.

General bird-cage cleaning guidelines.

Daily chores.

A weekly cleaning regimen.

Cleaning thoroughly once a month.

Cleaning Out Your Fish Tank.

Refreshing the water.

Cleaning algae off the walls and decorations.

Cleaning the filter.

Cleaning the gravel.

Putting it all together.

Chapter 7: Cleaning the Smells off Fido.

Making a Choice: Full Bath or Quick Wipe-Down?

Getting Ready.

Gathering your bathing supplies.

Pick a place: Tub, sink, or the great outdoors?

Bathing Instructions.

De-skunking Your Pet.

The truth about skunk spray.

Finding the right de-skunking solution.

Giving your pet a skunk bath.

Chapter 8: Ten Ways to Reduce the Number and Severity of Future Messes.

Retrain When Necessary.

Work with Your Pet’s Natural Instincts.

Create a Schedule.

Get Regular Veterinary Checkups.

Use Pet Undergarments.

Be Consistent in Expectations.

Pay Attention to the Litter Box and the Surrounding Area.

Remove Spraying Triggers.

Stop Hunting Opportunities.

Make Your Yard Unattractive to Skunks.