Here are a few quick steps for cat urine carpet cleaning that can easily be done at home.

1. Remove as much cat urine as possible from the carpet with paper towels.  This is best done by placing the paper towel on the carpet and stepping on it to absorb the urine.  Keep repeating this process until the paper towels stop absorbing moisture from the carpet.
2. The next step is to make a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water.  Wet the area so that it penetrates to the deepest part of the carpet fiber.  After it is almost dry, remove the excess liquid by blotting as in Step 1.
3. Apply baking soda on the area.  Combine ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap.  Drizzle on baking soda and work into the carpet with a brush.
4. Allow mixture to dry and then vacuum.

Completing these quick steps will eliminate much of the odor and stain from the carpet.  To ensure thorough removal of the cat urine, professional carpet cleaning is recommended.  A professional carpet cleaning service will have powerful enzyme based cleaning solutions that will remove any residual cat urine from the carpet.  Luckily there are many companies that can help homeowners with cat urine and carpet cleaning.  To find a company that is experienced in cat urine and carpet cleaning, visit http://www.carpetcleaning.org/listing/.

If your carpet has been urinated on many times (for example, if you used
to have a dog that frequently marked all around the house), you might want
to pay for professional cleaning.  This is an especially good idea if you
no longer have this dog; your money won’t be wasted, as the carpet won’t
be urinated on again right away.  However, if you have an ongoing problem
(you still own that dog that urine-marks), purchasing a steam carpet
cleaner designed for small-scale domestic use might be your best bet; you
can use this carpet cleaner over and over whenever you need to.  These
products deep-clean carpets, removing all traces of urine.  Instead of
using regular carpet shampoo in these, you can use a special shampoo for
pet accidents; this shampoo contains enzymes that break down the urine
smell and will prevent repeat accidents.  This is especially important if
the urine in the carpet was from a true pet “accident” (rather than a male
dog purposefully marking his territory, a young puppy or kitten still
confused about where it is supposed to go to the bathroom).

However, if you need a “quick fix” and don’t have time to thoroughly
remove the urine, there are many ways to cover up the smell indefinitely
even if the urine is still on the carpet.  Odor removers for cloth
surfaces, such as Febreeze, will almost entirely eliminate odors from the
carpet.  Inexpensive household baking soda, which is frequently contained
in more expensive odor-fighting cleaners, can also work wonders on urine
odors in carpet.  After the urine has been cleaned up and the carpet is
dry, sprinkle it liberally over the area, let it sit for an hour, and
vacuum it up.

Fortunately, removing urine smell from carpet is possible.  The odor will
become undetectable if you properly remove the urine and deodorize the
carpet.

Spot cleaning spills as soon as possible after the spill occurs can be
quite successful.  If you have it handy, try pouring a little club soda
onto a clean rag and dab gently at the spot. Repeat several times, and
follow up by blotting with a clean, dry cloth.

Spray carpet spot cleaners can also produce excellent results in cleaning
carpets, but make sure the product is approved for your specific type of
rug with the spot.  Be sure to read the instructions carefully before
using the product, and it is usually recommended to do a product spot test
first in an out-of-the-way area.

Some carpet stains have specific instructions for their successful
removal:
.    Gum: First, try to remove all the larger chunks of gum that you
can, using a metal or plastic comb or something similar.  Applying ice to
solidify the gum may make this easier.  Next, try applying heat to remove
the gum residue.  Fold a clean damp rag twice over the spot, and use an
iron on a low setting to remove the residue.  Finally, use a carpet
cleaning solvent (test a patch in an out-of-the-way area first) to get at
the last of the gum.  If traces remain, it’s time to call in a carpet
cleaning company.  You can also restrict the kids to chewing gum outdoors;
good luck with that!
.    Pet Urine: This is a tough stain as the smell often remains after
cleaning.  Try using a cleaning product with enzymes for the best chance
of success.  If the odor remains, it is possible that the padding
underneath the carpet has been saturated, and that is a job best left for
the professionals.

When using any cleaning product, be sure to follow the instructions for
the material of which your carpet is made.  Fine wool and silk rugs are
very temperamental and won’t take the same treatment as modern synthetic
rugs.  When in doubt, it’s worth making a call to a reputable carpet
cleaning service, and many will provide free estimates.

The first thing to remember is that pre-treating is key. Carpets with
stain protection such as ScotchGard can make your life much, much easier.
This type of product actually repels stains and keeps them from soaking
into the carpet fibers.

All the protection in the world won’t save you from life’s little (or
huge) messes. In this case, using the proper techniques can help you keep
your carpet looking like new. First, always use an absorbent towel to sop
up liquid messes. Then blot the spill, don’t rub. Rubbing only forces the
stain deeper into the carpet fibers, and may leave you with a stain that’s
difficult or even impossible to remove. Now, it’s well known that for some
people it’s hard not to get in there with some serious elbow grease and
scrub the daylights out of the rug, but please resist the temptation. It’s
in your best interest.

Next, you’ll want to use a manufacturer-recommended carpet cleaner to help
release the remaining stain. If, like the majority of us out there, you
don’t know what the manufacturer’s recommendations are, then make sure you
use a trusted brand of carpet cleaner. Always test for colorfastness in an
inconspicuous spot first. Removing the color from your carpets defeats the
purpose of stain removal. Apply the cleaner generously and give it a few
minutes to penetrate. Then, gently blot until the stain lifts. Some carpet
cleaner makers recommend a light “rinse” using a clean cloth dampened with
lukewarm water. After the stain has lifted, allow the area to dry, and
then vacuum.

Sometimes you’ll have the dreaded non-liquid stains. (i.e., stepped-on
Pop-Tarts, dog poop) For this type of mess, use a clean cloth to remove as
much of the solid part of the stain as you can. Then, follow the above
steps to remove the remaining stain. As tempted as you may be, it’s never
a good idea to vacuum these types of stain first, as this will force the
stain deeper into the carpet.

With a little bit (aw, heck. A whole LOT) of patience, you can keep your
carpet looking like new.

Except for one minor detail. Carpet fibers are not strands growing from
living tissue. Don’t like the dye job on your head ’cause it resembles an
Aurora Borealis? Not to worry. Your hair will grow back its normal color.
But when your carpet ends up looking like a schizophrenic quilt you’ve got
problems. Carpet needs careful attention to achieve the best results. Some
experts consider carpet fiber to be more fragile than human hair.
Concerned about commiting unintentional hari-kiri on your beautiful
carpet? Don’t be alarmed. You have great company.

Archaeologists digging in the Altai Mountains in Central Asia discovered
the most ancient carpet — the Pazyryk carpet of the 6th to 5th century
BC.  Before that animal hides used as clothing also became floor
coverings. Later, industrious ancestors made crudely woven rugs from reeds
and other vegetation. Carpet fibers as we know them weren’t manufactured
commercially until the late 19th Century.

But there’s always been the problem of cleaning the carpets. Carpet
cleaning is a no-brainer, right? How long have we been tie-dying our
carpets? The most expensive carpet ever ruined — with the exception of
what was submerged on the Titanic — was a $351,000 carpet, specially
commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II, by spilled tea. Buckingham Palace
experts, who supervised the week-long $85,000 cleaning job, were baffled
as nothing removed the tea stains. Eventually the large section was cut
out and replaced. Historians, studying rolls of ancient papyrus, are
trying to verify tales by ancient mariners who tell of priceless flying
carpets dumped into the sea by marauders raiding cities in ancient Arabia.

But this is the 21st Century. And carpet cleaning should be simple. Not
so, say experts, who contend that old-time stains can still easily
outmatch the most potent carpet cleaning solutions. Stains that defy the
new millennium include blood; candle wax; stains from berries, grape
jelly, and tomato sauce; and red wine. But the solutions are equally old.
Blood, for example, can be removed using a diluted solution of dish
detergent. Ivory bar soap works on berry stains, say experts. And red wine
can be removed by offering it a chaser of white wine.

And spot cleaning your carpet is still the best way to maintain a clean
and healthy carpet. But regardless of your dilemma, carpet cleaning
professionals recommend a thorough carpet cleaning at least once a year.
Carpet cleaning services follow manufacturers’ recommendations and can
offer tips on keeping your carpet trouble free.

Nobody likes a stained carpet. It makes you feel as if your whole house is
getting dilapidated, and you along with it, especially if the carpet is
light colored. Dirt, stains and smells make a terrible impression when
company comes over, and covering things up with throw rugs only goes so
far! Cleaning the carpet can lift your spirits and make the whole house
look and smell better.

If the carpet is very, very dirty, call in a professional home carpet
cleaning service. Be sure to find one that uses “green” cleaners; the
chemicals in ordinary carpet cleaners leave their own residue, and should
not be inhaled; they’re especially dangerous to children and animals.

Let’s assume that you want first to get rid of stains, then clean the
entire carpet. Again, it’s always better to use “green” cleaning methods,
especially if you have children or pets, so here’s a few simple
inexpensive recipes for cleaning stains.

Step One: Mix a few drops of ordinary dishwashing liquid into one cup of
warm water. Apply this to the stain with a soft towel. Don’t scrub, just
press it into the carpet and lift it out. Repeat as often as necessary. A
good idea, especially with pile carpets,  is to put the towel over the
stain and put something heavy on it to blot up the stain, changing the
towel every half hour or so. If this recipe by itself does not work, try
adding a very small amount of Oxy-Clean — a teaspoon or less per cup of
water.

Step Two: When the stain is gone, mix a few teaspoons of white vinegar
with one cup of warm water and apply with another towel to rinse the area.
If you have a shop vac, the kind that sucks up water, this is the time to
use it gently. Let dry.

A good idea is to test these recipes in a corner to make sure they don’t
bleach or stain the carpet themselves, but it’s not likely that they will.
Some people report good luck with unscented baby wipes for removing carpet
stains of all kinds.

To get rid of red wine stains, employ the same method as above, but use
club soda. Some people also recommend this for blood stains.

Red fruit juice can be removed with a solution of about a teaspoon of
Oxy-Clean to one cup warm water. What may look like an impossible,
disastrous stain comes out as if by magic. If the stain is very stubborn
or you have deep pile carpet, use the towel and weight method described
above.

Blood and vomit stains as well as pet stains can be removed with Oxy-Clean
and water. Never use hot water on a blood stain, only cold. For removing
pet stains, first try the vinegar and water method; if that fails, look
for an enzyme cleaner at your local hardware or home improvement store. If
all else fails try a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide in water.

Never put water on a Play-Doh stain; it spreads it. Let it dry and scrape
it up. Play-Doh stains can often be removed with white vinegar or
Oxy-Clean, if it comes to that.

Colored chalk should be brushed or vacuumed out, then wiped with a damp
rag.

Grass stains can be removed from practically anything with a paste of
salt, cream of tartar and a few drops of water. Put this on, let dry and
brush. Some people report good luck with toothpaste (not the gel variety),
or white vinegar.

A grease spill requires a different recipe; sprinkle straight baking soda
or cornstarch onto the stain and leave it there overnight, then vacuum and
use the vinegar and warm water method above to rinse.

Crayon, candle wax or gum should be hardened with an ice cube and scraped
off gently.

Again, with particularly tough stains or dirt, it’s best to let the
professionals handle it.  Get a price quote from your local “green” carpet
cleaning company and keep their business card handy just in case.

Hints for Keeping Your Carpet Clean:

* Encourage your family and guests to remove their shoes at the front
door. Some people have “house shoes” to wear indoors only. This is an
excellent idea for keeping germs and bugs as well as dirt at bay.

* Before vacuuming, go over the carpet with a clothes brush to pick up
hair and lint that the vacuum cleaner may not catch (particularly if you
have pets, or have long hair yourself, and/or an older vacuum, where hair
may get caught in the rotating brushes). You may have read about “brushing
the carpet” in Victorian times. Getting down on your hands and knees to
brush a carpet is a good idea; it’s good exercise, plus you may catch
stains you wouldn’t see standing up.

* Vacuum frequently. Use a vacuum cleaner with good, strong suction,
preferably with a HEPA filter. Ask your local carpet cleaning service what
brand and type they recommend.

* You don’t need expensive scented rug fresheners or deodorizers. Sprinkle
the carpet with plain baking soda about half an hour before vacuuming to
absorb odors.

* Get a spray vacuum or a steam cleaner and use it every few months. (Your
local carpet cleaning company may actually sell these and show you how to
use them; they are a wonderful investment.) Don’t use commercial rug
shampoo; this leaves chemical residue in the air and in the carpet. Use
straight hot water, or mix one cup white vinegar to two gallons of water.
If you must use a shampoo or detergent, find a “green” variety and use it
sparingly. You’ll be amazed at how much dirt you get out of what looks
like a clean carpet!

* Always open the windows and turn on the fans after cleaning the carpet;
ventilation and fresh air are a must.

* Don’t spray-vacuum or steam clean on humid days; it encourages mold.
Unless you don’t mind opening your windows in winter, don’t spray-vac or
steam clean carpets in the winter, either. Save it for your spring
cleaning and just vacuum more often.

Apply these techniques regularly, and your whole house will look, feel and
smell better. Good luck!

A professional cleaning service, if competent and well-trained, can make
your carpets and upholstery look bright and new. The power of
truck-mounted equipment and hot water extraction can make all the
difference in the world.

Begin by looking in the Yellow Pages (in print or online at
yellowpages.com), under Carpet & Rug Cleaners. You will no doubt find at
least a handful, and in a large city, probably a few dozen. How do you
decide which of these companies is right for you? If you are methodical
about it, you can narrow down the choices until you find the best cleaning
service.

Make a few telephone calls and get price quotes, starting with companies
that are smaller and locally-owned. Ask them exactly:

* what they do,

* how they do it,

* how much it costs, and

* what kinds of machines and chemicals are involved.

Truck-mounted equipment is standard, but is not always necessary for a
thorough, professional cleaning job. The good companies will have portable
equipment that does the same job as a truck-mounted extractor. What you
want is to make sure that they vacuum, treat stains, spray with detergent
(what kind?), and have some sort of agitation or scrubbing, then hot-water
extraction — in that order. You also want to make sure that they wear
shoe covers when they come into your home. Many companies describe on
their websites exactly what they do.

Try to find a company such as oxifresh.com that uses “green” or
eco-friendly cleaning products; they’re better for the environment and for
your health and your family’s. This is especially important if you have
pets and/or small children. You can even use the words “green carpet
cleaning” in a web search. Many small, locally-owned companies such as
missoulagreencarpetcleaning.com now offer environmentally safe services –
check in your area.

Don’t base your decision solely on the above, but ask a few more
sophisticated questions.

* Is the company insured and bonded? If they do any damage in your home,
who pays for it?  If you are injured because of something directly related
to the cleaning (breathing fumes, or slipping on a wet carpet) who pays
for it?

* Do they do the work themselves? Some places advertising themselves as
carpet/upholstery cleaning companies are actually sub-contractors who hire
the work out to a third, independent person. Some of these are good, but
many are not! You can’t take that risk.

* Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau? (Often it’s a
good idea to check the company out with the BBB at http://www.bbb.org to
see what their record is.)

* Ask around the neighborhood — talk to people at your church, school,
grocery store. Has anyone ever heard of or employed this company? How
satisfied were they? Look on the internet and see if the company is listed
on any consumer reports-type websites, and what kind of ratings they
received.

* Are the workers trained and certified with an organization such as the
Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
(http://www.iicrc.org) or the Restoration Industry Association
(http://www.ascr.org)?

* Do they have an iron-clad guarantee — if they messed up, missed
something, or in any way you are not pleased with the results, do they
offer a full refund?, will they come back and correct the problems for
free?

It’s not impossible to find high quality carpet and upholstery cleaning
service at reasonable prices. Follow these guidelines, and you will avoid
a lot of unnecessary frustration.

Deciding to clean your carpets yourself can save you money.  However,
before you clean them, you will want to take the time to research the best
cleaning solutions to use on the type of material your carpet is made
with.  Certain solutions should not be used on many materials.   For
example, bleach products can not be used on carpets containing wool.   Do
the research required or you may cause permanent damage with your home
carpet cleaning techniques.

You will also want to consider the type of stains in the carpet.  Is it
simply dirt build up?  Or is your child or animal prone to accidents?
Urine stains, juice stains, and other cruddy matter may require a
different type of solution.   The solution must be able to break down the
matter and pull it up out of the carpet without doing any damage.   Using
the wrong solutions on stains can actually set them further and make them
a permanent fixture in the material.

When you hire a professional carpet cleaning company, you will find they
will be knowledgeable about all of the available solutions that can be
used on the type of carpet you own.  The stains that haunt your dreams
will be able to be removed by them quickly and efficiently.   Just make
certain you are honest about what the stains actually are, as this will
help them choose the right solution to clean them.

The big questions is whether you want to spend money to hire a carpet cleaning company to get your carpets looking new or do you want to take a
chance and try to figure it out for yourself?  By hiring a professional to
do the job, you can be certain that the job will get done in the most
efficient and effective manner as possible.

So, what do you do to remove stubborn pet odors, stale cigarette smells,
or smelly food spills from your carpet?  You deodorize.

There are many over the counter products being sold in stores today that
promise everything from great smelling carpets to complete sanitation.
The problem is that most of these preparations can’t actually deliver on
their promises, no matter how fastidious the user is.  The problem is that
there is a lack of understanding of the proper methods of removing
specific odors by the homeowner.

Odor chemistry is as diverse as the situations that make them.  The
chemical make up of each odor determines the best method of odor removal.
For example, did you know that a urine stain contains an ammonia base that
is best neutralized with a specific enzyme?  Most people believe that over
the counter carpet stain removers will also remove odors, but most merely
cover it up.  As soon as your nose becomes accustomed to the perfume in
the cleaner, the original odor is noticeable again.  Professional carpet
cleaners are skilled in the art of understanding what causes specific
odors and the best way at removing them.

Your health and the health of your family can also be directly affected by
the improper use of deodorizers.  The chemicals used to remove odors can
poison small children or pets and should be used sparingly.  A
professional carpet cleaner can thoroughly sanitize your carpet, keeping
your carpet from releasing pollutants into your indoor air, reducing the
instance of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and allergies.

You should have your carpet professionally cleaned and deodorized at
minimum every year, but it is recommended that you have it done semi
annually, especially in high traffic areas to prolong the life of your
carpet and maintain a healthy, happy home.

Oftentimes cat urine not only saturates the carpet but can penetrate the
padding and foundation underneath. When this happens, it is recommended to call in a professional carpet cleaning service.

Steps to Removing Cat Urine

1. Blot the stain with a clean cloth or towel. There is no need to hold
the towel when doing this. Simply place the towel on top of the stain and
press down with your foot. Continue to do this with dry towels until they
no longer appear wet.
2. Saturate the area with clean water. The water should then be removed by
using the process in step one. This process will help lessen the chance
that the odor of the urine will penetrate the carpet. You can also use a
dry vac or steam cleaner to suck up the excess moisture.
3. Mitigate the smell using distilled white vinegar or baking soda.
To remove oder with vinegar, use two parts water to one part vinegar, pour
the mixture directly over the stained area and immediately cover the area
with towels. Leave the towels for at least an hour before removing and
rinsing the area with fresh water. Absorb the water with a clean cloth.
To remove the oder using baking soda, make the area slightly damp and then
sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda. Agitate the baking soda with a
cleaning brush or cloth and then let it dry. Once dried, it can be removed
by vacuuming the area.
4. Apply a pet stain and odor remover if you still smell or see the
stain. These can be purchased at both the grocery store and pet care
stores.

If these steps fail to remove the stain or the odor, call a professional
carpet cleaner. To help find a qualified cleaner in your area visit
www.carpetcleaning.org.