Carpet Cleaners That Are Safe for Cats

Maintaining and cleaning carpets in a home are important but what products work best when pets are exposed to the cleaning agents? For cat owners concerned with their pet's heath when using cleaning products, several options are available.

  1. Baking Soda

    • Baking soda offers pet owners an economical and "green" solution with carpet odors. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum to deodorize the flooring.

    Vinegar

    • Using approximately 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water is a safe and effective carpet stain remover.

    Club Soda & Salt

    • Club soda, either alone or combined with salt, can help remove tough stains and clean large areas of carpet when used in a carpet cleaner. For tough stains, crush salt into the stain, then top with club soda.

    Ammonia

    • Ammonia is a widely-used cleaning product that can be used to clean carpeting. To ensure that it is safe around pets, make sure the area being cleaned is well-ventilated, and that the carpet that was cleaned is dry before allowing cats in the area. This product is safe and odorless when dry.

    Simple Green

    • Simple Green products are non-toxic and can be used both on small stains, or as the cleaning solution in a carpet cleaner. A number of commercial products are safe around cats, as long as the directions on the container are followed correctly.

    Precautions

    • Test the above-mentioned solutions on a small, inconspicuous part of the carpet before using on a wide area to ensure it is color-safe on your flooring.