How to Fix Pet Messes Quickly

Cleaning up a mess is never fun and when it is a pet mess, it can be even more unpleasant. Being cooped up indoors is bound to make even the tidiest furry friend wreak a little household havoc now and then. To give pet disasters the boot, learn three quick fixes for scratches, gnawing, and rug odor.

Things You'll Need

  • Some of these items may or may not be needed.
  • instant coffee, cloth rag, butchers wax, water, small paint brush, baking soda, crayon, matches, lemon juice
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Instructions

  1. How to Fix Pet Messes Quickly

    • 1

      Fix scratched up doors fast is easy. If the dog or cats clamoring to get outside have left scratches on your wooden door, eliminate the marks with a little trick. Makes 1 tsp. of instant coffee and 1 tbsp. of boiling water, then add more coffee or water as necessary until the color matches the wood. Let the brew cool, then apply it to the scratches with a small paintbrush. The coffee acts as a stain that camouflages marks. Wax over the stain. Use a cleaning dry cloth to apply a thin layer of protective butcher's wax through the entire wood surface, then buff with another clean dry cloth. That way, when your pet paws at the door, his nails will scratch only the wax and not the wood.

    • 2

      Fast fix those gnawed-on table legs. If your four-legged friend sinks his teeth into your table legs, fix the pet messes quickly by filling in the dents with a crayon in a matching color. First, remove the paper wrapping. Hold the crayon over the dents, and light a match under one end of the crayon until it melts and drips into the nicks. Then use your finger to work the crayon wax into the wood so it feels smooth and level with the rest of the legs surface. Don't worry if some of the wax drips outside of the dent. Just rub it in, and it will polish the wood. Spray the spot with lemon juice to make it a no-gnawing area. The acidic taste of citrus is unpleasant, so they will stop chewing and eventually learn to stay away rather then chance a nibble.

    • 3

      Cleaning trapped in rug odor is never fun. When the scent of you're pet lingers in your carpet and upholstery, generously sprinkle the area with baking soda, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum. The sodium bicarbonate balances the acidic pH levels that give fabrics that distinctive odor, leaving the your rugs and sofa smelling fresh. After cleaning the carpet, give your pet a spring treat of her own with a dry bath at least once every two weeks. Simply shake some baking soda on the pet's coat, then brush it all out. The powder neutralizes odor causing dander, while the brushing keeps it from spreading throughout your home.