A Survival Guide for Clean Floors (and Sanity)
By Alex Keuylian, Owner of Steamatic of Orange County
We love our pets. They’re family. They greet us at the door, curl up with us on the couch, and occasionally stare at us with an intensity that makes us question who’s really in charge. But for all their charm, pets are basically tiny, furry chaos machines with zero regard for carpet warranties.
Whether it’s a surprise puddle, the infamous hair tumbleweeds drifting across your floors, or a “gift” discovered behind the couch weeks too late—being a pet parent means being on constant cleanup duty.
So, let’s talk strategy.
1. The Art of the Quick Clean-Up
Pet messes, like bad decisions, are best dealt with immediately. The longer you wait, the deeper they go—into your carpet, your floorboards, and eventually, your soul.
For liquid messes (you know the kind), blot—don’t rub. Rubbing just spreads the mess around like a toddler with finger paint. Use paper towels or a clean cloth and press down firmly to absorb as much as you can. Then follow with a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner to break down the odor-causing proteins.
If you don’t have enzymatic cleaner on hand, a mixture of white vinegar and water can work in a pinch—though your house might smell like a salad for a bit.
2. Fur Management: The Endless Battle
Pet hair has magical powers. It finds its way into every corner of your house, your laundry, and sometimes even your lunch. Regular brushing helps reduce shedding, but for what still makes it to the floor, here’s your toolkit:
- Rubber squeegee or gloves: Run them across fabric surfaces and carpets to pull up hair like a magnet.
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter: Especially if you have allergy-prone humans in the house. Bonus points if it has a pet hair attachment.
- Lint rollers (aka your new best friend): Keep one in every room like fire extinguishers, but for fur.
3. Dealing with Repeat Offenders
Some pets love marking their “territory,” even if that territory happens to be your new area rug. In these cases, thorough cleaning isn’t just about removing stains—it’s about removing the scent.
If your pet keeps going back to the same spot, chances are the odor hasn’t been fully eliminated (at least to their super-sniffers). This is where enzyme cleaners really shine—they digest the bacteria causing the smell instead of just masking it.
Pro tip: Never use ammonia-based cleaners. To pets, ammonia smells a lot like urine. That’s not a deterrent—it’s an invitation.
4. Carpet Stain 101
For those moments when your beloved companion decides the living room is the ideal place to throw up the sock they swallowed, act fast:
1. Scoop up solids (sorry).
2. Blot the area with a paper towel.
3. Mix a small amount of dish soap with warm water and gently dab.
4. Rinse with plain water and blot again.
5. Finish with an enzyme cleaner.
And yes, we all have a “sacrificial towel” in the laundry closet. You’re not alone.
When Pet Messes Are Just the Beginning…
Now, for most pet-related messes, a good cleaning routine and a sense of humor are all you need. But sometimes the problem runs deeper—literally.
If your pet’s accident soaked through to the subfloor, if you’re smelling mold, noticing discolored spots on the walls, or dealing with persistent odors no cleaner can touch—it might be time to bring in the pros.
At Steamatic of Orange County, we specialize in handling the bigger messes—the ones your vacuum fears and your mop refuses to speak to. From mold remediation and water damage to fire & smoke restoration and even chemical spill cleanup, we’ve seen (and cleaned) it all.
So keep loving your pets and cleaning up their messes—we’ll be here when the cleanup needs a little more muscle than a lint roller and a prayer.
