Help: the cat peed on the carpet!
Tout-Petit peed on Suzanne’s carpet. As the misdeed was committed only minutes ago, it is not a tragedy. The victim stands a good chance of surviving without sequelae. Older accidents are more difficult to deal with. A quick intervention to clear the mess can erase the dreadful stain and smell.
Use an old towel or floor cloth to absorb as much liquid as you can. Then sacrifice a bottle of sparkling water to copiously rinse the disaster area and immediately neutralize the acid in the kitty’s urine. Mop it up with kitchen paper, a big sponge or a nappy. Press the latter down with something heavy or your beloved’s foot.
After 5 minutes or so, move to phase 2: i.e. washing the wet surface with a half white vinegar half water mixture. Before your start, to ensure that it doesn't discolor the carpet, test it on a spot that is out of the way. If it doesn’t, go ahead, then blot the area dry and generously sprinkle some soda bicarb on the wet patch. Leave it do dry, vacuum clean it and… breathe.
For hard resisting stains, add a few drops of black soap or clear washing-up liquid to your water-vinegar mixture and repeat the rest of the procedure. Sprinkle with soda bicarb and leave it overnight. The following morning, at the crack of dawn or later, vacuum clean as usual.
You can also prepare a lovely spray bottle to attack the stain after a colour fast test. Fill it with 2 tablespoons of soda bicarb, 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of black soap or clear washing-up liquid and 1 and a half glass of hot water. Close it tight, shake it vigorously and spritz happily. Wait 10 minutes and rinse with sparkling water. Repeat twice or three times if necessary.
Sometimes it may seem like all traces of inappropriate miction have gone, but cat urine can crystallize and stay in carpet fibres. Once you’re done cleaning, to discourage further offences on the same spot, shine a black light on it. This magic device pin points the piddle stains and lingering odors, even those you can't see or smell. If needed, grab your super spray bottle and blast the last embarrassing remains into oblivion.
Other weapons to neutralize stains in:
Les petits dictionnaires à tout faire, les taches
