Pets bring joy to our homes, but they also pose challenges when it comes to maintaining clean floors, especially tile and grout. Pet hair, dirt, paw prints, and accidents can quickly lead to grime buildup and stains. However, with a few thoughtful strategies, pet owners can keep their tile and grout cleaner for longer. There are some practical tips for maintaining your floors while keeping your furry friends happy that we at Laurelwood Carpet Cleaning would like to share today.

Regular Sweeping & Vacuuming

Pet hair, dirt, and debris can quickly accumulate on tile floors, making it essential to sweep or vacuum regularly. A vacuum designed for hard floors with a pet-friendly attachment can effectively pick up fine particles, preventing dirt from settling into grout lines. Sweeping daily, especially in high-traffic areas, ensures that dirt doesn’t get embedded in the grout, making cleaning easier and more effective.

Use Doormats at Entryways

Pets often track dirt and debris into the home, especially after outdoor walks. Placing doormats at all entryways helps trap dirt before it reaches your floors. Additionally, wiping your pet’s paws with a damp cloth or pet wipes can minimize the mess. This reduces the amount of dirt and moisture that can seep into grout lines, helping preserve the cleanliness of your tile.

Clean Up Accidents Immediately

Accidents are a common reality for pet owners, especially with puppies or older pets. Pet urine, feces, or vomit can seep into grout and cause lingering stains and odors if not cleaned up immediately. Blot up excess moisture with a clean cloth, then use a pet-safe cleaner or a mixture of water and vinegar to disinfect and neutralize odors. For tough stains, a baking soda paste can help lift stains from grout. Prompt attention to accidents prevents deeper damage and keeps your grout and tile looking fresh.

Seal Your Grout

Grout is porous and prone to absorbing moisture, dirt, and stains. Sealing your grout forms a protective barrier, making it more resistant to liquid and dirt. Sealing also makes cleaning easier, as dirt will not be able to penetrate the grout as easily. Apply a high-quality grout sealer every 6 to 12 months, depending on the amount of foot traffic and cleaning, to maintain its effectiveness and preserve the appearance of your grout.

Use Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products

Conventional cleaners can be harsh and toxic to pets. Opt for mild, pet-safe cleaning solutions that are free of harsh chemicals, as they are gentler on both your tiles and your pets. A pH-neutral cleaner will effectively remove dirt and stains from tile and grout without leaving harmful residues. These products are safer for your pets, especially if they spend time on the floor.

Groom Your Pet Regularly

Regular grooming can significantly reduce the amount of pet hair, dirt, and oil that ends up on your floors. Bathing your pet regularly and brushing their coat can help minimize shedding and prevent dirt from being tracked indoors. By reducing the amount of debris your pet sheds, you’ll prevent it from accumulating in grout lines and making cleaning more difficult.

Use Area Rugs or Mats

In high-traffic areas where your pet spends the most time, consider using area rugs or mats. These can catch dirt and hair before they reach the tile, protecting your grout from stains. Rugs are easy to remove and clean, preventing the buildup of debris. Just make sure to wash them regularly to avoid them becoming a source of dirt.

Professional Cleaning & Maintenance

Despite regular cleaning, grout can still accumulate stubborn stains and dirt over time. Scheduling professional tile and grout cleaning every 6 to 12 months ensures that your floors stay in top condition. Professionals have the tools and expertise to deep-clean grout lines and tile surfaces, removing dirt and stains that home cleaning methods can’t reach.

Tile & Grout Cleaning & More in Greater Studio City, California

With a bit of extra effort, pet owners can keep their tile and grout cleaner for longer. Regular sweeping, prompt accident cleanup, sealing grout, and using pet-friendly cleaners will help maintain your floors. Grooming your pets and using area rugs can also reduce the mess. By following these steps, you’ll enjoy a cleaner home and healthier tile and grout, all while keeping your pets safe and happy. Call Laurelwood Carpet Cleaning for professional tile and grout cleaning.

One of the best feelings in the world is having a clean home. In fact, researchers at Princeton University conducted a study in 2011 that found clutter can make it difficult to concentrate on a specific task. This all but proves that a clean home equals a clearer mind! If you have growing children or pets, then you know all too well how difficult it can be to keep up with day-to-day cleanliness. Having clean floors and maintaining them can be especially challenging, unless you have an amazing carpet cleaning company to help you combat the mess. Laurelwood Carpet Cleaning is here with a few helpful tips to help you keep your carpets cleaner for longer.

Treat Carpet Stains ASAP

If you see a stain or notice a spill on your carpets, treat the stain right away before it gets set in. We have many helpful resources for different types of stain removal in our prior blog posts. Always remember, when treating a stain, always blot the affected area, never rub! Rubbing will push the stain deeper into the carpet fibers making it harder or even impossible to remove.

Vacuum Carpet Often

If you have a home that experiences a lot of traffic, then we recommend vacuuming daily, for homes with less traffic, at least 3x weekly. Even if your carpets don’t appear to be dirty, they are harboring more than what meets the eye. We live in a giant dustbowl here in the valley. The average homes collects around 40 pound of dust a year, guess where the majority of that dust ends up? You guessed it! Your carpets! By vacuuming daily, you can greatly reduce the number of contaminants hiding in your carpets.

Carpet Odor Removal Treatment

Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets a few times a month before vacuuming. This will help to absorb any unpleasant odors in the fibers of your carpets and will leave them smelling fresh. Avoid using carpet powders, they leave a residue on your carpet that can make them stain quicker.

Keep Food & Drink Off of Carpeted Areas

We know, we know. Kids have a mind of their own and don’t always follow the rules. But by implementing a no food/drinks allowed policy you can eliminate a major factor in the staining on your carpets.

Use Rugs & Runners

We recommend placing runners and rugs in any high traffic areas and under your coffee or end tables. This will allow the rugs to take more of a beating than your carpet does and intercept those unwanted and unsightly black traffic marks down the hall or in the entry way.

Professional Steam Carpet Cleaning

Choose a good quality carpet cleaning company to deep clean your carpets 1-2x yearly- Beware of discount carpet cleaners. You will benefit greatly from choosing a high-quality, reputable carpet cleaning company with powerful, truck mounted equipment. These powerful machines will give you a truly deep clean and extract most of the water from your carpets, which will cut drying time in half and eliminate the risk of growing mildew or harmful mold in your carpets. Steam cleaning effectively removes 99% of harmful bacteria, viruses and toxins that linger in your carpets, keeping your family and pets healthier all year-round.

Carpet Cleaning & More in Greater Studio City, California

Laurelwood Carpet Cleaning offers high-quality carpet cleaning services with both steam and dry clean methods. Follow these steps and be on your way to clean floors all year long. Give our office a call to schedule your carpet cleaning today!