Suggested Cleaning Procedures
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The most common disease organisms dealt with in foster animals are viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi. It is important to consider all objects with which a foster animal may come into contact and disinfect accordingly. This will help protect your companion animals and any future fosters.
Cleaning Agents
It is important to consider which cleaning agents are safe to use on certain surfaces. All surfaces may not be able to be cleaned, but thorough washing and/or vacuuming helps in decreasing the number of environmental pathogens. In order to decide on the effectiveness of a particular cleaner, it is important to determine the active ingredients, strength and proper contact time.
Remove all animals from areas being cleaned and do not return until all surfaces are dry and fumes are gone.
Using Bleach As A Disinfectant
The recommended dilution is 1 part bleach to 30 parts water (1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water) and the recommended contact time is 10 minutes. Color safe bleach does not disinfect like regular bleach.
Wash animal laundry in a separate load from family laundry. Don’t use fabric softener. Use unscented dryer sheets only to cut down on static cling if desired.
CAUTION: Do NOT use Tilex!
It contains antifreeze and is deadly if ingested by animals.
Reading Labels
It is important to read the labels on non-toxic, environmentally friendly products like Simple Green. It is not a disinfectant. The company does make Simple Green D which is a disinfectant. This also applies to newer products, including Clorox Wipes. Bleach is not an ingredient in this product!
Products like Febreze are generally safe to use in a home with animals; however, some animals can have allergic reactions. Use these products with discretion.
Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
Has your foster animal left “scent marks” of urination and/or defecation on your floor and/or furniture? A black light will show urine stains. Just turn out all the lights in the room, use the black light to locate soiled areas and lightly outline the area with chalk.
Carpeting and Upholstery
- Soak up as much urine as possible with a combination of newspaper and paper towels. The more fresh urine you can remove before it dries (especially from carpet) the simpler it will be to remove the odor. Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and cover with a thick layer of newspaper. Stand on this padding for about 1 minute. Remove the padding; repeat until the area is barely damp.
- Rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean, cool water. After rinsing, remove as much of the water as possible by blotting or using a vacuum designed to pick up liquids.
- Neutralizing (enzymatic) cleaners will not be effective on the area if you have previously use cleaners or chemicals of any kind t until you have rinsed ever trace of the old cleaner from the carpet. To remove all traces of an old chemical, consider renting an extractor or wet vac from a local hardware store. This machine operates much like a vacuum cleaner and is an efficient, economical rinsing method.
- Use a high quality pet odor neutralizer available at pet supply stores (look for “enzymatic” cleaners). Test the affected surface for staining first. Read and follow the instructions carefully.
- If the area still looks stained after it is completely dry from extracting and neutralizing, try any good carpet stain remover.
- If the urine has soaked down into the padding underneath your carpet and/or into wooden baseboards, cleaning will be more difficult. You may need to remove and replace that portion of your carpet padding.
- If possible, take the FRESH, urine soaked paper towel to the area where it belongs, such as your dog’s designated outdoor “bathroom area” or the cat’s litter box and let your foster watch you do it. Act Happy! This will help to remind your animal that eliminating is not a “bad” behavior as long as it is done in the right place.
- Make the appropriate “bathroom area” rewarding and teach the animal where you want him/her to urinate/defecate. The retraining period may take a week or more. It took time to build the bad habit and it will take time to replace that habit with a new, more acceptable one. Treat your foster with patience and lots of encouragement.
- Use of ammonia based products will only increase the risks of animals eliminating in that spot again.
Floors and Walls
- If the wood in furniture, walls, baseboards or floors is discolored, the acid in the urine has affected the varnish or paint. The layer of varnish or paint may need to be removed.
- Washable enamel paints and some washable wallpaper may respond favorably to enzymatic cleaners. Read the instruction carefully and test in a less visible area.
Laundering
- Machine wash item as usual adding a 1-pound box of baking soda to the wash along with your regular detergent. Allow the item to “air dry” if possible.
- If you can still see or smell the stain, machine wash again and add an enzymatic cleaner. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. Enzymatic cleaner can be purchased at pet supply stores.
- To discourage future accidents on bedding, cover the bed with a vinyl, flannel backed tablecloth. They are machine washable and inexpensive.
