How To Clean Up Dog Poop
Owning a dog is generally always a delight, but this task does come with a few downsides, one of which is having to clean up dog poop. If you’ve been a pet owner for long, you may know how to clean up dog poop, but if not, you may be wondering how to do this task most efficiently.
Thankfully, cleaning up dog poop isn’t hard when you have the right materials. Here are a few things to think about when it comes to cleaning up dog poop.
How To Clean Your Dog's Poop
Depending on what surface your dog poops on, you may want to try a few different cleaning methods to reach an effective solution.
Clean Poop on Carpet
Want to clean dog poop off of your carpet? There are a few steps to do this.
- Use a plastic bag to pick up as much of the solid waste as possible.
- If your dog has diarrhea, don’t simply wipe the poop and spread it around—scrape as much as you can with an item like a putty scraper and use a paper towel to soak up as much of the rest as you can. You may need to let diarrhea dry overnight before continuing to clean.
- Clean the remaining mess. You have a couple options here: you can use an enzymatic cleaner if you have one, or go ahead and mix a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar to spray on the area. You can also try soda water!
- If your dog leaves diarrhea, a solution of 16 ounces of water, 3 ounces of vinegar, and 2 or 3 drops of Dawn dish soap will work best.
- Wipe as much of the mess up as you can. Be sure not to press too hard on the mess as you may end up grinding more into the carpet fibers.
- Repeat as needed to remove the moisture and stain.
- If the stain remains, you can either spray a bit of hydrogen peroxide over it (not too much, as that could worsen the stain) or sprinkle over some baking soda and let it sit for 30-60 minutes before vacuuming it up.
Clean Poop on Vinyl, Tile, or Wood
If your dog pooped on your vinyl, tile, or wood floor, rejoice! Cleaning this dog poop will be much easier than cleaning it off of carpet.
- Start by scooping up as much poop as possible with a plastic bag.
- Use an enzymatic cleaner or a mix of water and vinegar to clean the floor.
- For vinyl flooring, a solution of one cup vinegar and two tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water will work best.
- Scrub, rinse, and wipe up!
Clean Poop on Upholstery
If your dog pooped on a couch, pillow, chair, or similar item, you’ll want to be extra careful during the cleaning process.
- First, remove as much waste as possible.
- Blot the stained area with soda water.
- Use a cleaner that has been specially made for upholstery.
- Be sure to rest the cleaner on an inconspicuous area of the furniture or cover first to ensure it doesn’t leave a mark that will ruin your item.
- Repeat as necessary.
Clean Poop on Concrete, Gravel, or a Deck
If your dog poops outdoors in the sand or grass, all you have to do is pick up the poop and throw it away in a sealed bag.
However, if your dog poops on concrete, gravel, or your deck, you may want to clean it up a little more thoroughly.
For concrete or the deck, simply sprinkle some baking soda over the area and let it sit for a time—overnight may be best. Then, sweep or rinse away the baking soda and you’re good to go.
If the dog poop is on gravel and you’ve picked most of it up, you can simply spray the area with a bit of water and bleach to kill any lingering germs or odors.
Clean Dog Poop on Leather
If your dog manages to soil a seat or other leather item, the cleaning process is a bit more complicated.
- Remove as much solid waste as possible.
- Combine one tablespoon each of lemon juice and cream of tartar.
- Smooth the mixture on the spot and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Wipe the mixture away with a damp sponge.
- Rinse the sponge and repeat as necessary.
Clean Poop on Fabric
If your dog poops on a blanket, towel, or clothing item, then take these simple steps.
- Clean as much waste as possible.
- Mix a solution of one part laundry detergent to ten parts water.
- Blot onto stain with a brush.
- Dry with a towel.
- Rinse.
- Launder according to directions on the item.
Why Cleaning Dog Poop Matters
Besides the fact that it’s ugly and smells horrible, there are two other main reasons you want to clean your dog’s poop.
- Dog poop can carry germs and bacteria, including those from zoonotic diseases that can pass to humans (these include salmonella, E. Coli, and worms).
- Dog poop leaves an odor which may lead your dog to believe that the smelly spot is their new toilet and cause them to continue pooping and peeing there.
It’s important that you use a disinfectant when cleaning dog poop from areas with which people (especially children) or other dogs may come into contact to prevent the spread of germs and disease.
It’s also crucial to use an enzymatic cleaner or something similar to rid the soiled area of a lingering odor. Some of the best enzymatic cleaners include Nature’s Miracle, Angry Orange, and Rocco & Roxie stain and odor removers.
If you can follow these fairly simple poop cleaning steps, it should be easy to keep your dog and your home healthy and happy for a long time to come.
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