The Scoop on Cleaning up Poop and Other Pet Messes

Pet Sitters International offers pet owners 8 steps to properly clean up a pet mess

As the saying goes, “Stuff happens.” Pet messes can range from urine and fecal matter to vomit and blood. Proper sanitation is important for both pets and their owners.

In recognition of National Scoop the Poop Week, April 24-30, Pet Sitters International (PSI) offers pet owners tried-and-true advice for cleaning up after their pets.

Biological materials like vomit and diarrhea can be more difficult to properly clean, since the dyes in pet foods and medications can stain fabric, carpeting and other flooring materials. If a pet owner is faced with this type of mess to clean, PSI recommends the following steps:

First, and most importantly, check on your pet. Seek immediate veterinary care if needed.

Put on gloves. Use a paper towel or other disposable item to pick up as much of the soiled material as possible without pressing any of the matter into the carpet, furniture, etc.

If the matter is runny, use a small, solid metal spatula to lift the biological material off the carpet. Be sure to sanitize the spatula after use.

Dispose of the matter and paper towels in a small plastic or zipper bag that can be taken out of the house. Double bagging helps prevent leaks. Any other disposable materials should also be discarded in this bag and then placed into a larger trash bag.

Use a hand-held or upright steam cleaner to extract remaining soiled material. If you don’t have a steam cleaner, use a small scrub brush, but be careful not to over scrub. Use paper towels as needed to pick up remaining biological materials.

Once the matter has been removed, apply a pet bacteria/enzyme digester to eat away any remaining biological materials and remove any remaining stain and odor. Cover the area with a damp towel and let the enzyme work on the stain. Keep pets away. Rinse with warm water or a steam cleaner.

Sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes before vacuuming. Dispose of all paper towels in a plastic or zipper bag.

Remove and dispose of gloves. Wash hands with warm water and anti-bacterial soap.

An entire chapter is devoted to sanitation in the PSI Certified Professional Pet Sitter Program. PSI's Certification Program is tailored exclusively for professional pet sitters and is designed to provide the knowledge necessary for professional pet sitters to excel in pet care, health and nutrition, business and office procedures, and added services for pet-sitting businesses.

For more information about PSI or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, please visit www.petsit.com.