Your cat or dog made a rest stop on the guest-room carpet a few hours ago (surprise!), and you have guests coming for the weekend. How do you make the spot (and smell) disappear? First, blot up any remaining urine (as much as possible). Then, if your rug is vinegar-safe (see below), mix one-half cup of white vinegar with one-half cup of water, and sponge it into the fibers. After a few minutes, blot the area and repeat the procedure. Then combine one-quarter cup of table salt with one-quarter cup of baking soda, and cover the wet spot with the mixture so that it absorbs the wetness. Wait until the baking soda/salt mixture dries—it may take a few hours—then vacuum.

To make sure your rug is vinegar-safe: Test carpet swatches or a tiny, inconspicuous patch of each carpet and rug in your home with white vinegar. If the color of any of the test patches changes, don’t use the vinegar solution on that carpet or rug. Instead, if your pet has an accident on that rug, you’ll want to deal with it immediately by blotting the spot and covering with a thick layer of table salt. Wait until the salt hardens to vacuum (overnight, if possible).

For more help with hard-to-handle household stains…

 

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