Is it possible to have carpet in your home if you also have pets? 

The short answer to this question is, “Of course!” At Michael’s Flooring & Cabinets, we want our customers to get exactly what they want. If you want carpet, we have options. While hard surfaces tend to be easier to clean when you have furry friends or young children, sometimes you want something softer and cozier—like carpet

Both children and pets come with a host of messes that are just part of life. The key to living with the chaos is choosing the right kind of carpet, handling messes correctly, and keeping the right maintenance plan in place. It is possible to create a cozy home without giving up a life with pets. 

Here are six tips for mixing pets and carpet well in your home:

1. Consider nylon or wool carpets.
Carpets are typically composed of one of three materials: wool, nylon, or polyester. Wool carpet is one of the highest quality carpets you can purchase. They are naturally hypoallergenic and deodorizing. Wool is extremely high in quality, resilient, and long-lasting. Another option would be a synthetic carpet made of nylon. Nylon carpets are more of a mid-grade option but have proven to be quite durable, especially in homes where pets and kids are present. Polyester would be our third recommendation. Polyester carpets are more affordable than nylon or wool carpets, but also tend to be less durable and less resilient. Whichever option you pick, be sure to choose a carpet that is tightly woven. Typically, the tighter the weave, the more durable. Tighter weaves usually aid in preventing snags that might be caused by pet nails or general wear-and-tear over time.    

2. Choose a stain-resistant carpet.

At Michael’s Flooring & Cabinets, we only sell carpet that is stain resistant. All of our carpets are coated with a finish that helps to resist stains. Our carpets are capable of resisting stains from mud, dirt, and some liquids. Our furry friends’ pawprints often involve all three. The coating on the carpet repels particles before these stains set into the carpet and cause a permanent stain. 

If your pet walks through your home with dirty, wet, or muddy feet, here is our recommendation for cleaning up the mess: 1. Let the mud dry. Wiping mud while it is still wet is only going to smear the mud, creating a larger mess. 2. Once dry, vacuum as much of the mud/dirt as you can. 3. Utilize warm water and laundry detergent (just enough to have a few suds) to dab the spots gently. 4. Once dried, vacuum again. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the prints/stain disappears.   

3. Clean up bathroom accidents quickly and correctly.

The quicker the better! Once the stain sits, it will begin to set and cause an odor to develop.

For a urine accident: Absorb the area with paper towels (wearing shoes and stepping on the spot will help with a higher absorption). Do not rub it in! Once absorbed, gather some general deodorizer or make your own using an ammonia/water mix (typically 1 teaspoon ammonia to 1 cup water). Spray this on the area and let sit for several minutes. Use a cloth to scrub the area in a small, circular pattern. Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the remainder. 

For a feces accident: Clean up as much you can with paper towels. Prepare a non-bleach, water, and vinegar solution. This is usually 1 cup water to ½ tablespoon non-bleach soap, and ½ tablespoon vinegar. Spray the affected area. Dab spot with a cloth. Repeat until the spot disappears. Once gone, sprinkle the area with baking soda. After at least 10 minutes (or overnight), vacuum the area using a wet/dry vacuum. 

4. Don’t carpet all the way to the door.

Consider using a hard surface (Luxury vinyl planks, harwoods, or vinyl tile) for an entrance instead of carpeting all the way to the door. We have all of these options at Michael’s! This space at the door allows you to come in from a walk and wipe down or dry off those muddy paws in an area that is not carpet. Hard services are much easier to keep clean than carpet. Make sure you have a towel close by. This should reduce the risk of having muddy paw prints on your carpet.

5. Vacuum frequently and steam clean several times a year.

We would recommend vacuuming at least once per week. Vacuuming will reduce the amount of pet hair that can create odors and weigh the carpet down, causing your carpet to wear out prematurely. Steam cleaning will help to sanitize spaces as well as deodorize particles embedded in the carpet over time. We would recommend steam cleaning at least four times each year. This might be necessary more frequently if your pet is a heavy shedder or tends to drool excessively. Use a carpet-friendly, mild cleaner that will not affect the composition of the carpet. Keep in mind that all pets shed. Vacuuming visible (or invisible) hair and dander will be a proactive way to deodorize and make your carpet last longer. Be sure to move furniture every so often since hair travels and gets trapped under couches, coffee tables, ottomans, recliners, etc. causing unwanted odors overtime. Pay particular attention to spots where your dog sleeps, eats, or plays.

6. Keep your pet(s) groomed. 

Pets’ nails can damage flooring—both carpet and hardwoods. Pets get excited and run around! Long nails can snag carpets and scratch hardwoods. Keep your pets’ nails trimmed and filed to help prevent unnecessary snagging of carpets and/or scratching of hardwoods. Keeping your pets brushed regularly will reduce the amount of fur and dander that can get trapped in your carpets, creating unpleasant odors and wear overtime. 

At Michael’s Flooring & Cabinets, we want to be your expert source for home projects. We hope these expert tips are helpful as you think about the best options for flooring—whether you have pets, kids, or both. We always have a strong selection of in-stock inventory and will also come to your home to measure and provide a quote for free. See you around the store. 

Pets and Carpet
Cute dog sleeping on the carpet in the living room.