You love that your pooch keeps watch over your home by looking out of the window all day long. But you could do without the slobber left behind on the ledge of the window that’s dried into a stubborn spot by the time you get home.
Those that linger around the food dish, evidence of your pup staring lovingly as he watched you reach into the treat jar? Those spots don’t budge, even when you run the mop over them. Even when you grab a wet paper towel to tackle the area, you stand up to see the spot glaring back at you.
Getting rid of the dog slobber spots on your wood floors and other surfaces requires a little bit of science and a little bit of elbow grease, but it can be done. Here’s how:
1. Get to the scene of the crime quickly
The sooner you can get to these spots, the better. The oils, minerals, enzymes, and proteins in saliva are what make drool spots so hard to remove, and the longer you let the stain set, the longer these chemicals will have to do their work on the material they’re sitting on top of. So even though it may be the last thing you want to do, try to clean these spots as soon as they occur.
2. Use the secret cleaning weapon that the pros do
Photo courtesy of NB Design Group
Fill a small bucket with one part vinegar to three parts hot water. Add a few drops of mild dish soap. Hot water will help to loosen the spot. Dish soap is formulated to pick up oils. And vinegar will cut the mineral buildup that occurs naturally in saliva–and makes your doggy’s drool as stubborn as cement.
3. Wax on, wax off
Photo courtesy of Martha O’Hara Interiors
Grab two cotton or terrycloth rags. Saturate one in your solution, then wring out. Leave the other one dry. Being careful not to oversaturate the area, wipe the spot with the wet rag, and then the dry rag, until it’s removed. Voila!
4. Apply an ounce of prevention
Photo courtesy of Landmark Services, Inc.
Sure, you could devote time to cleaning up all of your dog’s drool spots every day. But if you take a few steps to keep them from happening in the first place, you’ll save yourself a lot of effort. You can avoid future spots by laying a large mat under feeding areas, getting your pet a spill-proof water bowl, and by using old towels or coverings to temporarily protect those areas that your dog loves to drool on.
With a little bit of attention and the secret cleaning formula the pros use, you can do away with drool spots for good.
Top Image Credit: Landmark Services, Inc.
What cleaning challenges does your pet give you? How do you deal with them?
