Pets and Carpets: Do They Match?

Who wouldn't like to have a playful and loyal friend to greet them at the door every day? Most people like pets as they offer great companionship and many happy moments together. What's more, recent research suggests your furry friend is actually good for your health. On the other hand, many homeowners will testify that dogs and cats are not so kind to your flooring. Especially when you enjoy the warmth of a carpet.

Accidents, wear and tear and tracked in gifts from the garden are major causes of damage to your textile flooring. However, you don't have to sacrifice the comfort and aesthetic appeal of your home by avoiding carpet installation for the sake of your four-legged friend. Fortunately, you can have both! There are rugs that are compatible with pets. Here is a guide to help you choose a carpet that will withstand the wear and tear caused by your beloved pets.

Why Carpet Instead of Hard Floor?

Simply because a combination of hard floor surfaces and playful and boisterous animals is a disaster waiting to happen. Wood, linoleum and tile are not suitable material for a home with pets. Besides being too slippery for energetic animals running, hard surfaces will get scratched and ruined fast. Most of the damage caused will be irreversible or too costly to repair. That's why a non-slippery surface is highly recommended.

Pet-Friendly Carpet

Yes, such a thing exists! All you need is to know what you are looking for - features like durability and stain-resistance are on top of the list. You require a carpet that can sustain a heavy dose of wear and tear to continue look great for a long time.

Until science and innovation changed how people make carpets, today there is a myriad of synthetic fibres like nylon, olefin and polyester. Although the most popular, cherished and eco-friendly fibre for a carpet is wool. Unfortunately, it's not suitable for pets. On the other hand, synthetic fibres offer high durability and stain-resistance which makes them the most practical option.

Although nylon is the most expensive of the synthetic fibre options, it's the most suitable one. To protect your carpets from damp damage caused by pet accidents, place water-resistant underlay. It's an investment that will repay over time. What's more, it'll prevent mould and bacteria growth.

Tackling Damage

Dark coloured carpet will hide unfortunate accidents better than a light coloured one. However, you can't leave it that way, but should act immediately to remove the stain. In such cases you can use either commercial urine eliminating product or a range of household cleaning products like baking soda to remove liquid and white vinegar to neutralize unpleasant odours.