If you are a pet owner, chances are that your cat or dog has had at least one accident. Urine, feces and vomit stains are par for the course if you are the owner of an untrained puppy or kitten. There are many ways to prevent pet stains and odor and the wise pet owner will search out information on good house-breaking and litter-training techniques. The diet and health of your cat or dog are also a strong part of the equation. Responsible pet owners are those who are willing to visit and consult with a veterinarian on a regular basis to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to maintain the health of their pets.

When accidents happen, it is important to remove as much of the solid matter as possible. A large metal spatula without holes set aside for only this purpose is an invaluable and inexpensive removal tool. Make sure to label the spatula for pet use only so that it doesn't find itself in the general population of your kitchen utensils! For vomit and feces, the spatula is effective in scraping the solid matter off in an efficient way. Make sure to have a plastic garbage bag handy to dump the mess into. This method works well even for watery messes and can prevent a lot of matter from soaking into carpeting or rugs.

The next step in pet stain removal is to try to absorb or suction up the liquid matter left over from messier feces or vomit and from urination accidents. To effectively absorb liquid from carpeting or rugs, the best method is to use an old towel or several thicknesses of paper toweling or toilet paper. Layering a plastic bag over the towels or toilet paper protects your hand or foot from becoming soiled when pressing the area to wick up the liquid. It is recommended that fresh towels or toilet paper be applied again and pressed into the spot until the majority of the liquid has been absorbed. The other method of liquid removal is to literally suck it up with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or a carpet extractor/carpet cleaner.

When as much solid and liquid matter as possible has been removed, the process of cleaning and deodorizing the pet stain can begin. There are many home remedies touted by people and some work better than others. Baking soda is useful to some extent, but is easily overpowered by most pet stains and odors. The white residue left behind can be permanent and harder itself to remove, especially on colored carpeting and rugs. Vinegar is a known deodorizer as well, but the acidic nature of it can intensify when it mixes with urine stains, making the original smell even worse. Other home concoctions can include things like hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and bleach which wreak havoc on carpeting and can leave many surfaces discolored and faded. Some of these combination's are also toxic and can be dangerous to both people and pets if used indiscriminately.

The best natural remedy for pet stains and spots are enzymes that are applied to the stain and allowed to digest the organic material that is the result of cat or dog accidents. These can take up to 24 hours to work and may need to be reapplied, but the results are worth it. The enzyme based products work by actually removing the root of the problem rather than just masking over it. Enzyme products are also very safe for humans and pets and are recommended in homes with children. The scent of enzyme products are also more desirable than other natural remedies and don't have the chemical smell that commercial solutions posses.