Keeping Your Clothes Clean in a Pet-Loving Home

2 September 2015
 Categories: , Blog

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The majority of homeowners in the United States have at least one pet in the household. This can translate to muddy paws, gobs of fur, and slobbery mouths all over the place. In the United States, there are about 37% to 47% of households with a dog and 30% to 37% of households with a cat. When it comes to your clothes, you want to make sure that they are far away from mud, fur, and saliva from your pets. While this can be accomplished, it is not always a successful feat. Here are some ways to combat pet stains on your clothing so that you can preserve your great wardrobe. 

When the Stains Hits

As soon as you find a stain on your clothing from your pet, don't freak out. This can make the situation worse by causing anxiety in your animals. It's never a good idea to rub a stain to try and get it out. This can fade the color and cut the fibers in the material. You do not want further damage done to your clothing. Instead, you should always blot the material to help get off any loose residue on it. 

Understanding the Fabric

These days, clothes are made from a plethora of fabric. Natural fabrics are considered wool, leather, muslin, and cotton. Synthetic fabrics are much more common than they used to be thanks to technology. These fabrics include polyester, olefin, acrylic, and nylon. These synthetic fibers are much more sensitive than natural ones and require a more delicate approach to getting them clean. 

Cleaning the Synthetic Fabric

Before you begin cleaning a stain, pretreat it first. As suggested before, you will want to blot at it instead of wiping it. Using both laundry detergent and water, dab at the stain to help keep it from soaking into the fabric. Once you have done this, you can then wash it away with cold water. It is always a good idea to do this in a inconspicuous spot first to see if it discolors the fabric. 

Cleaning the Natural Fabric

For clothing made out of natural materials, you can use a different process to clean them. Combine a mixture of hot water and a tablespoon of color safe bleach to help clean the materials. You don't want to place the material in a dryer or else you could end up setting the stain in the fabric. Hang the item up to dry so you can preserve it better.

To clean pet hair off of either type of fabric, take a rubber glove that has been dampened and run it over the fabric. This should remove most if not all the hair off the clothing. 

If you have a piece of clothing that must be dry cleaned, contact a dry cleaner in Calgary and have your clothes returned in good condition.