It happens to the best of us: you step outside for one moment and Fluffy or Fido has an accident on your wall-to-wall carpeting. How do you clean up the mess and get rid of the stain and the smell? Here's the lowdown on carpet cleaning, pet stains and odor removal:

• Catch it fast. Ideally, you should clean up the mess immediately after it happens. Once it sets, the stain and odor will be harder to remove.
• Soak it up. If the stain is new, use paper towels to remove as much liquid as possible. Blot the location of the accident until they come away dry.
• Rinse it out. Apply fresh, clean water and blot dry once more to ensure the removal of all substances. 
• Use a pet odor neutralizer. An enzymatic cleaner will completely remove the odor from the area so that your pet won't be encouraged to relieve himself in that area again. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle and test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet to be sure it doesn't stain.
• Let it dry. Vacuum over the area after it has dried. Repeat any of the above steps if necessary.
• Attack it with a stain fighter. If you still see a stain on the area after it dries, you may also need to use a stain remover made specifically for carpets.
• Bring in the pros. If the mess has soaked down into the padding beneath your carpet, you may need some professional help.
• Use positive behavior reinforcement to retrain your pet. Don't scold or punish your pet if he has an accident. Instead, reinforce the behavior you want to see by praising your pet or giving him a treat whenever he uses the litter box or goes outside.

Don't panic! With these tips on carpet cleaning pet stains, your carpet will be clean and smelling fresh in no time.

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