Picking up after your pup is one of the most vital responsibilities as a pet owner. Dog feces can transmit diseases to people, including salmonella and giardia infections that could otherwise spread throughout the community.
If your dog pooped on any surface other than grass or sand, you should wash it off using water with diluted bleach as an additional measure to kill bacteria and protozoa.
1. Use a Plastic Bag
Picking up dog poop may not be enjoyable, but it’s part of being an responsible pet owner and is vital in keeping our environment and community clean. Once collected, place it in either a garbage can or plastic bag to be disposed of responsibly as flushing may harm drain systems; make sure that if using plastic bags that they close securely before discarding or placing in toilet.
As part of their eco-friendly poop disposal efforts, many dog owners rely on plastic grocery bags as an affordable, convenient and readily available means. According to the Federal Trade Commission however, these bags may not be as eco-friendly as advertised despite claims on packaging that state they are biodegradable or degradable; rather they contain materials which take hundreds of years to break down in landfills or compost bins.
To protect the earth and reduce microplastic pollution, opt for eco-friendly options like biodegradable poop bags made of plant starch that decompose within weeks into carbon and water or compostable compostable bags or paper bags which are 100% recycled.
If your pup pooped on a surface other than grass, such as gravel or asphalt, and this area is often visited by people, consider washing down the surface with a diluted bleach solution to kill bacteria or protozoa before using a metal brush to scrub away organic stains. Or try wiping down with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water before the stain has set; this will also stop it browning as it dries. Alternatively, for hard-set poop use an enzyme cleaner; this product can quickly break down organic stains quickly!
2. Wash Down the Surface
Pets can be great companions, but they’re also notorious pooper-uppers. No matter how diligently you attempt to potty train and keep them on a schedule, accidents will inevitably happen and it is vitally important that when they do occur you’re prepared for cleaning them up effectively in a way that won’t spread germs further – this is particularly important if the incident involves carpet or upholstery as these surfaces often leave deep-set stains that require professional services to eliminate.
First and foremost, it is necessary to collect any pet poop that accumulates but it’s also vitally important to disinfect any surfaces it might have fallen upon with disinfectants, in order to prevent bacteria or protozoa from growing there and potentially making people sick. Doing this regularly is recommended to help ensure both you and your family remain healthy.
Hydrogen peroxide works well to both attack organic stains and kill germs at once. Be careful to saturate only certain parts of your carpet fibers or it could stain them as well.
Pet stores sell commercial pet waste freezing sprays that contain aerosolized oxygen for easier pickup in outdoor areas where rain has softened waste to make collection and disposal simpler. They may be particularly helpful when picking up runny dog waste that needs to be collected quickly and disposed of efficiently.
Baking soda is an effective natural deodorizer that can be used on both hard and soft surfaces, including carpet. Simply sprinkle some over any soiled area and leave it overnight to absorb odors before vacuuming up. Alternatively, try mixing lemon juice and baking soda to form a paste, or adding vinegar with pet-safe essential oils for an alternative approach.
If the poop happens on your car or furniture, using an enzyme-based cleaner or laundry booster to pre-treat any stain will help. Finally, launder as per manufacturer instructions to remove any residual smells or stains; depending on how soiled your item is and its age of smell can require multiple rounds of this process.
3. Scrub the Area
As a dog owner, you are responsible for picking up after your pet and disposing of its waste properly. Failure to do so can result in serious health concerns for both your animal and human family members – such as hookworms, roundworms and diarrhea; in addition to polluting the environment and creating offensive odors in your backyard.
Make poop cleanup part of your daily routine to minimize unpleasant odors and diseases by keeping an eye on your dog’s digestive schedule, collecting his poop every time he goes outside, and picking it up at each opportunity – this way poop won’t sit around long enough for flies to lay eggs in it!
Carpeted areas can use an enzymatic cleaner to quickly get rid of both smell and stain from pet waste, breaking down proteins found in it for easier washing away. To use, first scoop up solid poop, blot any residual moisture away with paper towels, apply cleaner as directed, wait a while until dry then vacuum to eliminate any remaining traces.
Homemade cleaning solutions can also be created easily using equal parts water and vinegar, then applied directly onto the stain for about 10 minutes before pouring or spraying it directly on it. Blot the area instead of rubbing to lift as much of the stain as possible before repeating this process until all spots have dried fully between treatments.
Training your dog to go in the same spot each time may take some effort, but it will certainly pay off in terms of cleanliness and health benefits. Not only can this make the yard cleaner, but it could help prevent your pup from dehydration and illness as well. Plus, cleaning up dog waste immediately means the odor won’t have a chance to spread; plus using disinfecting spray will leave it fresh-smelling clean for your pup to return to.
4. Dry the Area
No matter where you work, it is crucial that the area be dried completely after picking up dog poop, both indoors and outdoors. Doing this helps stop bacteria spread and removes any unpleasant odors lingering after you pick up. Family Handyman suggests spraying surfaces with commercial disinfectants such as rubbing alcohol before using a scrub brush to get rid of remaining stains or dirt before finally applying deodorizer or neutralizer products to bring freshness back into the air.
When cleaning up an outdoor mess, using rubber gloves while cleaning can prevent spreading feces around. Or alternatively you could use a pooper scooper to collect waste into a lobby dust pan that has been lined with trash bags so as to easily scoop and bag it without touching directly the waste itself.
If your pet has an accident on a carpet, try to quickly scoop away any solid pieces before they begin to dry and then blot with paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Alternatively, create a solution of water and vinegar and apply directly onto the stain, before applying more paper towel blotting and eventually vacuuming up.
If the poop is on concrete or another hard surface, such as asphalt, you should wash it down with a mixture of water and bleach in order to eliminate any bacteria or protozoa that might be present – this is particularly important if it’s located in a public space where people might come into contact with it.
Deodorizers or odor eliminators such as Simple Green Odor Eliminator or baking soda may help. Simply sprinkle these products over the area that needs deodorizing and leave for 24 hours to do their work. Alternatively, saturate it with rubbing alcohol or disinfectant solution before thoroughly rinsing to complete its task.
Clean-up schedules are key for making sure you never miss any piles of dog poop, and also help avoid coprophagia – an unpleasant condition in which dogs consume their own feces!