Cleaning a Cat Mess

Just alike any other member of the family, cats and other pets can get sick periodically. When this happens, a mess can be found just about anywhere, it is up to you to clean it. Cleaning a cat mess can be a little tricky, particularly if you don't want to accidentally remove paint from walls, finish from any woodwork and so on. If you find yourself faced with this situation, never fear! There are a few ways that you can go about cleaning a cat mess, and still have a great looking home.

• TSP. Trisodium Phosphate, or TSP as it is commonly known, is a heavy duty cleaner that will cut through just about any kind of mess. However since this is a heavy duty cleaner, be sure that you carefully follow the instructions on the back of the package when using it. Where possible, use the mildest version that you can mix or find. Also, be sure that you wear rubber gloves when using TSP, since it can dry out your skin something fierce.
• Dish soap. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best, and in this case that would be a mild dish soap. Simply add a small dollop of mild dish soap and a little warm water onto a towel or washcloth, and gently begin to rub the stain away. Products such as Mrs. Meyers or Method work particularly well, since they are a natural product, and generally don't destroy any color on a wall.
• Magic Eraser. Perhaps one of the greatest inventions for cleaning in recent years, the Magic Eraser type of products need to be in your cleaning arsenal. These cleaning tools are great for getting rid of just about any kind of stain that you are faced with, and typically won't remove any paint or color from a wall. Simply get the eraser pad damp, and begin scrubbing away. After scrubbing for a little bit, you will be amazed at how clean your wall is.
• Vinegar. White vinegar is a traditional cleaner used in many households, and can often help remove just about any kind of stain that you may be faced with. However, because it works so well, you need to be a little careful. The white vinegar could remove some of the paint on your wall if you are not careful. This means that you should use as diluted of mixture as you can, and test it first in an inconspicuous spot on your wall before you begin to clean with it.