There are so many reasons why people love dogs. They bring joy to our lives and keep us company. Some even help us get through tough times. But I’m pretty certain that no matter how much you love your fur baby, cleaning up after your pup isn’t really an activity you enjoy.

Why It's important to always clean up after your dog

Our feelings aside, proper pet waste disposal is simply something we need to do as responsible dog parents and as good members of the community. Here are other reasons why you always need to scoop that poop:

• Pet waste poses health risks to humans and even other pets when accidentally ingested
• Pet waste may contaminate and affect your water quality especially when it rains or when its toxins get absorbed back into the earth.
• It can contribute to the depletion of oxygen in the air because it contains high amounts of nitrogen.
• Pet droppings if left unattended may cause unnecessary accidents at home.
• It’s illegal in most countries to leave dog poop lying around. So if you don’t want to go to jail, just pick up that poop.
• More responsible pet owners means possibly more places to run with your dog
• Scooping daily at home prevents odors from sticking around for extended periods of time
• Dog poo, when collected, makes a mean compost for your garden

How do you pick up dog poo

In most cases, a plastic bag or some scooper is enough to pick up dog poop. But there are a lot of situations where these tools may prove useless. So here’s a list of areas where your dogs might do their business:

1. At home

It’s basically easier to scoop your dog’s poop if you’re indoors. But that’s only true if your dog poops on the floor. If that’s the case, you can pick it up using disposable paper or plastic or even with simple tools like a dust pan or an actual poop scooper. Just don’t forget to wipe the surface with disinfectant to remove all traces of possible contaminants.

On the other hand, if your pooch defecates on other areas at home like on the carpet or even on your bed, the basic techniques stay the same. You just need to do laundry a bit earlier to remove the stain on your bed. For carpets, you may use stronger disinfectants or at home remedies like a detergent-vinegar solution.

1. On the grass

Whether your dog poops on your backyard or at the park, you need to be aware how to properly scoop that up. If the poop is on your own area though, you can wait for a few days until the feces dries up before scooping. But if you’re in a public place, simply pick up the poo with a plastic bag or a scoop and throw it in a waste disposal bin.

1. On the pavement

If your dog poops on the road or at a public place, you have to be prepared with a dedicated plastic bag and a poop scoop to pick up your dog’s waste.

1. On sand

The good thing about sand is it helps solidify or clump dog poop. This makes it easier for you to pick it up and dispose of it properly. Use a scoop, and a plastic bag to deal with this easily.

1. On ice or snow

During the winter season, regular tools may not be helpful for your poop picking needs. It’s better to use a sturdier tool like a garden shovel to properly remove the poop and avoid breaking rakes or other fancy equipment.

All of these techniques are mainly applicable if your dog has solid poop. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, if your dog has an upset stomach or has diarrhea, then your pet’s feces will probably be wet. If that’s the case, there are freezing tools that you can use to solidify the waste. If that happens on the grass in your backyard, just spray it with a garden hose until it moves to your garden bed and wait it out to dry. However, if it happens to carpets or even beds, I’m afraid you can either call a professional to help you out or just toss it in the trash and get yourself new carpet tiles or new sheets.

Moreover, if poop can be found on your dog itself, what you can do is carefully remove the poop using a plastic bag and use pet-friendly disinfectants to clean your dog. You may also bathe your pup after disinfection to be sure.

What you need at hand to clean up after your dog

Whether you’re at home, in the park, or in the mall, there are several materials you need for a hassle-free and hygienic cleanup time.

• Poop Bags- Ordinary plastic bags are better off getting recycled instead of thrown away with your furbaby’s waste. Luckily, there are biodegradable waste bags you can purchase for a guilt-free cleanup session.

• Old newspapers or paper bags - When you’re out of biodegradable poop bags, the next best option would be to use old newspapers or paper bags until you’ve replenished your supply.

• Club soda/vinegar solution - Believe it or not, it’s tougher to deal with pet vomit than solid poo. Worry not, there’s a step by step guide on how to clean dog vomit later on in this article.

• Disinfectant - Just because you picked up the droppings doesn’t mean the surface where it made contact with is also clean. You need a strong disinfectant to make sure that all traces of the toxic waste have gone.

• Stain and odor remover - To ensure that all surfaces and even the surrounding air are free of unwanted traces of poop or pee, a stain/odor remover will also be handy.

• Disinfectant wipes - Aside from cleaning the place where the poop or pee landed, you also need to clean your pet in places where the waste came from, if you don’t want them tracking traces of it all over the house.

• Hand sanitizer - Finally, you need a strong hand sanitizer to rid your hands of any waste that you might have accidentally touched while cleaning up after your pet. Thoroughly wash your hands before applying sanitizer for the best protection against accidental ingestion and unwanted odors.

What to do if your dog vomits on your carpet

Poop isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. Dogs vomit, too. And when this happens directly on top of your expensive carpet, don’t worry. There are ways in which you can restore the former glory of your homes.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Do it right away. Acid and enzymes present in vomit can permanently damage your carpet if you’re not quick.
2. Scrape off as much as you can. Use a dustpan or anything blunt and flat to dislodge the worst of it.
3. Use disinfectant wipes or a cloth dampened with baking soda or vinegar solution to blot (not scrub) the stain. This will minimize any possible damage on your carpet while removing puke and odors that may be trapped in between the fabric.
4. Let the carpet air dry.
5. If foul odors remain after the carpet has dried up, spread half a cup of baking soda to remove all traces of the vomit.
6. Vacuum off the baking soda, then spray over a layer of odor remover to seal the deal.
7. If you weren't able to get to the mess quick enough and you find that the vomit has dried up, don’t try to clean it up yourself without professional help, lest you inflict more damage to your carpet.

What to do if your dog poops on your bed

Before you even think about how to discipline your furbaby for making a mess on the bed, you have to get to the droppings before they penetrate the beddings.

1. Remove the sheets right away. Scrape off the droppings (assuming it’s solid) then soak the sheets right away so any staining will easily fade once you wash the sheets later.
2. Check the damage on the actual mattress. If your dog released urine with poo, your mattress will need deep cleaning. If not, the club soda/vinegar solution discussed above should work.
3. Now, if the mattress is soaked through or if you weren’t able to remove the sheets right away, your best choice is to get professional cleaning help if you really want to salvage the mattress.

That’s about everything you need to know when it comes to cleaning up after your dog. Remember that prevention is always better than cure, well in this case it’s better than having to clean up the mess your furbaby made. So to prevent this from happening, be sure to feed your pets properly and avoid food that will trigger diarrhea. Also, train your dogs to do business at a designated spot in your house or in the backyard to make cleaning much easier. Hope this helps.