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Pet Damage Prevention
 All Pet traffic causes extra wear on flooring products. Long nails often wear floors even faster and create fine scratches which attract dirt and dull the surface. Animals can also get nails caught in carpet fibers and create runs or pulls, not only is this damaging to the carpet but it can hurt the animals paw. Easy way to prevent this is to keep your animals nails trimmed, no matter what species.
A great way to prevent dirt and soil transfer is to wipe-off your pet anytime they come in from the outdoors, including the paws and any other area that were soiled.
Ceramic tile is very resistant to pet damage and sealed tile is stain resistant, and easy to clean. Grout is left unsealed by Molyneaux installers; it is considered maintenance to simply seal the grout 3 weeks after installation.
When accidents occur, clean with a manufacture’s solution, or hydrogen peroxide diluted with water. Note: vinegar is not suggested for use on tile, because of acidity in urine can cause a chemical reaction. Never use an abrasive cleaning powder or an abrasive liquid cleaning product on the tile surface.
Laminate flooring is a great alternative to hardwood or vinyl for larger pets. Laminate has a harder finish than pre-finished and site-finished hardwood floors, it can withstand heavier pets and it is not as sensitive to water stains. In case of an accident on laminate flooring, blot the area with a clean towel. When the area is dry, use 1 cup vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of water. Do not use products containing wax on laminate. Mop the area and allow it to dry.
 Carpet is the most common floor covering and arguably the most vulnerable to pet damage. Danger to carpet includes: pets using their teeth and claws on loops, seams, tufts, or corners of the carpet. Pet urine is a particular problem because it never dries. The urine then becomes a greasy substance that cannot be cleaned and will break down the backing of the carpet. Consider a low pile, tightly woven carpet. To find the best carpet to meet your needs speak with a Molyneaux sales representative.
When an accident does occur: immediately blot stain with a dry, clean, white towel. Apply 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water with a clean towel. Blot. Apply ¼ tsp liquid detergent to 32oz. of water with a towel. Blot with a dry, clean, white towel until area is dry. Professional cleaning also helps deep pet dirt and odor to a minimum.
 Hardwoods are also vulnerable to staining and scratches from pets. If you have a pet, pre-finished hardwood floors are a better choice than site-finished because they have a harder finish which allows them to resist scratches to some degree. Do not place pet bowls on hardwood floors, water should not contact this flooring and even food bowls can trap moisture underneath them. If a pet urinates on the floor it will turn the boards black. Urine can easily be detected by the smell and the use of a black light. Clean only as directed by the flooring manufacturer.
Vinyl flooring is pet resistant; the biggest danger is from unkept nails. Nails can cause tears and gouges in the floor covering as well as daily traffic damage. Use only the Manufacturers cleaners on your new floor. Anything else would have the chance of damaging the top coat and finish of your floor, and in turn void your warranty.
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