My cat destroyed my old couch. Before purchasing a new one, I taught him to scratch his scratching post for a treat. I started by holding a treat up on the post so when he stretched his claws would get caught, with a "good boy" and I'd give him the treat. Soon he was scratching for treats and leaving the couch alone. THEN we bought the new couch and continued to reward him for using his scratcher.

just wish i'd read these BEFORE i left my cats home with my new white leather sofa and chair (i did know about the tape, but figured it would damage the leather.) each now has one tiny patch of battle scars, but now that the culprit has left his mark he's left them alone.

now, can someone tell me how to keep him away from the peacock feather lampshades i'm making???

Could someone please tell me what that blue chair is and where I might find one like it? I love it! Thanks....

Barkeeper's Friend for cleaning metal scratches on toilet. It contains oxalic acid which chemically reacts with the metal to remove it. Very safe to use and it really works.

My couch is about 3-4 years away from being replaced. However, the fabric is showing it's wear. It's a 3 cushion couch and I'm on the search for some slipcovers that I can make work until I replace it. Any suggestions?

The damage is already done. The backs of our nice upholstered couch is now destroyed (cushions are fine). does anyone have a short and dirty way to protect it without the use of old beach towels? do i really have to sew a slipcover??

what kind of fabric is less prone to damage? khakis??

My cat created scratch marks on our beige leather chesterfield before I was effective in encouraging him to scratch elsewhere. In desperation (felt I had nothing to lose) purchased a few different shades of beige craft acrylic paint - the type that comes in small plastic bottles. In the daylight (important part) I mixed up what I considered to be a good match for the leather chesterfield and with a tiny artist's brush painted the scratch marks.
While not a "perfect" fix, I was surprised how effective this was and something I would recommend for cat distressed leather furniture owners that are not prepared to replace.

i have lived in a great pre war apt. for decades. The building next door just added two floors, I now look out at a cement block wall, which is about 12-20' away from my diningroom, guestroom, bedroom windows. I now just see a wall. Fortunately we still have a lot of light through these windows, so I don't want to obstruct this. In the afternoon it is very gray. Any ideas? Would love to do something with light. Thanks! A.

Seems that in our home, living with pets is all about compromise.
I was lucky enough to randomly choose microfiber for our new sofa a few years ago, and the fabric has turned out to be almost impervious to cat claws.
Maybe not the most stylish choice, but it's such a relief not to have to camouflage damage with throws and pillows.

I also love that blue chair.

I have what I think is water damage between the tile border above my bathtub and the wall next to the tub. About a half inch length of the wall is crumbling away. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this without removing the tiles? Thank you.

I should have said about a half-inch wide by 10-inch length of the wall is crumbing.

One of my favorite ways to clean the microwave is to boil water in a cup, and just let it boil over in the microwave. The steam from the water loosens up most stuff, and if it doesn't, just add more water, run it again, and use some elbow grease!
I've never liked using traditional cleaning products to clean the microwave. Seems like you'd end up eating them. (Ick.)

Note to the cat one:
I've used regular packaging tape and canned air, and the same "PSSSST!" sound as seventy7seconds. Works great!

Beryl - it isn't clear if you are asking for something about window treatments, or additional artificial light sources for your room.

Perfect timing- can someone tell me how to clean the top of a glass-topped stove? I had some pasta water boil over and it's been ugly and a bit smelly when I cook ever since. I've never had a glass top stove before! I've tried all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and magic eraser, but nothing has helped. Any ideas?

there is a company called krypton that makes cat-proof fabric. i've had three chairs recovered in it, because nothing else worked with my cat. they have some nice stuff.

Tea-stained mugs – all you need is a tablespoon of soda crystals dissolved in hot water, and leave for a few hours.
Also, soda crystals and vinegar solution is superb for dealing with limescale.
If you get it around the base of your taps, soak kitchen towel in the solution, wrap it around the tap base and leave overnight. Give it a light scrub the next day and it'll be limescale-free.
Awesome.

Thank you for the encouragement!

For a glass-topped stove, hot soapy water (washing-up liquid soap) should clean it up nicely.

rubberguts, you mean baking soda?

For the glass top stove use baking soda, get it a little wet to make sort of a paste... and a scrubber.

No, soda crystals. You can get it in powder and liquid form. Sodium carbonate.

I tried the coffee grounds approach and it only made my fridge smell worse - like a moldy grave. Yuck!

To clean a glass topped stove: procure one of those paint splatter removal razors in the little plastic holder - available at most hardware stores....remember to purchase replacement razors at the same time. These will remove all guck an get the glass perfectly smooth without using anything other than elbow grease.

@ckal - I used to use a cleaner my previous landlord gave me for my glass top stove, it was slightly gritty, smelly, blue stuff but it worked great.

When that ran out I switched to a vinegar/hot water mix, or I make kind of a baking soda paste and scrub with that. Once when I made a huge mess with a cream sauce the stove seemed to take on a smell. I recall finding some blog that said to cover the stove top in vinegar/water and sprinkle baking soda on top of that. It worked great!

Also, I'll second microwaving some water to clean the microwave. I use a little bowl and usually do it after I've used lemon juice for something, I'll put the "juiced" lemon remains in some water and put it on high for a couple of minutes. It smells great and any gunk/buildup on the inside of the thing wipes off easily.

Does anyone know how to remove stains from porcelain? My tub has subtle dark stains on the bottom that I've never been able to remove. I've tried all kinds of cleaners and bleach. Baking soda works the best and gets some of the stains off but not completely. The stains also return in the same place after a week or so.

gr8 advice! Thanks!

I've tried the scratching post thing, and the cat just laughed at me. Now, she wears purple soft paws and they work great-the cat doesn't mind them and they're easy to apply!

@claires- The only thing I've found that works on this is magic eraser and lots of elbow grease!

Feliway spray for the cat/sofa thing. You just spritz it on the fabric and they leave it alone. Reapply every few days. It's cheapo on amazon and totally worth it. Saved my sofa and carpeting. It's scentless and doesn't hurt the fabric.

How to get a cat to stop scratching and ruining your furniture? Get rid of the cat. A very simple, easy and cost effective solution! And, it might also rid your home of that smelly odor problem too!

You could always get rid of the cat!

Some tub stains respond to a paste of cream of tartar from the baking aisle and and hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore.

This is gross, but cat pee smell on the front door and the wood trim below, where the pee has dripped down. My cat is repeat offender and, though we have tried Nature's Miracle, baking soda, and plain water, whenever the weather warms up the smell reappears. Help!

To the chair inquirers - Urban Outfitters has a very similar one. Check it out here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=17118241

Beryl, I'd pain a mural on the cement blocks outside your windows. A scene that continues when viewed thru all the windows, like a distant horizon over fields

Or you could buy plastic stick on window frosting :)

Beryl, try frosting the glass. I was renting an apartment that overlooked the ugliest (and busiest) alley in the world, but had great light coming through the windows. I got some temporary frosting film from Home Depot and it worked perfectly; I still had all the light I wanted, but I didn't have to see the alley to get it. It was very easy to take down when I moved, too.

Beryl,
Have you considered a window film? You apply them to the glass like mactac and they let light through while blocking the view. AT has done a few posts on them, which you can find if you type "window film" into the search box. Here are a couple that I found:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/window-coverings/adhesive-window-film-by-emma-jeffs-028017

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/window-coverings/plain-frost-window-film-by-graham-brownboston-053033
Good luck!

Claires,

It sounds as though your porcelain tub's finish is "finished". It is probably actually enameled steel and is old. It also probably has been compromised with strong chemicals which have softened the surface allowing the staining. You can replace the tub or get a service to refinish the surface in house. Otherwise you are committed to frequent rinsing with water/bleach solutions, which will further compromise the finish. Sorry.

Scratching cat: A wild and very ill cat adopted us 2 years ago. We took her to the vet and after $400 in bills she began to recover. But, having had cats in the past, I knew what to do. I simply took out a cheap flannel throw and put it where ever I put her. On my lap, on the bed, on the sofa. She associated the throw with her property. When I throw it in the wash, she curls up under the dining table on the floor until it is available.

Barking dog Solution: Child's cheap plastic bicycle horn. Once the puppy is home and 8 weeks old, every time it barks honk the horn and gasp as if astounded by that the dog made that happen while giving the dog a disapproving look. I kept the horn in my house coat pocket and so did my husband. Between us, she was honked 3 times. She is nearing 7 years old and still doesn't bark except when she is in the countryside and encouraged to do so.

Slarmstead, my go-to product is CitriSolve. It is not cheap, but I've found it to be very effective, and I use it for sticky tag removal, soaking fabrics with stains and odors and applying to pissy surfaces. It's made from orange peels and has a very nice fragrance that is not chemically originated.

Beryl, if you live on the ground floor you could plant a few planters with bamboo. Some are less invasive and strong rooted than others. In any case, I've found that a lacy bamboo screening is fresh and lovely to look "through". Do not plant bamboo directly in the soil, however. It will spread and invade the whole neighborhood.

Good lord, I'm glad no one declawed but what a torturous idea for both cat and owner to try and train them not to claw. It's what cats do. If you don't want an animal that claws the furniture, don't buy a cat. Unlike most things that dogs do, it is much harder on the cat to deter them from marking their home, which is what cats value almost as much as companionship.

I have two beastly cats who aim for the sofa whenever they scratch. Right now I have that double sided tape that looks awful. It seems to work but when people come over, they end up with it on them.

A question--- we've got a fantastic sectional, but the corner cushion is ALWAYS used and now is seriously flat compared to the rest of the cushions. It's the only one that is a different size than the rest, so rotating cushions doesn't work. What can I do to give it back some life?

We just got new sofas from Room & Board and have been strategizing how to protect our cat. We first spent hours sitting on the sofas and sprayed him with water bottles as soon as he got near them.

Since we knew that he does not like furry or fuzzy surfaces, we now wrap the sofas with cheap fake fur blankets from Target. A couple times a week we spray the fake fur blankets with a cat-repellant spray we got at a pet food store.

We also bought him a cat bed with a catnip insert. I didn't think the cat would go for it, but he loves it. Having his own personal spot seems to calm him down.

He is 12 years old and I didn't think that old cats learned new tricks, BUT I am amazed at how well this as worked for us. And I am so glad. It would be horrible to see our cat ruin this new stuff.

Slarmstead, the only working remedy I found for that problem is this:
http://factoidz.com/how-to-remove-pet-urine-odors-with-baking-soda-and-hydrogen-peroxide/

I read somewhere that this was invented by some chemist trying to develop a skunk urine remover. There's some funky scientific explanation of how it works.
Best of all, it is a less than 5 bucks way to get rid of the smell forever.
Oh, also DO get ahold of a small blacklight. That way you'll be able to tell where did your cat peed.

Of my three (!) cats, only one of them goes after the furniture. I've tried everything - tape (he just finds new areas to destroy that aren't covered in tape), water bottle (turns out he likes water), yelling (turns it into a game), putting his paws on the scratching post instead, praising and giving treats when he uses the scratching post, deterrent spray (yeah... that did NOTHING) and we're finally trying Softpaws. I think the Softpaws are working the best, but I have to check him every single day to make sure they're all still there. It's amazing how much damage he can do with one claw! And I can't get them to stay on his dewclaws - any tips on that? If all else fails, our sofa is from IKEA so I might just have to buy new slipcovers every few years!

Valentino, if you decorate something with bird feathers, I think the cats are justified in considering it prey!

slarmstead, I swear by zero odor. Great stuff. Works by an entirely different mechanism than the enzymatic cleaners. And no after-odor. I used it on damaged wood floors, pending getting pieces replaced. I made a couple friends check that the odor really was gone, and that I hadn't just gotten used to it. They came out of the bedroom and made me write down the name of the stuff. I'm in cat rescue, so I'm always on the hunt for solutions. http://www.zeroodor.com/

We got a scratching post & everytime Widmerpool tried to scratch furniture, he was picked up & placed on the post. The furniture has a few puncture holes, from him climbing it, and when it needed to be wrestled into submission, but is not shredded at all. A firm no reminds him when needed.

Ckal - I have a glass-topped stove and the last owners left a cleaning implement for it like this one: http://www.hillmark.com.au/products/Cooktop_Scraper.aspx

It works amazingly well. Sometimes I can't see the painted on pot circles properly, but some soapy water and some scrapes with this and it looks new again. I am in Australia, and so is this brand, so not sure about the US equivalent, but sure you could probably find one at a hardware/home store.

Claire- for porcelain that you've tried everything on...TOOTHPASTE works! Seriously! I have a clawfoot bathtub from the year 1 that had stains that nothing would get out- except toothpaste. You need to use some elbow grease but it won't scratch the enamel and it's like miracle! Eventually, I'll get the bathtub refinished but meanwhile... It's toothpaste. Works on tile too of course. Good luck! : )

I have three cats and they don't scratch ANYTHING in the house except a piece of 2x4 thats in the crawlspace under the basement stairs. Yay! I never had them destroy anything. They're pretty skitterish so a quick "hey!" deters them from pretty much any naughtiness.

-for pet hair on upholstry, try this- rubber gloves, dampen them SLIGHTLY then rub over the area where the hair is. it balls up on the glove and comes right off. :)

-for cat odour smell, i use hydrogen peroxide spray. works like a charm. I bought a huge bottle of it for like $4 at the pharmacy. I spray it onto any "accidents" after I have blotted up said accident.

-for a cat repellant, i put some orange and lemon essential oil in a spray bottle with water, then spray where I don't want the pets (I also have two dogs). Works awesome.

-I also hang a small towel by the back door, so when the dogs come in on a muddy day, I wipe them down quickly. Keeps my floors SOMEWHAT clean.

I'm kinda thinking if you've got a sofa you love, you could put together a casual throw to cover the sofa BEFORE you bring home the cat. Then you have plenty of time to train the cat not to scratch the sofa, at which time you can remove the throw. Having such a throw is also good for times when you want to serve ice cream to kids.

Solution: Get rid of the cat.

Dude! My grandma has that same chair! Except her's has the original tufted vinyl (nagohyde?) cushions.

Slamstead- Zero oder might be a good way to go, or few folks know that the Nature's miracle only works when it's damp. If you want to try it again, buy the jumbo jug, soak the area, put rags dampened with the same stuff over that and a garbage bag over that (hold it in place with weights). This will keep the enzymes wet and active long enough to eat up the uric acid crystals that are causing the stink. Hope this helps!

Leaving an opened box of Arm & Hammer baking soda on a shelf in the fridge is an age old remedy that still works for keeping it smelling fresh. Replace every three months.

Betty14: Declawing is cruel and inhumane. In the future I hope you consider the many reasons not to do it. It saddens me that vets will still suggest it.

the old spray bottle trick is what we use to keep our little guy from destroying everything. just be sure not to spray them in the face!

@Betty14
I second jessicamc's coments about declawing cats. From what I know of it, it sounds like a very unfair and cruel way for humans to protect their material possessions. There are many other methods to use (including spray bottles and treats) which are less cruel for cats.

Our brand new chest freezer had a whole free-range pig in it when the wall plug failed. We didn't notice for 2 or 3 weeks.

We threw out the meat, of course, then opened the plug on the bottom and flushed it with plain water. I washed everything with a bleach solution, rinsed, and repeated with a baking soda solution.

Then we replugged it and filled the freezer about a 1/3 of the way. with water and lots of baking soda and let it sit for a couple of days before draining. We repeated that several times and the smell was completely gone.

It's several years later and I am using the freezer with no problems.

I third jessicamc's comments about declawing cats. So sad that there are vets still doing this and misrepresenting the realities of what this is doing to an animals health and mental wellbeing.

Surely declawing isn't done anymore?
I'm gobsmacked!
Cats will have a go at your furniture, but it doesn't take much to get them to stop.
A good scratching post and encouragement to use it, and a sharp and loud, 'No!' whenever they try to scratch upholstery.
Cats scratch to spread their scent, that's all. it's perfectly natural, and necessary for them, so they need somewhere to do it is all.
I feel a bit sick if it's true that vets still declaw cats. It's disgusting!

Slarmstead: I don't know why, but dumping straight rubbing alcohol on the area knocks the smell out. Regarding declawing, I would never do it, but my mother had all of our cats declawed (front paws only) when I was growing up and they were all outdoor cats (a concept I am adamantly against as well) and did just fine. In fact they were rather prolific hunters, to the point where it was often a (gross) problem.

My husband burned several hole sin our suede covered couch and now i have 3 nice holes and several ash burns. Any idea how i can repair this? It is a gray/taupe color and while i have pillows on them - the minute someone sits they move the pillows...
He wil quit smoking but i don't want to live with this nor change the whole Natuzzi couch... any suggestions?
Thank you!

I'll chime in on the cat scratching thing and agree with a few of the suggestions. shooing away/spraying and showing them their post works well. And we also used SoftPaws and the deterrent spray on my one feral-ish cat who is a bit of a slow learner. Over time she just got it, and we don't need to use the SoftPaws anymore.

And agree a million times re: NO declawing! It's incredibly inhumane and I'm surprised any vet recommended it.

lizafio, get rid of the husband, or remove his hands, or staple his lips together so he can't smoke anymore.

My kitchen drain stinks. The janitor has been by to physically declog it, but I can still see standing water inside. I don't have a disposal, but I'm as careful as I can be to not let food get down there. Any suggestions to destinkify?

i too, am looking for details on the blue chair. i am hoping to get one, but would like search terms if anyone has one. or an exact designer name? thank you!

@Betty 14 under no circumstances should a declawed cat be let outdoors. Didn't the vet explain that to you?

Cats often get arthritis at a very young age after they're declawed because the first knuckle is removed. Try curling your toes under your feet and then walking - not very pleasant, is it?

Declawing should be illegal in this country, just like it is in England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Yugoslavia.

The fact that our country has not declawed it shows how backwards and cruel we are. Most vets try to discourage people from doing it but the vets themselves refuse to put their foot down "because people will threaten to give up their cats".

See? Apparently you all put a gun to their heads and forced them to do an unethical surgery. It makes me sick.

I'm a former veterinary nurse, and I am formally stating that declawing is a disgustingly inhumane proedure that can cause arthritis, behavior problems (like peeing on the furniture) and aggression (did you have their teeth removed also? No? Didn't think so).

Oops, I mean the fact that our country has not banned it.

De clawing is animal cruelty plain and simple. Anyone who even considers it should not be allowed to own an animal!

My new sofa is scratched the hell out of but I would never give up owning kitties. It comes with the territory. I'd rather have a scratched sofa than the smell of sour milk and puke that comes with having kids.

re:stinky sink
I'd start cheap...white vinegar and baking soda. It'll foam up like crazy. It's a good thing to do in the sinks and in the tub every so often, cleans out soap buildup.

I agree that de-clawing is awful. I have a "special needs" cat though, who not only couldn't get it on the scratching issue but also couldn't quite master retracting his claws. After several times of finding him stuck, hanging dangerously off of woodwork, windows, etc. it became clear that something HAD to be done. There is an alternate procedure called a tendonectomy (sp?) that many vets will perform. They make a tiny slit and cut the tendon that allows the cat to extend his claws. It doesn't even require stitches and he was home jumping around and attacking things the same day. He had absolutely no pain. The only trade off is that I have to keep his claws trimmed since he can't extend them to groom them himself. I know it sounds gross but it is far more humane and is a much better procedure if you are out of options. Prior to the surgery, it was so bad that he almost suffocated himself because he was hanging by his claws and wouldn't let go. He still makes imaginary scratching moves but does no harm.

Don't have a cat, but do have a bathroom and my problem, which is mild and I would like to keep it that way is, shower mold in grout. Not a lot, because I try to control it, but don't think I am using best solutions or methods. Any comments?
A whole column should be dedicated to this, because everyone wants to know.

De-clawing is AMPUTATION--pure & simple just like tail "docking", ear clipping in dogs & de-beaking in chickens. (How would you like it? Try not trimming your toenails for a year...) If we didn't allow the medical profession to call things by other names (even for people) there would most likely be a lot less of it going on. Trimming my cat's nails works for me & I get scratched a lot less by accident. I think they are scratching to try to wear them down when they get too long, which happens naturally in the wild. If you can't do it yourself there are many groomers who will do just a nail trim for $5 or $6. My last dog didn't even need it very often since she did plenty of running on the sidewalk & concrete driveway. We wear our fingernails down doing housework. Maybe some of those caps have a hard time staying on because the nails are too long. Easier to trim regularly with the right approach especially if the nails are not black & they make a special tool for kitties & stypic powder to stop the bleeding if cut too short into the quick both available at pet stores--works on birds as well. Even filing helps. I'm just amazed that 98% of you folks either mentioned de-clawing or caps as the only options. As for BarKeeper's Friend for cleaning--amazing stuff. I've been using it for many years.

@Zellideb if he "couldn't retract his claws" from fabric it means the claws had turned into hooks and he could not get unstuck. It was not an anatomical problem, you should have just clipped his nails to begin with.

I just purchased this cart from cb2 http://www.cb2.com/accent-tables/furniture/go-cart-camo-two-shelf-table-media-cart/f6297?fromLocation=search
and when my boyfriend was putting it together the top was scratched in a few places. The cart is steel with a powdercoat finish in a dark green. I would love to get the scratches out or at least mask them as best I can. If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate them. Thanks!

I just purchased this cart from cb2 http://www.cb2.com/accent-tables/furniture/go-cart-camo-two-shelf-table-media-cart/f6297?fromLocation=search
and when my boyfriend was putting it together the top was scratched in a few places. The cart is steel with a powdercoat finish in a dark green. I would love to get the scratches out or at least mask them as best I can. If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate them. Thanks!