The good news: a steady cleaning routine, high washing temperatures and suitable products such as the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray help you clean your home in a targeted way.
In this guide you learn how to clean upholstered furniture, blankets, carpets and sleeping places, what to watch out for with sensitive materials, and which steps matter most when your pet has Giardia right now.
Why are fabrics so difficult with Giardia?
Giardia are single-celled parasites that live in the gut. In dogs and cats they can cause diarrhoea, among other signs. Infected animals pass hardy Giardia cysts in their faeces, and the cysts get into the home this way.
The main problem: in good, damp conditions the cysts can stay infectious for months.
Tiles, food bowls and plastic surfaces are fairly easy to clean. Fabrics are harder. Dirt can be hard to reach in fibres, upholstery, seams and carpets.
That is why, when your pet has Giardia, it makes sense to combine:
- regular washing at high temperatures
- careful removal of faeces and visible dirt
- careful cleaning of the places where your pet lies and spends time
- targeted use of suitable hygiene products
- drying the cleaned materials as fully as possible
Important: cleaning your home supports the veterinary treatment. It helps to lower the risk that your pet picks up Giardia cysts again.
Which fabrics should you wash when your pet has Giardia?
While your pet has Giardia, add everything to your cleaning routine that is washable and that your pet touches often.
This includes:
- dog blankets and cuddly blankets
- cushions and covers of pet beds
- washable dog baskets and cat beds
- sofa throws and blankets
- towels and drying cloths
- washable fabric toys
- bed linen, if your pet sleeps in your bed
At what temperature does Giardia die?
ESCCAP recommends washing blankets and cushions at 65 °C or more.
Check the care label first. Not every material can take this temperature.
How to do it:
- Collect fabrics carefully: do not shake them out hard, and wear disposable gloves if you touch faeces.
- Wash as hot as possible: choose 65 °C or more if the material allows it.
- Let everything dry fully: moisture helps Giardia cysts survive. Make sure the laundry is completely dry.
- Repeat regularly: especially while your pet has diarrhoea, change and wash the blankets and covers your pet uses most.
Tip: keep several washable blankets for your pet's favourite spot. Then you always have a clean one ready.
Which detergent helps against Giardia?
When you wash blankets and other washable fabrics, the most important thing is a high enough washing temperature.
ESCCAP recommends 65 °C or more. You can use a normal detergent. But do not rely on the detergent alone: the temperature is what counts.
For fabrics that cannot take high temperatures, extra hygiene steps matter, and so does keeping them from getting dirty again.
What can you do with fabrics that cannot be washed hot?
Not every dog bed, sofa cushion or upholstered item can go in the washing machine. Large or sensitive items can often only be cleaned on the surface.
Here the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray can be an extra hygiene product in a home with pets.
ViPiBaX describes the spray for use on different surfaces around pets, for example sleeping places, baskets, scratching posts and transport boxes. The product notes also mention use on fabrics.
With fabrics you need to be extra careful: the product contains active chlorine, which can change colours and damage sensitive materials.
So keep this in mind:
- Always test the spray on a hidden spot first to check that the colour and the material are not affected.
- Use it only as the product label says.
- Remove visible dirt before you use it.
- Keep to the contact time on the label.
- Let the materials dry fully before your pet uses them again.
With deep, absorbent upholstery you cannot be sure that a surface application reaches the deeper layers.
If a fabric that cannot be washed is heavily soiled with faeces and cannot be cleaned well enough, it can make sense to throw it away.
How do you clean your sofa when your pet has Giardia?
Does your dog like to lie on the sofa, or is it your cat's favourite place? Then include your upholstered furniture in your cleaning routine.
Step 1: Wash removable covers
Take off all washable cushion covers, throws and blankets.
If possible, wash them at 65 °C or more and let them dry fully.
Step 2: Vacuum the sofa thoroughly
Vacuum the whole seat area thoroughly. Pay special attention to:
- seams and gaps in the upholstery
- the spaces between the seat cushions
- backrests and armrests
- corners that are hard to reach
Then empty the vacuum cleaner hygienically and clean the container if needed.
Vacuuming removes dirt and particles, but it does not replace disinfection.
Step 3: Use ViPiBaX on suitable surfaces
For extra surface hygiene you can use the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray.
It is especially suitable for wipeable areas that can take it, such as plastic parts, frames or other hard surfaces.
If your sofa has a fabric cover, check first that the cover can take a product with active chlorine.
How to use it, according to the ViPiBaX product information:
- First remove coarse dirt.
- Wet the suitable surface completely with the ready-to-use hygiene spray.
- Keep to the contact time on the product label.
- Then wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth if needed, or follow the label.
Use the spray undiluted.
Step 4: Cover the sofa with washable blankets
Cover your pet's favourite spot with a washable blanket or throw.
You can change this cover often and wash it hot, so you do not have to clean the sofa itself all the time.
While your pet has diarrhoea, it makes sense to keep it away for a while from upholstered furniture that is sensitive or hard to clean.
Giardia in the dog bed or cat basket: what helps?
The sleeping place is one of the most important areas when you clean your home.
Your pet spends many hours here and touches blankets, cushions and surfaces again and again.
Washable dog beds:
Take off the covers and wash them at 65 °C or more if the material allows it. Then let everything dry fully.
Plastic baskets:
Remove hair, dirt and any traces of faeces. After that you can use the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray on the cleaned surfaces as the instructions say.
Padded sleeping places or ones that are hard to wash:
Check very carefully whether the material can take the spray. Also use washable covers, so you can remove new dirt as easily as possible.
A dog bed that is very dirty and cannot be cleaned well enough may need to be replaced.
How do you clean carpets when your pet has Giardia?
Carpets are especially demanding, because dirt can get stuck between the fibres.
While your pet has Giardia, try to stop it from lying on carpets that are hard to clean.
How to do it
- Remove visible faeces straight away with a disposable cloth.
- Vacuum the carpet thoroughly.
- Check whether the carpet can be washed hot or cleaned with another suitable method.
- Let the carpet dry fully after every wet cleaning.
You can use the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray as an extra step on suitable surfaces that can take it. With carpets, however, be extra careful: the spray can cause discolouration, and it is hard to control how deep it gets into the fibres.
For small rugs, runners and bath mats, a hot enough machine wash is usually the easier way, if possible.
What helps with Giardia on the mattress?
If your dog or cat often sleeps in your bed, include the bed linen, the mattress protector and the sleeping area.
If possible, wash bed linen and suitable mattress protectors at 65 °C or more.
Vacuum the mattress thoroughly, and do not make it wetter than needed when you clean it.
A washable mattress protector makes hygiene much easier.
While your pet has Giardia, it is a good idea not to let it sleep in your bed for a while.
Do not use products with active chlorine on sensitive mattress materials before you have checked that the material can take them and what the mattress maker says.
ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray: extra hygiene when your pet has Giardia
Besides washing and mechanical cleaning, targeted surface hygiene plays an important role in a home with pets.
The ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray 500 ml is a ready-to-use solution for suitable surfaces around pets.
According to the manufacturer, it is meant for these areas, among others:
- sleeping places and baskets
- transport boxes
- scratching posts and pet accessories
- plastic surfaces
- food bowls and water bowls
- other suitable surfaces in a home with pets
The product contains active chlorine released from sodium hypochlorite. It contains no alcohol and no perfume.
What this means for you day to day:
- Ready to use: no mixing needed
- Targeted use on suitable contact surfaces
- Practical for pet accessories you use every day
- Refillable with the 2.5 litre refill pack
Check very carefully whether fabrics, sensitive wood and metals can take the spray.
The hygiene spray is for surfaces. Never apply it directly to animals.
Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
How often should you clean when your pet has Giardia?
While your pet has acute diarrhoea, a steady daily cleaning routine is especially important.
This means: remove faeces straight away, keep the places your pet likes to lie clean, and clean contact surfaces regularly.
Change heavily used blankets and washable covers as often as you can. Also think of bowls, transport boxes, floors and other places where your pet often spends time.
When the signs have gone, do not stop the extra hygiene steps suddenly on your own. Follow your vet's advice and how your pet's veterinary treatment is going.
Frequently asked questions about Giardia on fabrics
Can I remove Giardia from my sofa with a spray?
The ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray is meant for use on suitable surfaces. The manufacturer's information also mentions fabrics.
With a sofa, however, there is no guarantee that the spray reaches the deeper layers of the upholstery. Also, active chlorine can discolour fabrics.
So combine the spray with washing, vacuuming, drying fully and washable covers.
Can I spray ViPiBaX on dog blankets?
The manufacturer describes use on suitable fabrics in general. But always test the colour first and follow the label.
If the dog blanket can take 65 °C or more, a hot machine wash is the better choice.
Do I have to throw away my dog bed if my dog has Giardia?
No, not in general. You can wash washable covers at a suitable temperature. After you have cleaned off the dirt, you can use a suitable hygiene product on plastic shells.
Only think about replacing the bed if it may have had contact with faeces and you cannot clean it well enough.
How long do I need to keep cleaning the fabrics?
Steady cleaning matters most during the acute infection and the veterinary treatment.
How long you need extra hygiene steps depends on how things go and on what your vet recommends.
Matching ViPiBaX® products for hygiene in a home with pets
ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray 500 ml
The ready-to-use solution for targeted hygiene on suitable surfaces around sleeping places, baskets, transport boxes and pet accessories.
Discover the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray
ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Refill Pack 2.5 l
For homes that use the hygiene spray often. The refill pack is for refilling the original spray bottle.
Discover the ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Refill Pack
Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
Summary: dealing with Giardia on the sofa and fabrics
Giardia on fabrics is a challenge. But with a steady cleaning routine you can lower the risk that things get contaminated again.
If possible, wash washable blankets and covers at 65 °C or more. For sofas, carpets and other sensitive materials, thorough cleaning, drying fully and washable covers help.
The ViPiBaX® Giardien EX® Hygiene Spray adds to these steps on suitable surfaces in a home with pets. With fabrics, always check that the material can take it, and follow the instructions for use.
Together with the veterinary treatment, this gives you the basis for a cleaner everyday life with your pet.
