We are a nation of pet lovers. They light up our lives, make us laugh and give us a run for our money. We wouldn’t have it any other way. But let’s face it; man’s best friend and his cat cousins can occasionally make quite the mess in the home. And every pet lover at some point ponders the ultimate question – how do I get rid of that pet stain.
It seems benign enough initially, but pet urine can seep through carpet, into the padding and down to the floor beneath. It can rot rugs, de-laminate carpet and cause jute backing to disintegrate. Even after a thorough cleaning, pet urine stains and odors often remain.
Masking odors with fragrant products only adds insult to injury. Professionals know that to really remove an offensive odor, you have to get to the root of it and remove the source. You also have to know how to find the source and what method to use to remove it.
Pet odors are uniquely different from cooking odors, household or cigarette odors. Pet accidents and odors should be eliminated when they first occur, because the longer the source of an odor remains, the more difficult it will be to remove.
Handy Hints on Removal
The biggest mistake that you can make is using an ammonia-based cleaner because urine breaks down to ammonia. Using an ammonia-based cleaner ultimately draws the pet back to the area to soil it again.
Blot Up Urine Quickly
One of the most important things in handling pet stains is to work quickly. Prevent urine from seeping into the carpeting and from the padding underneath.
• Apply a good amount of white paper towels to the area and blot up as much as possible.
• Do not rub, but blot so the liquid is absorbed into the towel rather than into the rug.
• If you find the stain has begun to set, apply a bit of water to the area and blot some more.
• If you notice only clear water being absorbed, then no urine is left.
Clean and Neutralize
• Mix a solution made up of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent warm water.
• Put in a spray bottle and mix well.
• Spray the stain lightly with the solution and then blot.
• The vinegar will cut through the stain and help to neutralize the odor.
Deodorizing
• After cleaning the stain, you can solicit the help of another home remedy, simple baking soda. Baking soda alkalizes and neutralizes smells.
• Wait until the stain is fully cleaned and dried.
• Apply a layer of baking soda on the area.
• Massage baking soda gently into the carpet.
• Allow the baking soda to sit on the stain for several hours or even overnight.
• Then, vacuum up the stain, removing the smell with the baking soda.
Additional Ideas
You can add a small amount of gentle dish washing liquid to the vinegar for more stubborn stains. Also, there are quite a few bio-enzyme natural products on the market that work by breaking down the enzymes and bacteria in the urine.
With a little time and effort you will succeed, so long as you make certain that the stain is completely gone, otherwise your little furry friends will return to it as their favorite spot.
If you still can’t get rid of a pet stain, please don’t hesitate to High Quality Carpet Cleaning. We are professionals who can revitalize your carpet from even the most egregious mishaps.