Pets, Pets, Pets !!!

Probably half of our customers have pet related problems with their carpets. Depending on the circumstances, the proper method of taking care of these spots and odors varies greatly. The following is a sample of the questions that we are most frequently asked concerning pet spots and odor.

What's the first thing I should do when I discover the pet accident?

Try to get as much of the substance off the carpet with very little agitation. For urine, try to blot as much of it onto a dry white towel. Never scrub!! Scrubbing the carpet causes friction and the heat can unravel the carpet fibers causing the carpet to look fuzzy and damaged. 

We will carefully review with you the severity of the conditions and recommend a successful plan of action.

Can I clean the affected areas myself?

You can begin by spraying a little warm water from a spray bottle onto the area and continue blotting. You can then add a very small amount of detergent that is safe for laundry and carpet, and carefully agitate that detergent carefully into the affected area. (Never scrub!) You need to use a dry white towel to blot in order for you to transfer the wet material to a dry surface. A damp sponge or towel will not be helpful. The success in cleaning the affected areas yourself is limited because you most likely don't have the ability to rinse out the areas as sufficiently as a hot water extraction system. Depending on the amount of urine or feces contamination, it may be impossible for you to rinse out the areas well enough to ensure that the bacteria and other contaminants won't be harmful to your environment. Unfortunately, spotter bottles that promise to clean up pet accidents are largely unsuccessful and insufficient in doing what needs to be done.

Note: The more detergent or cleaning solution that you add to the carpet, the more difficult it will be for you to get those chemicals out. Chemicals left in carpet will attract soils and often make the carpet look dirtier as time passes.

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Are there health concerns related to my pet accidents?

If there is enough urine or fecal volume, the only way to really go after the potential breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants is to have the carpet thoroughly rinsed out with a hot water extraction system and appropriate cleaning solutions. 

Is the spot from my pet permanent?

Dealing with pet stains is one of the greatest challenges for carpet technicians today. The variables that exist in each individual pet problem are countless. Each pet has a unique chemistry. Each pet food is different from compounds to colorings. Urine contains a waste product called urea, which also can determine the difficulty in removing a urine spot. If the chemistry is such that the spot from the pet has changed the color of the carpet, we move out of the realm of spots and into the arena of stains.

Spots: Special attention must be made in getting animal spots out. We use several different cleaning solutions that vary from situation to situation. 

Stains: We use a product called Urine Stain Remover that includes an oxidizing bleach agent, which attacks the stain and works to draw out the unwanted color. This product is not a solution for all pet stains. It takes up to eight hours to work, and it may require more than one application. Because it is an aggressive approach to fixing a stain problem, it does carry the warning that color loss is possible. We have not experienced a color loss problem but are careful to give you the necessary information before considering its use. 

My pet odors seem to come and go? Why is this, and can we fix it?

Dormant pet problems are often activated with humidity and poorly ventilated areas. This is why pet odors in dark basements often stand out much more than that spot in the living room under the picture window. We use odor-neutralizing chemicals that destroy or control microorganisms (bacteria and fungi). The success of these odor neutralizers depends on the level of urine saturation. We may be able to neutralize a large portion of the odor to make the smells minimal, if not obsolete. However, urine can spread down to the backing of the carpet, the pad, and the sub flooring. If this is the case, it may be necessary to get under the carpet and take care of the source. This may require removing the pad and cleaning the back of the carpet and sub floor. Most of the time, we are able to treat the problem areas and get the best possible result, short of doing carpet repair work. 

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