Pet Odor Removal - Urine Decontamination
Urine in wall-to-wall carpets pollutes the air quality in the home environment because of the bacterial action taking place beneath the carpeting. It is more cost effective to replace wall-to-wall carpeting and padding than to attempt urine decontamination. Typically, the broadloom carpets that use latex in the construction cannot successfully be urine decontainated.
What Happens If I Just Have the Carpet Cleaned and Don't address the Urine?
Leaving urine untreated in carpets leads to other concerns besides odor. One concern is that urine attracts moths. Another concern is the longer the urea crystals remain in the carpet, the darker the urine stain becomes and the more damage occurs to the foundation. Although cleaning cannot remove the stain from certain carpet fibers, it can lighten it and prevent it from becoming darker.
Why Won't Cleaning Remove the Odor?
Initially, urine is an acid stain that becomes alkaline as it takes on nitrogen molecules from the air. During this chemical reaction, the urine transforms into microscopic crystals. These urea crystals remain in the foundation, backing and glues of wall-to-wall carpeting, even after truckmounted hot water extraction "steam cleaning". Because the urea crystals remain, they are a food source for micro-organisms, which are the cause of the odor.
Why Did Cleaning Remove the Odor Last Time or Why Don't the Carpets/Rug(s) Have an Odor in the Winter?
There are four contributing factors that must be present for bacteria to grow: a warm climate (temperature), a lack of light, moisture and an organic food source. Under your wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs is created the perfect incubator for bacterial growth, with the urea crystals being the food source. The "urine odor'' is actually bacteria growing. This cycle is interrupted during the winter months because the heat is on, making the home environment dry or without moisture, hence the bacterial growth is missing one important contributing factor and the bacteria are lying dormant.
What If a Deodorizer Was Used During the Last Cleaning?
A deodorizer may have been used during the last cleaning, which only masks the problem anywhere from 3 hours to 3 months. Possibly the urine problem was minor before (only a few "accidents") and now, after time, the bacterial cycle has gone on and attracted the pet to urinate again.
Why Does It Seem My Pets Have More Accidents or Urine Odor is Stronger in the Warmer Months than at Other Times of the Year!
This is because of high humidity in the air from rainfall and high temperatures. The urine odor noticed in the spring is usually old accidents beginning another bacterial cycle (although recent urination cannot be completely ruled out).
After Replacing a Urine-Contaminated Carpet
If you have made the decision, as we have recommended, to replace your urine-contaminated carpet with a new one, it is important to make sure it stays that way by addressing the urine that passed through your rug, contaminating the pad and floor beneath. A few simple steps will ensure your rug will main odor-free (unless there is another pet accident). These steps must be completed before the new rug is installed:
First, Replace the Affected Pad
The affected part of the pad beneath the carpet needs to be replaced.
Second, Clean and Seal the Floor
Before a professional carpet installer lays down your new pad and rug, the urea crystals that are residing in the fine scratches of your floor (or floor finish) need to be addressed. Clean the area with eight ounces of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water and allow the floor to dry for 36-48 hours. Next, seal in the crystals that may still lay within the wood or cracks of the floor by applying a floor sealant (shellac or polyurethane). Allow your floor to dry for another 36-48 hours before installation of the new pad and carpet in your home or business.
What About Urine Problems With Upholstered Furniture?
The removal of urine from upholstered furniture is quite different from the removal of animal or human urine from carpeting and rugs.
Upholstery has its unique problems where urine is concerned. The urine, pet or human, goes into the stuffing (whether foam or some other kind of material) and is held there. We can clean the fabric, but we cannot pull anything from the stuffing. As long as the urine is still in the item, the odor will continue. One option is to totally replace or reupholster the item. If only the the cushions (unattached) were affected, there is a possibility we can clean and treat both the back and front of the fabric and eliminate the urine after a new filling has been inserted. This involves taking the cushions to an upholsterer to have new insides made. The upholsterer then must cover the new filling with plastic and put the cushion fabric back on. We will clean the fabric and, when it is done, we will pull out the plastic bag and the urine odor should be gone.
All of the above has involved urine ODOR. There is also the problem of urine becoming permanent stains. Some dyes are not stable in certain upholstery fabrics. Applying any solution to the fabric may cause colors to run. The best way to treat the problem is to blot up all you can and call a professional cleaner. As a general rule, the more liquid you apply to a urine contaminated rug, carpet or upholstered piece of furniture, the deeper down you will make the urine and liquid go and the further out it will spread.
To reduce the effect of the spot or area from becoming dark and permanent, try to catch the problem as soon as possible after the occurrence. The best advice is to keep blotting (not rubbing) the area until you can no longer transfer the urine to a white absorbent material.
How Do I Treat Urine Spots If They Happen Again?
There are two ways to treat urine spots because of the pH change when exposed to the air. We treat fresh (wet) urine differently from the way we treat an old (dry) urine spot.
Fresh/Wet
1. Absorb as much of the urine as possible by tamping with paper towels or rags. (Rubbing or agitating the fiber may cause distortion or a "fuzzy" appearance).
2. Use 2 oz. of clear ammonia (not sudsy) to 16 oz. of water and apply to affected area(s) of the carpet. (Never apply a solution directly to the carpet. Always use a towel to apply).
3. Blot to dry and rinse with water (apply with a towel) and blot until the area is as dry as possible.
4. Place several dry white terry cloths over the area and weight it down. Allow to dry a minimum of six hours.
Old/Dry
1. Vacuum affected areas.
2. Apply distilled household vinegar to affected area(s) with a towel or other absorbent material..
3. Blot to dry and rinse with water (apply with a towel) and blot to dry.
*Repeat steps as needed.
For complete and guaranteed removal of urine from oriental rugs and area rugs with wool fiber, please see Urine Decontamination of Oriental and other Wool Rugs at Our Plant.
-of-Pollyanna.jpg)
