Pets are great, but let’s face it, eventually every pet has an accident. And when they do, your rug or carpet has a problem. Within hours, germs and bacteria begin to grow. The problem compounds as urine forms a gummy residue, which attracts soil while spreading unsanitary contamination.
If you can live with that, then consider that a byproduct of bacterial growth is ammonia – remember the baby diaper pail? Ammonia eventually results in permanent color loss. And if that weren’t enough, urine also creates substantial odor that begins in the rug or carpet, but, with time, spreads to pad, subfloor, baseboards, walls, and air currents within your home.
Contamination of upholstery and drapery fabrics soon follows. You may become accustomed to the odor, but when guests begin making excuses to leave hastily – especially when odor is magnified during humid weather – you know you have a problem.
The Best Solution
The best solution, short of the local animal shelter, is to contain the problem with immediate action. When fresh urine is discovered, your best reaction is to:
- Blot excess with paper towels.
- Saturate the spot with a mild detergent that’s safe for fine washables.
- Blot up access detergent.
- Sponge on warm water to rinse.
- Blot excess.
- Repeat steps four and five several times.
- Place a one-inch layer of towels on the spot and weight them down overnight with a heavy dish. The towels will absorb remaining detergent and contaminant, as they wick out of the carpet during drying.
With older urine and odors, a professional cleaner who uses enzymes or disinfectants should be called for treatment. Otherwise, the odor may be a recurring problem for years.
