How to Rid Carpets of Pet Odors

Do visiting friends know you have a dog--before Fido bounces into the room? Just because you have a pet doesn't mean your carpet has to smell like him.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black-light Bulb
• Pet-odor-neutralizing Powder With Enzymes
• Vacuum
• Water-extraction carpet-cleaning machine or carpet-shampoo machine

1. Always clean up pet messes as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

2. Identify the odiferous areas of your carpet. If you're not sure where they are, darken the room and turn on a black-light bulb to highlight any dried accident spots.

3. Deep-clean the problem areas using a water-extraction carpet-cleaning machine or a carpet-shampoo machine and cool water only--no chemicals or cleaners. (To rent or buy one of these machines, look under "Carpet and Rug Cleaners' Equipment and Supplies" or a similar heading in the yellow pages.)

4. Sprinkle an enzyme-containing pet-odor-neutralizing powder (available at pet stores or your vet's office) on the affected areas. Pet-odor-neutralizing powders contain live bacteria and enzymes that digest odor-causing protein and bacteria, permanently removing it from the deepest fibers in your carpet. These products also contain a mild cleanser that can help remove discoloration. Alternatively, you can use borax powder or baking soda, but they are less effective in eliminating stubborn odors.

5. Let sit for 8 hours.

6. Vacuum the treated areas. Let sit for 24 hours.

7. If odor remains after you have treated the carpet with an enzyme odor neutralizer, repeat the treatment as needed to eliminate lingering odors.

8. Understand that in severe cases where the soiling has occurred for an extended period of time, you may need to replace the carpet padding.

9. If your pet continues to eliminate in inappropriate areas, treat the underlying cause. Does your pet have easy access to the outdoors or to a litter box? Is your cat demonstrating an aversion to her kitty litter? Is your furry friend suffering from separation anxiety, loneliness or stress? See How to Correct Bad Behavior in Dogs and How to Correct Bad Behavior in Cats for more information.

Tips & Warnings

• For pet stains on your carpet, see How to Remove Pet Stains.
• Avoid using household cleaners, ammonia and vinegar on urine stains. The strong smell may draw your pet back to the spot to cover the strong stuff with his own scent.
• Steam-cleaning urine-stained carpeting can set stains and odors by bonding the protein into the fibers.

[mikeriek]

on 4/24/2009 Always ask this problems to professionals to clean. They are very sensitive and if you use any chemical and you dont have clear idea then you can harm your carpet. Call the professionals and clean it once. www.cleaninghouselondon.co.uk

[petsrgreatfun]

on 3/11/2009 I found a great product for killing the smell quick it is called whiff whacker and I found it at www.thevetsource.com I first used it to remove the smell of cat from my garage. After I had pressure washed the garage it still smelled like cat I sprayed this stuff on it and came back two hours later to a smell free garage. It is all natural and it works great inside the house too I also used it on the spare bedroom rug after a female Dalmatian made messes on the rug. Now I use this stuff all over.

[payless70]

on 1/26/2009 The professionals at Payless Carpet Cleaners provide information and tips in regards to upholstery cleaning. Refer to http://www.payless-carpet-cleaners.com or if located in the South Florida region contact by telephone at [phone] or [phone].

[nurswilson]

on 1/23/2009 all the above suggestions are great, but I am a head nurse at assisted living home. I deal with all sorts of severe odors including urine odor. There is a new product that works better and is a much less expensive way to go. It's called a biocide system room shocker.
It's not labor-intensive at all, just add water and let it do its job. It works so well, the company offers a money back guarantee. You can only get the real stuff from a website called BiocideSystems.com
this product will eliminate any odors and completely sanitize the entire room from any mold, bacteria, and it even removes cigarette odors from the walls.
It's completely safe for people pets and plants. I highly recommend it! You can't go wrong with a moneyback guaranty

[petodorman]

on 11/7/2008 When nothing works it's time to hire a professional!

www.thepetodorspecialist.com

We find the source of pet urine odors by using UV-light technolgy to detect invisible pet urine stains during our initial inspection and show them to you so you know the exact location of the pet urine deposits and we can discuss the various pet urine treatments we offer the results you should expect to recieve and the cost of service before any carpet cleaning or repairs are done. We listen to your concerns about your particular pet urine odor situation and recommend the best solution to end your pet odor problems. Some recommendations for pet odor removal are carpet cleaning with enzyme treatments, overnight soak carpet cleaning treatment and pad replacement or replacing untreatable damaged carpet sections. We also apply odor sealer to flooring, base boards, drywall and concrete this eliminates any