15 Jan Pet Urine and Carpet Cleaning

With winter in full swing, many people are having to bring their pets indoors during frigid nights. In our San Antonio metro area, our pets are not used to freezing temperatures and thus come inside to spend the night. With some pets not used to being indoors a lot, many find it hard to hold their “potty break” until the next morning. Of course, not only is it frustrating for the pet but also for the homeowner. Urine stains and smells on carpet and upholstery are something we all can do without.

Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will permanently change the dye structure, thus causing permanent staining. Even if the soluble deposits are removed, the damage to the dye structure may already be done. This means that nobody can guarantee complete removal of all urine spots. Also, it should be noted that cleaning existing urine spots will not remove any associated odor. In fact, cleaning could increase the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.

To prevent permanent staining in the future, clean urine spots immediately by blotting with a white terry cloth or plain white paper towel until no moisture is transferred. If the spot is over a couple of days old, mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and massage (don’t rub) into the spot with a white terry cloth. Once you have “flushed” as much of the urine out as possible, blot with dry cloths until dry to the touch. If you have a small extraction machine, flush with fresh water until spot is removed. If you do not use this formula, most importantly, do not use over the counter carpet spot treatments or detergents, as these do not help with urine problems and many leave heavy residues in carpet, and may permanently set the stain.

If you have pet urine issues with your carpet or upholstery, and are in need of a professional carpet cleaning or upholstery cleaning, please feel to call Steamer’s Carpet Care at (210) 654-7700 or (830) 606-8400. We can send out experienced, well mannered technicians that will clean your carpet and upholstery, and provide information and solutions to the odor issues. Steamer’s Carpet Care provides carpet cleaning in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, and Seguin.