Pet odors can be trapped in your carpet, even after a thorough cleaning. Taking preventive measures, including regular grooming to remove hair and dander, can minimize these smells.
If you are facing an odor problem, use powerful household cleaners to clean up stains and smells as soon as they happen. These include baking soda, vinegar, and enzyme cleaners.
Vacuum
One of the first steps in removing pet odors from your carpet is to vacuum it thoroughly. This step is important because lingering hair and dander can contribute to persistent smells in the home. Additionally, a vacuum can remove pet urine from carpet and help it to evaporate more quickly, thereby eliminating the odor.
It is also a good idea to vacuum high-traffic areas and pet-frequented spots at least once a week. This will help to prevent odors and reduce the frequency of deep cleanings, as some carpets benefit from grooming after cleaning.
When you are vacuuming, make sure to use a hose attachment and get into corners and crevices where dirt may accumulate. A thorough vacuuming can remove both old and new odors from your carpet.
Baking soda is an all-natural odor neutralizer that can be used to remove pet stains and odors from carpet. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the affected area and allow it to sit overnight before vacuuming thoroughly.
Another natural solution for odor removal is white vinegar. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the solution to a clean cloth and blot the stain and odor. Then, allow the area to dry completely before returning pets to the spot.
Finally, an enzymatic cleaner can be extremely effective for eliminating pet odors from carpet. These cleaners utilize bacterial enzyme action to break down organic odor sources, such as pet urine. Some of the top-rated products include Rocco & Roxie Supply Co Stain & Odor Eliminator and Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator.
Getting rid of pet odors from your carpet can be challenging, especially if the stains have been left to set for an extended period of time. However, if you follow the tips above, you can tackle the problem effectively and enjoy a fresh-smelling home.
Baking Soda
While baking soda is well known for many household uses including eliminating stains and soap scum, it’s also an effective deodorizer. This is because it naturally neutralizes odors, including those resulting from urine.
Liberally sprinkle the powder over a soiled or smelly area of carpet. Make sure to use enough so that the entire soiled area is covered. Leave the powder to sit overnight for maximum odor absorption. Then vacuum it up. This is a temporary solution and may require multiple applications, but it can be helpful for quickly reducing pet odors.
For a more thorough clean, mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda to form a paste. Apply the paste to a soiled or smelly area and let it sit for several hours, or overnight, before vacuuming. This will remove the bulk of the odor and should freshen up the carpet and upholstery.
Sodium bicarbonate works to neutralize fatty acids, which are present in many biological odor sources. This includes most pheromones and the byproducts of fermented animal fats. While it won’t eliminate all pet odors, it can help reduce urine based odors and prevent pets from returning to mark the same spot again.
If a stain is still visible, consider using an enzymatic cleaner that’s designed specifically for pet stains and odors. Follow the product instructions carefully to ensure that you’re using the correct formula and applying it properly. These cleaners can also help break down the bio-components of pet stains, which can help to eliminate odors and stains without damaging your carpet.
Vinegar
Before using any cleaning solution on a pet stain or odor spot, make sure that the area is dry. If it’s still damp, soak up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels and then place a layer of newspaper over the soaked area. If you can, stand on this padding to absorb even more of the liquid. Next, clean the area with a combination of water and vinegar (1:1 ratio), or an enzymatic cleaner designed specifically for removing pet stains and odors.
Vinegar is a popular natural deodorizer that can be used to treat surface odors in carpeting. It works by absorbing and neutralizing smells that are trapped in the fibers of carpeting. This is a good option if you have a general scent that lingers in the air of your home, rather than a specific stain or odor from a pet accident.
Another natural odor-neutralizing cleaner that’s safe to use around pets is baking soda. Sprinkle a liberal amount over the affected areas and let it sit overnight. Then, vacuum thoroughly to remove the baking soda and any odors it’s absorbed.
If the odor is coming from a specific stain, first blot the area with paper towels to soak up as much of the urine as possible. Once the soiled area is dry, apply a homemade cleaning solution consisting of one cup of vinegar and two cups of water. Lightly spray the solution onto spots on the carpet that smell, being careful not to oversaturate or damage the fabric.
If the odor persists, you might need to try a different cleaning method. If the urine has soaked through the carpet and into the padding, replacing the pad may be your only option. If the urine has also discolored wood on furniture, walls, or baseboards, you can scrub the area with #000 steel wool and a bit of floor wax, or use a commercial stain remover intended for hard surfaces.
Enzymes
Enzymes are biological molecules that accelerate the natural decomposition process for organic stains and smells like bodily waste. The bacteria that produce these odor-eating enzymes are helpful, non-pathogenic and safe for humans and pets to be around. This means that enzymatic cleaners are far more effective than harsh chemicals in breaking down and neutralizing odors at a molecular level.
Enzme based cleaners use natural organisms that are grown through fermentation technology, providing a greener alternative to traditional cleaning chemicals. Then, these organisms are combined with other ingredients to create a powerful and eco-friendly carpet cleaning product. The key ingredient in these products is a specific type of protein that targets proteins and breaks them down into simpler, more easily soluble forms. This process is often compared to a lock and key mechanism where the enzyme fits perfectly into its target molecule to break it apart.
This type of cleaner is great for treating pet stains and odors, especially those caused by urine. The uric acid in urine is not water soluble and clings to carpet fibers and fabrics, creating the unpleasant odors associated with dog or cat accidents. Regular household cleaning products and vinegar may not fully remove these odors, and in fact can actually cause the stains to set into the carpet.
This is why it’s important to treat urine stains as quickly as possible, and to get rid of the underlying odor as well. The best way to do this is to use a product with enzymes that are specifically designed for pet accidents and odor removal. Be careful when using these products on unsealed wood floors, as they may discolor or damage them. Also, be sure to test any enzymatic cleaner on a small area of your carpet before applying it to the entire area.
Black Light
Pets can create unpleasant odors in your carpet from urine, drool, and natural oils. These odors can also be trapped in the carpet fibers for long periods of time. This can be a challenge for homeowners to remove from their homes. However, you can try some home remedies and professional cleaning services to get your carpet smelling fresh again.
One of the most common causes of lingering pet odors in your carpet is dog urine. The stale, lingering smell is due to the ammonia in pet urine. Using a black light can help you to locate urine spots in your carpet. Urine will glow under a blacklight because it contains phosphor. Other substances will also fluoresce, including most laundry detergents, tonic water, teeth and fingernails.
To use a black light to identify a urine spot, turn off all the lights in your room and hold a blacklight about a foot away from the area you are looking for. The urine will glow as a dull yellow or greenish color under the blacklight. Mark the area with a piece of tape so you can remember to treat it.
Once you find the pee spot, soak it up with paper towels or rags to absorb as much of the urine as possible. Once you have soaked up as much moisture as possible, rinse the area with cool water. Then, blot the area to dry. If the stain and odor are severe, search online for a pet-safe enzyme cleaner. These cleaners will break down the odor-causing molecules and stains in your carpet without damaging your carpet fibers or causing discoloration.
To prevent future pet odors, vacuum and treat your carpet with baking soda frequently. You can also brush your pets regularly to reduce the amount of dander and pet hair that ends up in your carpet. This can minimize the accumulation of pet odors and other debris in your carpet between professional cleanings.
