Atlas Floor Care
SOLUTIONS
How to remove pet stains from carpet?
Has your four legged friend left you a mess while you were gone? Not to worry Atlas Floor Care has the solution to getting rid of those unwanted stains and finding the source of your odor problem! Let us break down urine into three classes.
Identifying the problem
-
Caught in the act (1-2 times)
-
Having problems for a few weeks/months (3-5)
-
Unattended pets (10+)
Urine voids most manufacturers warranties
Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment.
The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately.
Urine salts will draw the moisture from the air and always be a little wet and can be detected by moisture probes years after initially being contaminated.
Pet Urine Removal
We offer three different but effective ways of handling each unique situation.
-
Using power eco-based solution(enzymes) we are able to remove 100% of the urine in the carpet fibers. This option is for the occasional accident and starts at $.45 sf.
-
Having a simual process as the first, this option we focus on getting urine out of the both carpet and padding. After weeks/months of neglect if you can smell it from the front door this is your option. Most areas $20-50 depending on severity.
-
Pull back carpet, remove pad, seal subfloor, new pad installed, Clean front and back of the carpet finished with an application of our topical urine treatment.*
*(Quote on site) Most of the time this option is a last result as option 2 is very effective at removing the majority of the Urine contamination.
Q & A
Does carpet protectors help with Pet Urine?
No, urine penetrates protectors, in more serious conditions it soaks into the pad and in extreme conditions into the sub-floor or concrete foundation. If not taking care of properly Pet urine leaves behind urine crystals and salts which consist of bacteria, urochrome, uric acid, urea, proteins and hormones within a few days the dry urine salts start to produce the “ammonia” smell.
What can I do if you catch your pet in action?
Just remember it is easier to remove urine right then when it is fresh! Apply regular hand towel on the area and apply pressure by stepping on the towel! we want to make sure the least amount at possible getting into the carpet padding. Repeat this process with a clean towel until little transfer is visible. When dealing with fresh pet spots we need to remember that urine is acid any missed spots will leaves behind urine crystals/salts. Our goal now is to dry out the carpet.
How Long does it take to for the carpet to dry?
Every situation is different but the majority of the time the carpet and pad with be dry within 24 hours. Our special solution is made to work thought out the drying process. As with every job we call 3 days later to follow up on the work done.
-
Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment.
-
The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately.
-
Urine salts will draw the moisture from the air and always be a little wet and can be detected by moisture probes years after initially being contaminated.
Back to the basics
When urine is first deposited onto a floor or fabric, it has a pH(Power of Hydrogen) of about 5 or 6, which is on the acid side of the pH Scale. Once it dries it turns “alkaline” or to a high pH between 10 to 12 and becomes more difficult to remove.. In this original acid state the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which can become permanent if nothing is done.
Some of this color change can be attributed to the strong ammonia that forms as the urine passes through bacterial and chemical change. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will change the dye structure, therefore causing permanent staining. Even if the soluble deposits are removed, the damage to the dye structure may already be done.
There are two sources of odors associated with urine. The first comes from bacteria that grow abundantly in dark warm places with a never-ending food source. A pet can feed the bacteria daily! This bacteria growth and breakdown of the urine creates amino acids. These complex organic compounds will often work deep into the fibers to a point of becoming part of the fiber. This can present a challenging situation. The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor. When dried urine is remoistened, it gives off an ammonia gas. If smelled once it is seldom forgotten.
The second source of odor is chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason that more than sanitizing is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are left behind as the urine dries are hydrophilic and draw water to them. Dried urine is often easy to smell in the humid months because the salts attract the moisture, the moisture evaporates putting out a greater proportion of odorous ammonia gas. You must get rid of the urine salts in and under the carpet to get rid of the odor. That’s why cleaning existing urine spots WILL NOT remove any associated odor. In fact, it could INCREASE the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.
Products to Avoid
Try to stay away from products with high pH such as ammonia, Resolve and oxygen bleaches(Oxy clean). These products will leave the carpet with a residue and in a high pH state, which will enable the carpet to attract dirt like a magnet. In some instances the use of the wrong product can cause the urine stain to be permanent.
Professional Remove Odor
Remember, in order to remove the odor, all of the alkaline salt deposits the urine leaves behind must be completely removed. This can be quite extensive, time consuming and costly.
Disclaimer:
Use these techniques at your own risk. Always read directions on any spotter before using. Pre-test each spotter in an inconspicuous area before using. If the stain or odor persists, call Atlas Floor Care.
Atlas Floor Care has cleaning methods available to disinfect the contaminated area, reduce the odor and minimize the discoloration.
Unfortunately, it is often impossible to completely restore the original appearance of a textile that has been damaged with untreated or aged pet urine. We’re here to help! Call us to schedule a consultation or appointment. 562.986.0013