Pet Accidents Do Happen
Owners of even the best-trained pets will occasionally encounter pet accidents.
Often, the urine is not discovered until long after the accident. The types of damage
from pet stains can be diverse and are dependent upon the makeup of the urine. Urine
content will change over the pet’s life because of the pet’s diet, medications,
age, health, sex, and reproductive cycles. Because of these variations, some urine
stains may not be removable.
Treating Urine Damaged Areas
To treat urine-damaged areas: Blot damp areas as soon
as the urine is detected, with plain white paper toweling. Apply a solution of 1/4
teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and non-lanolin) with one
cup of lukewarm water. Do not use automatic dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent.
Absorb the moisture with paper towel, rinse with warm water and repeat the application
of detergent. Continue rinsing and blotting with the detergent solution and water
as long as there is a transfer to the toweling or improvement in the spot. Follow
the detergent application with a solution of one cup white vinegar to two cups water,
and blot dry. Apply a half-inch layer of paper towels to the affected area, and
weigh down with a flat, heavy, non-fading object. Continue to change paper towels
until completely dry. Urine can affect the dyes used in carpet, although not all
occurrences will result in a permanent stain. Success is dependent upon the content
of the urine, the dyes and finish used, and the time elapsed after the deposit.
Some urine spots may be immediately noticeable, while others may take weeks or months
for a reaction. The dyes may change color immediately after contact with urine.
When urine spots develop slowly and are noticed after much time has elapsed, the
dyes and carpet fibers may be permanently damaged. In beige carpet, blue dyes are
attacked by pet urine, leaving behind the red and yellow dyes with a resulting stain
appearing red, yellow, or orange. Pet urine, left unattended, can damage carpet
in several ways. Moisture can weaken the layers of the carpet, allowing separation
or delamination of the backing material. Seam areas can be particularly damaged
and can separate. Another problem, especially with cats, is odor. Unless the cat
urine can be completely removed, complete odor removal is unlikely. A number of
products are available to combat odor, but may simply mask the odor, and, in times
of high humidity, the odor may reappear. Recently, enzymes, available at pet stores
and veterinary offices, have been developed that are more effective; but they may
be better used by a carpet cleaning professional. If odor cannot be removed, the
damaged area of the carpet can be replaced with a piece from reserved scrap. If
carpet replacement is necessary, then replacement of cushion and even subflooring
may also be necessary. Some carpet manufacturers have developed backings that resist
spills and even prevent the spillage from penetrating the carpet into the carpet
cushion and, perhaps, the subfloor. Check with your carpet dealer about these products.
Owners of even the best-trained pets will occasionally encounter pet accidents.
Often, the urine is not discovered until long after the accident. The types of damage
from pet stains can be diverse and are dependent upon the makeup of the urine. Urine
content will change over the pet’s life because of the pet’s diet, medications,
age, health, sex, and reproductive cycles. Because of these variations, some urine
stains may not be removable.
To treat urine-damaged areas:
- Blot damp areas as soon as the urine is detected, with plain white paper toweling.
- Apply a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and
non-lanolin) with one cup of lukewarm water. Do not use automatic dishwashing detergent
or laundry detergent.
- Absorb the moisture with paper towel, rinse with warm water and repeat the application
of detergent. Continue rinsing and blotting with the detergent solution and water
as long as there is a transfer to the toweling or improvement in the spot.
- Follow the detergent application with a solution of one cup white vinegar to two
cups water, and blot dry.
- Apply a half-inch layer of paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with
a flat, heavy, non-fading object. Continue to change paper towels until completely
dry.
Urine can affect the dyes used in carpet, although not all occurrences will result
in a permanent stain. Success is dependent upon the content of the urine, the dyes
and finish used, and the time elapsed after the deposit. Some urine spots may be
immediately noticeable, while others may take weeks or months for a reaction. The
dyes may change color immediately after contact with urine.
When urine spots develop slowly and are noticed after much time has elapsed, the
dyes and carpet fibers may be permanently damaged. In beige carpet, blue dyes are
attacked by pet urine, leaving behind the red and yellow dyes with a resulting stain
appearing red, yellow, or orange.
Pet urine, left unattended, can damage carpet in several ways. Moisture can weaken
the layers of the carpet, allowing separation or delamination of the backing material.
Seam areas can be particularly damaged and can separate.
Another problem, especially with cats, is odor. Unless the cat urine can be completely
removed, complete odor removal is unlikely. A number of products are available to
combat odor, but may simply mask the odor, and, in times of high humidity, the odor
may reappear. Recently, enzymes, available at pet stores and veterinary offices,
have been developed that are more effective; but they may be better used by a carpet
cleaning professional. If odor cannot be removed, the damaged area of the carpet
can be replaced with a piece from reserved scrap. If carpet replacement is necessary,
then replacement of cushion and even subflooring may also be necessary.
Some carpet manufacturers have developed backings that resist spills and even prevent
the spillage from penetrating the carpet into the carpet cushion and, perhaps, the
subfloor. Check with your carpet dealer about these products.
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