Why You Should Call A Carpet Cleaning Professional to Remove Pet Odors?
Pets brighten up our day and they are always there to support us, through thick and thin. However, they can make it a real challenge to keep your home clean, healthy, and smelling fresh when accidents occur. If the stains and odors are older and set in the carpet, you will need professional help to alleviate the problem.
When urine is first deposited onto a floor or fabric, it has a pH of about 5 or 6, which is on the acid side of the pH Scale. It is easier to remove right then when it is fresh. Once it dries it turns “alkaline” or to a high pH between 10 to 12 on the scale and becomes more difficult to remove. The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begins to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state, the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which will become permanent if the urine is not removed immediately. This makes it almost impossible to remove all residue from set in pet stains and requires professionals help.
There are a few reasons why pet urine stains are so difficult to remove:
Pet urine contains uric acid crystals
Traditional products containing soap and strong chemicals are not able to work because they do not break down the acid. While some home remedies can give quick relief, deep cleaning and professional decontamination methods are usually required to remove the stains and odors caused by pet waste altogether.
A small stain is hard to find
As the Humane Society points out on its website, you must find all the spots where your pet has marked before you can begin to retrain him to eliminate in acceptable places. Using a black light is recommended if you are not sure of all the places where your pet may have made himself at home.
The stain is the tip of the iceberg
A lot of the waste goes not only in the carpet but down into the carpet padding and the subfloor. And most homeowners do not realize how much bigger the soiled area becomes once it sinks through the carpet. The padding is like a sponge, and the spot just spreads out.
But why is all this important?
Dog or cat urine smells sharply of ammonia, which is an irritant to the lungs. In the case of large amounts of urine, your lungs could feel like they are burning. Inhalation of large quantities of ammonia causes immediate burning of the throat, respiratory tract, and nose. Pet urine becomes embedded in furniture, baseboards, carpeting, and other areas causing health hazards. Individuals with weak immune systems, allergies, asthma, and other health conditions–such as migraines–are especially susceptible to the risks associated with ammonia inhalation.
Cat urine is very concentrated, so a small amount can smell extraordinarily strong. Dried urine becomes crystallized, which causes strong odor.
Leptospirosis, which can be found in some dog urine, is a bacterial infection caused by several closely related bacterial strains. Although most prevalent in warm, humid environments, the ubiquitous bacteria are found all over the world. Many wild animals contract the disease — especially rodents — as can domestic dogs. Infected dogs may pass the disease to humans, in whom it causes flu-like symptoms. Serious cases can lead to kidney or liver disease.
Dirtbusters uses three different ways to detect pet stains throughout your home. Moisture Detector, this device will locate the urine even if dried due to the continuity of the alkaline salts. Ultraviolet (UV) Light, these will illuminate the urine residues and make it easier to locate the contaminated areas. The newer LED flashlights are the most effective of the UV light producers.
First, pre-treat the areas to dissolve the lipids, oily and sticky residues. The next step is to neutralize the alkaline residues, using a specially designed Dirtbusters product. Finally, hot water extraction is considered the best treatment for pet stains and odors. Dirtbusters equipment features super-heated water and powerful vacuums that remove dirt and particles all the way to the base of the carpet fiber. Our re-circulating system keeps the clean, hot water moving from the tank to the wand, so it does not have a chance to cool down. Powerful vacuums then extract the dirt and water, leaving your carpets clean, soft, and odor-free.
If you are ready for Dirtbusters to remove all those stubborn pet stains, call your local Dirtbusters today! www.dirtbustersdeepcarpetcleaning.com