LOCATE “STUBBORN” SOURCES OF URINE FOR 100% PET ODOR REMOVAL
Pet odor removal from urine caused by indoor dogs and cats is really a three prong problem. The stain is most noticeable and often most embarrassing of them all. The odor and contamination are the bigger issues but are often not taken seriously.If we don’t locate all the urine deposits, our results will be less than 100% and the homeowner will feel they were ripped-off. To locate all the urine, we must use our eyes, nose, and help from our moisture detectors and UV lights.
BASIC PET ODOR REMOVAL – STARTS WITH THE NOSE
The nose is the most obvious since pet urine is communicating to our nose that there is a problem in your home. Locating urine with your nose is the most exact method, but can be very time consuming and very unsanitary. Unfortunately, urine odors will defuse in the air and in order to locate a “puppy puddle” you have to do it on your hands and knees, literally sniffing every square inch of your carpet. I recommend removing as much air circulation as possible before starting. This will help pinpoint the urine deposits quicker. You can remove air flow by closing all doors and windows, turning off the air conditioner and any ceiling fans inside the house. Now you’re ready to go to work.
USE A MOISTURE DETECTOR AND SAVE TIME
If you don’t want to crawl around on your hands and knees a moisture detector can help you locate the pet urine odor.
How is this possible? When urine exits the pets body it arrives in the form of an acid. However, as urine dries, it changes chemically into an alkaline salt. This alkaline salt is “hygroscopic” and this means that it absorbs moisture. It actually holds quite a bit of moisture and can set off a moisture detector (aka. moisture probe) when you poke or “probe” the carpet and carpet cushion. What happens is that the moisture in the alkaline salts conduct electricity and there is and electrical current between the 2 probes. Poking a urine puddle will complete the circuit when moisture is present.
I wish I could say this tool was full proof, but it’s not. A moisture detector will only alert you when there is around 16 percent moisture content. This isn’t always possible in our extremely dry climate.
FOR BETTER RESULTS – USE AN ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
Urine deposits will fluoresce or “glow” under UV light. It doesn’t take much urine to show up under a UV light. However, there are low intensity lights and there are more powerful higher intensity lights that can help you locate urine deposits and odors faster.
In either case, its a good idea to remove as much light from the affected room as possible. Turning off lights and putting black plastic sheeting over open windows will help find the smallest puddles during daylight hours. If the room has too many windows or skylights then wait till dusk or night time to locate the pet urine.
Wearing amber glasses (aka: amber safety goggles) also helps magnify the glow. These goggles filter unwanted light from the fluorescent areas we are trying to find. They also protect your eyes from harmful UV light. Do yourself a favor and wear them, you’ll be glad you did.
WHAT DOES URINE LOOK LIKE UNDER UV LIGHT? (ADVANCED PET ODOR REMOVAL)
I thought all urine would look alike. I was WRONG! Ironically, dog urine will fluoresce in a yellow color and cat urine will fluoresce in a more “greenish” color. The shape of the puddle is also important as spills tend to have shapes that communicate when something “just doesn’t look right.” Urine can also appear to fluoresce in a “bluish” color. This happens when you add cleaners in an attempt to remove pet urine deposits. What will appear blue are the optical brighteners added to cleaning detergents. It doesn’t mean there is no odor, it just means you have to use the nose test to determine if there is still odor present in that area.
USING ONLY YOUR EYES
It is possible to locate urine deposits and get 100% results. However, it usually requires disengaging the carpet and inspecting it upside down. You will see the all the urine puddles on the carpet’s backing wherever a problem exits. Most consumers will not employ this method because of the work involved and the cost associated in putting things back. However it is very reliable and often employed to fix the most sever odor problems.
USE EVERY POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE
You’ve learned about some powerful tools that can help you locate this “invisible” problem. You’ve also learned that you can locate the problem when all you have are your senses. Take advantage of all your resources and mark every urine deposit you find with some white chalk or 3M painters tape to ensure 100% success when you begin treating the pet odors. You’ll be glad you did.
YOU FOUND IT – NOW IT’S TIME TO REMOVE THE PET ODOR
I’ve been doing pet odor removal for over 17 years in my Las Cruces Carpet Cleaning business and treating pet urine problems is by far the most difficult aspect of my profession. It’s my experience (and I will share all with you) that when you’re lucky all you have to do is saturate and area with your favorite pet odor removal solution (there are dozens out there), let it work til the odor is gone and rinse and extract it out. This is a great technique on most spots but you will encounter some very stubborn areas that have very strong pet odor. Those areas will require strong pet odor removal treatments and may require replacing carpet pad to remove all the pet odor.
If you do encounter stubborn “smelly” spots, call a professional. Certified professional carpet cleaners (most are NOT certified) know what to do and carry the right products. They can fix the most difficult pet odor problems for you. So if saving time, money, and aggravation is important to you, give us a call.
Another great resource for pet odor removal is this great article written by carpet cleaning expert Scott Warrington titled: Locating Sources of Urine Odor
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