Can Professional Carpet Cleaning Remove Pet Stains and Odours?

Pets add happiness and companionship and many other fun times to our homes, but at the same time, they may cause some problems, such as stains and odors. No matter whether it is a young dog that is learning how to use the toilet, a muddy dog coming back from his walk, or an old pet having occasional accidents, your carpets get exposed to much more than you see.

Many people use either homemade solutions for stains or rented machines to clean their carpets; however, in most cases, the result will be that the stains disappear temporarily and then the odor comes back a few days later. The reason for that is simple – in most cases, pets' accidents go not just to the surface of the carpet but also deeper.

The positive news is that in most cases, Carpet Cleaning is capable of eliminating those stains and odors.

Why Are Pet Stains So Difficult to Remove?

In contrast with regular stains, pet accidents are comprised of a mixture of liquid, protein, bacteria, and acid which easily seeps into the carpet fibers. In just a few moments, the moisture will start its movement downwards and reach places that regular home equipment cannot clean.

During the drying process, the contamination will stay stuck under the carpet's surface layer. Although the spot might look lighter, the dirt which is trapped under the carpet might still be there.

That's why some people think that the stain is gone until they smell it again when the weather warms up.

What Causes Pet Odours to Keep Coming Back?

The primary cause of recurring odours from pets is that the cause of the smell hasn’t been eliminated entirely.

When pets urinate, there are natural salts and organic compounds in their urine, which result in the creation of minute crystals when the urine evaporates. When humidity rises or the carpet gets slightly wet, the crystals become active again and release a smell.

Another factor that causes this problem is the presence of bacteria, which keep digesting the residue whenever moisture is still present in the carpet or underlay. The odour that people get used to after a pet accident is mostly caused by this process.

Masking the smell with an air freshener might work for some time, but it won’t solve the problem.

Common Types of Pet Stains Found in Carpets

Stains caused by pets need different methods for proper cleaning. It will be easier to clean them if you know what kind of stains they are.

Pet Urine

The most common and hardest to clean stain is urine since it seeps very quickly into the fibers of the carpet and leaves both visible stains and odor behind.

Muddy Paw Prints

After dogs' outdoor walk on muddy ground, they often carry with them pieces of dirt like mud, sand, grass, and road salt that make carpets dirty and worn.

Pet Vomit

Pet vomit has protein and acid that will create stains on the carpet fibres when they stay on it for some time.

Pet Hair and Dander

Regardless of any accidents that pets may cause, they keep shedding their hair and dander throughout their lives, which will accumulate in the carpet over time.

Common Mistakes Homeowners Make

It is a fact that many problems with carpets become even worse because of their cleaning attempts.

Some of the common mistakes are:

• Scrapping of the stain hard, pushing the stain further into the fibres.

• Use of too much carpet shampoo, resulting in sticky residue.

• Delayed cleaning of the accident.

• Use of cleaners that are not appropriate for the pet stains.

• Use of air fresheners rather than removing the smell's source.

Although these practices seem beneficial, they only complicate the process of stain removal later on.

How Professional Carpet Cleaning Helps

Professional carpet cleaning services are not just about surface level cleaning. Prior to the cleaning, the stained areas are inspected to identify the depth of the stain as well as which cleaning method should be used.

Deep steam cleaning uses professional equipment to inject the hot water along with special cleaners deep into the carpet. Dirt, bacteria, pet stains, and most of the moisture from the carpet fibers are effectively extracted during this process.

Besides improving the appearance of the carpet, deep steam cleaning is also able to get rid of most of the contaminants that cause bad smells.

For more information on this cleaning method, please refer to our article:

What Is Deep Steam Cleaning and How Does It Work?

Can Every Pet Stain Be Removed?

Whereas professional cleaning gives outstanding results in most cases, one needs to bear in mind the fact that not all companies give guarantees concerning the total stain removal.

Contamination that has just happened can easily be cleaned by professionals since the contaminations are fresh and have not penetrated deep into the fabric. Old stains have often penetrated into the carpet backing or subfloor beneath the carpet.

Permanent dye stains or the contamination of the carpet by repeated pet accidents during years may not result in successful stain removal but can greatly improve the look of the carpet as well as make the odour almost unnoticeable.

Tips to Prevent Future Pet Stains

It is a lot easier to keep your carpets clean with these few practices.

• Clean up pet messes as quickly as you can.

• Blot rather than scrub the stains.

• Remove the dirt from their feet before allowing them inside the house.

• Ensure that you vacuum on a regular basis to eliminate pet fur and pet hair.

Professional Carpet Cleaning should be done on a regular basis to avoid staining in the future.

Conclusion

Sometimes, it may not be necessary to replace your carpet because of any staining or smell left by your pets. More often than not, proper cleaning can be done in order to remove all of the dirt and bacteria that cause bad odors in your carpet. The faster you clean after an accident, the better chances you have of getting back your carpet's pristine condition.

Through Professional Carpet Cleaning and Deep Steam Cleaning, Elite Carpet Care is able to help many people living in Brantford remove their pet stains and odors.