If you have a dog or cat, you probably know this one. There’s a spot by the couch you’ve cleaned three times. It smells fine for a week. Then it rains, the air gets sticky, and the smell is right back where it started.
It isn’t your cleaning. Pet urine sinks past the carpet fibers into the backing and the pad underneath, and a spray bottle can’t get down there. So pet odor removal from carpet in Shakopee really comes down to reaching what’s below the surface. This is the process our technicians will go through in order to rid your carpet of the smell. Here are some other things that you can do yourself to ensure that the smell is not going to return again.
Why Does the Smell Persist?
The spot of the liquid on top of the carpet is not always going to remain as a spot. It is going to spread and get absorbed into the carpet, from something that is a little coaster-sized stain into something that is the size of a dinner plate stain.
Once the liquid is gone, the uric acid crystals remain. This process occurs all summer long in Minnesota because of the humidity. In winter, with the windows shut for months, the smell just hangs around the house.
Air fresheners and carpet powders cover it for a day or two, and that’s about it. Pet odor removal calls that come into us for carpet in Shakopee follow a similar routine. There is a good cleaning of the top surface of the spot, but nothing is done about the bottom part.
What Professionals Do in Removing Pet Odor: Step-by-Step Process
There might be slight differences depending on the home, but here’s how it goes:
Step 1: Spot All Trouble Spots Using UV Light
Old urine stains are often invisible in normal light. Under a UV black light, they glow, so we can see the spots you know about and, usually, a few you don’t. We also check with a moisture meter to see how far each one has spread under the surface. Skip this step, and spots get missed.
Step 2: Source Elimination Using Enzyme Treatment
Each problem area is professionally treated using enzymes or oxidizers. The enzymes consume the uric acid, thus completely eliminating the odor instead of covering it up with a perfume. We let the treatment sit long enough to soak as deep as the urine did, which rushed DIY jobs almost never do.
Step 3: Rinse It Out With Hot Water Extraction
Next comes truck-mounted hot water extraction. It flushes the carpet and pulls out everything the treatment loosened. Honestly, this is where professional carpet cleaning in Shakopee earns its money. Our equipment has a lot more suction than a store rental, so more of the mess comes out, and the carpet is left much drier.
Step 4: Work on the Pad and Subfloor if Needed
Some homes have years of accidents in one corner. In case urine reaches the pad, we utilize a sub-surface treatment which will rinse and extract underneath the carpet without having to pull it up. In case the pad is beyond repair, we’ll replace that section of the pad and then treat the subfloor for odor prevention.
Step 5: Deodorizing and Drying
Last, we deodorize the area and set up air movers so it dries fast. Carpet that stays wet too long can start to smell musty, which is the last thing you want. Fast drying helps with your pet, too. Dogs and cats like to go where they smell old urine, so once it’s gone, they’re less likely to pick the same spot again.
DIY vs. Professional Pet Odor Removal
| DIY | Professional | |
| Equipment | Spray bottles, a rental machine | Truck-mounted extraction, UV lights, sub-surface tools |
| How deep it cleans | The carpet surface | Fibers, backing, pad and subfloor |
| Products | Store-bought cleaners | Professional enzyme and oxidizing treatments |
| Results | Often comes back | Gone for good in most cases |
A fresh accident you catch right away is usually fine to handle yourself. People run into trouble with the older stuff. Pouring on lots of water just spreads the urine further into the pad. Vinegar does very little to dried uric acid. And steam on an untreated stain can actually lock the smell into the fibers.
Our rule of thumb? If the smell has hung around for more than a few days, or it keeps coming back after you clean, it’s time to call a pro.
Don’t Forget Your Area Rugs
Pets are hard on area rugs too, and wool or oriental rugs are the trickiest. Harsh chemicals and high temperatures might cause the dyes to bleed or cause the fibers to shrink. These area rugs are most often best cleaned using a full cleaning by a professional in a washing facility that will allow them to wash and dry evenly in order to remove the odor from the backing as well as the top of the rug.
We work all over the Southwest Metro, not only Shakopee and Chaska. We also handle rug cleaning in Eden Prairie and carpet cleaning in Eden Prairie, MN, so if your pets have left their mark on more than one floor, we’ve got you covered.
Simple Ways to Prevent Pet Odors
- Absorb fresh pet urine immediately using paper towels – rubbing drives the urine in further.
- Keep a pet-safe enzyme spray under the sink so it’s ready when you need it.
- Put washable mats in the spots your pet likes best.
- Have pets? Then clean professionally every six to twelve months.
FAQs
- How long does professional pet odor removal take?
Most visits take one to three hours, depending on how many spots we find. The carpet is usually dry in 6 to 12 hours, so you’ll have the room back that evening or the next morning.
- Is the treatment safe for pets and kids?
Yes. The enzyme products we use are made for homes with pets and children. We just ask that everyone stays off the carpet until it’s dry, which also gives the treatment time to work.
- Will the urine smell come back?
Usually not, as long as it’s treated in the fibers, backing, and pad. Sometimes a severely damaged pad requires replacement, but even in this case, the smell can be entirely eliminated.
- What is the price for pet odor elimination service from carpet in Shakopee?
It depends on the number of damaged areas, depth of urine penetration, and condition of the pad. Treatment of some spots during a standard cleaning process does not cost extra. Pad replacement or sub-surface work costs more. Call us to get a free estimate.
- Do you provide carpet cleaning services in Eden Prairie, MN?
Yes, we do. We provide services of carpet cleaning, pet odor elimination, and rug cleaning in Eden Prairie, Shakopee, Chaska, and neighboring cities.
Conclusion
If that pesky pet smell keeps returning, chances are it’s underneath the carpeting. Effective pet odor removal from carpet in Shakopee involves locating all those spots, breaking down the uric acid, and removing it from the carpet pad.
Ready for your home to smell like home? Call [Phone Number] or book your professional carpet cleaning in Shakopee today. And while you’re at it, ask about a free pet odor inspection.
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