Carpet Cleaning | Stain Tips | Repair | Pet Odor | Urine Removal | Carpet Protector

Well, accidents happen. Pet urine is one of the most pervasive odors most homeowners encounter. The Steam Team uses both nature and technology to rid your home of these offensive smells. Don't get rid of your pet! Get rid of the smell!

Pet Odor

Pet odor is a very common problem. At The Steam Team we can help you deal with your pet challenges. From minor problems to major headaches The Steam Team can help find that solution that works best for you.

In many cases our normal cleaning process is all that is needed to correct minor pet problems. The powerful rinsing action of our cleaning system can effectively remove urine from carpet fiber.

The problem with pet odor is that it can be much deeper than it first appears at first. Pet urine can easily soak through the backing of the carpet into the padding underneath. In more severe cases the urine can penetrate into the sub-floor beneath the padding. This creates a problem that is multi-layered.

The urine also provides for the growth of bacteria. This in turn contributes to a worsening of the odor problem and can contribute to permanent color loss of the carpet fiber.

Treatment

To eliminate this problem the urine must be removed or neutralized from each of the layers effected. If the contamination is limited to only the face yarn of the carpet then the cleaning itself may effectively remove the odor. In more severe cases a urine neutralizer may be applied.

In the most severe cases, replacement of the carpet padding, treatment of the under-side of the carpet and the sub-floor may be required. Even replacement of the carpet, however, can not guarantee complete removal of the odor.

Left untreated over a period of time pet odor can become absorbed into many of the porous materials in your home. Draperies, sheet rock, upholstered furniture, base-boards, even the concrete foundation are just a few of the materials that can absorb these odors.

At The Steam Team we offer a range of solutions to help you with your pet odor problems. In the long run, however, it may be more a matter of proper maintenance instead of total elimination. After all, we love our pets and want to keep them a part of our family. Pet ownership adds to the challenge of maintaining a clean and healthy home. At The Steam Team we can help you meet those challenges.

Urine Control

Please note that when cleaning urine spots, there is a difference between cleaning the urine soiling and treating for odor. Cleaning existing urine spots MAY NOT remove any associated odor. In fact, it could increase the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.

Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment. When urine is first deposited onto a floor or fabric, it is in an almost "neutral" state which means it is easier to remove when it is fresh. Once it dries, it turns "alkaline" and becomes more difficult to remove. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will permanently change the dye structure, therefore causing permanent staining. Even if the soluble deposits are removed, the damage to the dye structure may already be done.

This means that no one can guarantee complete removal of all urine spots. Please consult with your technician if you have questionable urine spots on your carpet.

To prevent permanent staining in the future, clean urine spots immediately by blotting with a white terry cloth towel or plain white paper towels until no moisture is transferred. To clean the spot, mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and massage (don't rub) into the spot with a white terry cloth. Once you have "flushed" as much of the urine out as possible, blot with dry cloths until dry to the touch. If you have a small extraction machine, flush with fresh water until spot is removed. Do not use over the counter, general spotters or extraction detergent. If you do not use this formula, ask us about special pet spotters.

How Professionals Remove Odor

Remember, in order to remove the odor, all of the alkaline salt deposits the urine leaves behind must be completely removed. This can be quite extensive and time consuming. In worse cases, all of the following steps will be done. When damage is not so bad a few steps are left out.

  1. Pull up carpet.
  2. Remove affected pad.
  3. Clean back of carpet.
  4. Treat floor with an enzyme treatment.
  5. Seal floor if needed with an odor barrier.
  6. Treat back of carpet with enzyme treatment.
  7. Install new tack strip.
  8. Install new pad.
  9. Re-install carpet.
  10. Clean carpet.
  11. Topically apply enzyme.

The Problem Could be More Than Carpet Deep if Your Pet's Urine Has Saturated The Padding & Sub-flooring.

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