Odors Be Gone

Let’s face it, there are some kinds of stains that are a lot more difficult to remove than others.  When it comes to stains, it’s always best to work on removing the stain right away, but sometimes this isn’t possible.  Stains from grape juice, wine, cola, and pet urine are some of the most notorious stains when it comes to stain removal.  Most carpet cleaners are able to remove stains from dark colored drinks, but it might take a few applications.  It’s also important to remember to blot the stain rather than smear it, as this will cause the stain to move deeper into the carpet.  While grape juice, wine, and cola are cosmetic stains, pet urine has a terrible smell that tends to linger.  For removing pet urine,  pet urine removers are required.  These special products target the particles of the pet urine that cause the unpleasant odor and neutralize it.

Most of the time stains can be removed with a standard rag and a bit of elbow grease, but for stains that have been in the carpet for a long time, it might be necessary to shampoo the carpet first and then apply the proper stain remover. 

Whether it’s an apartment, condo, or house, there’s nothing worse than lingering pet odors left behind by the previous owners.  Most people become accustomed to the odors of their own pets, but odors from foreign pets can be nerve wracking and ruin the appeal of a new home.  But for the most part, odor removal isn’t a complicated process.  The first step is to vacuum and shampoo the carpets.  If there is no carpet, most of the odor will dissipate within a few mops of the floor.  The reason most odors tend to linger is because the pet urine or excrement becomes trapped beneath the carpet.  Once the carpets have been vacuumed and shampooed, attempt to locate specific locations where the odor is potent or there are stains, and use an odor removal tool.  There are numerous pet odor removal cleaners, and finding the right one is more a process of trial and error than choosing a specific brand. 

With just a few applications of a pet odor remover, most smells will dissipate and the home will smell like new!  It’s also a good idea to get a few green plants in the home to provide fresh air. 

Removing not just the stain but the odor of pet urine from carpet can be a real hassle.  The worst part is, normal carpet cleaners won’t work to remove the whole stain or the odor most of the time.  In addition, shampooing the carpet can be quite expensive and time consuming.  Under these circumstances, pet urine removal is best done with a product designed to target pet stains and odor.  Regular cleaners won’t do the trick because they’re not formulated to target the stain or odor of pet urine. 

You can purchase a pet urine removal product at most places that sell pet supplies or also find it online.  These products are essential for owners who have a puppy or are considering a puppy.  Puppies need to urinate all the time, and chances are you’ll have more than a few spots to clean up while they’re enduring potty training!

My family just got a new puppy and he’s a hand full. He runs around the house like a wild little animal. His favorite activities include chewing on stuffed animals and fetching sticks.

But just like any puppy, he has trouble holding his urine. That means he sometimes has accidents on the carpet. Removing pet odor from the carpet is no easy task. It takes hours of scrubbing just to get the carpet back to normal. Having a puppy is totally worth it though.

So your pet had an accident in the house; it happens to all owners at one time or another.  But whether you didn’t clean the mess up right away or couldn’t clean it right away, it can start to smell after some time.  The reason for this isn’t because you didn’t clean the stain on top of the carpet thoroughly, it’s because the stain sat for too long and some of the mess seeped into the area beneath the carpet.  Because it’s not the top of the carpet that is stained, you need to clean the bottom to get rid of the smell.

Thankfully, you don’t have to rip up the carpet to do this.  It can be done with stain removal products designed to eliminate odor.  While these products can’t clean up the mess, they can eliminate the bacteria that cause the smell, and disinfect the area underneath the carpet.  Pet stain removers are great for when you have pet stains that have been on the carpet for some time.  Remember, the best time to remove a stain is as soon as it happens!

Over the holidays I had a near missed holiday disaster.  My dog, Max, had an accident on the carpet only moments before guests started to arrive!  I wasn’t mad at him, because it was the first time something like this had happened in years, but the timing was terrible!  I couldn’t imagine my guests coming over to my house and seeing carpet stains and noticing that terrible smell.  I rushed down to the store and bought some pet stain remover, and then rushed back home.

When I arrived I received a call from my mom and she said she was going to be there in about five minutes!  I ran through the door and grabbed a rag and dampened it, then applied the pet stain remover to the carpet stains.  Because I had gotten to them quick, they came right off the carpet.  I sprayed some air freshener, and then the doorbell rang.  My mom and dad came in, but thankfully, I had finished.  Nobody noticed the stain or the smell, and thank goodness because I would have felt terrible! 

Though we do our best to avoid accidents with products like Dramamine and even sedation pills, pets will have occasional accidents in the car.  When your pet does have an accident in the car, it’s important to address it right away.  If you let a pet mess linger in your car, or don’t clean it fully right away, it can become soiled in the fabric and is then much harder to remove.  To avoid this hazardous situation, it’s pertinent to carry a pet stain remover in your car when you’re transporting pets.  With this, if an accident does occur, you’ll be able to stop and clean it instead of waiting who knows how long before you’re back home. 

If an odor lingers even after you’ve cleaned up the mess, ensure that you’re using a product to neutralize odor.  Some stain removal products will just mask an odor and it will dissipate for a short time and then return.  With an odor neutralizer, the unpleasant odor will be gone for good. 

To remove stains from the carpet, there are several solutions which will work.  For simple stains like spots, a little vinegar on a damp cloth will get it out.  For a deeper stain from soda or juice, a carpet cleaning product such as Resolve or Nylac will likely be necessary.  If you don’t happen to catch a stain right away, it becomes much harder to remove.  In addition, some stains will have a lingering odor even if you remove them, such as pet stains.  Normal stain removers will not get the odor out, and you will need a stain remover designed to target the odor as well (typically available at pet stores).

Some stains from substances like coffee which have been in the carpet for a long time can’t be removed except by a professional steam cleaner.  This is the most expensive option, and should be a last resort.

There are a few techniques for removing stains from any kind of absorbent surface. However, carpet tends to be the most difficult surface from which to remove stains. Carpet stains tend to result in a permanent reminder of the Thanksgiving wine or your child’s infancy. But here are a few tips for getting stains out.

• Blot the carpet with a wet rag or paper towel, rubbing it only works the stain in deeper, the goal is to absorb all the liquid.
• If something stains the carpet, get it out immediately, don’t even wait a minute, the longer you wait the harder it is to get out, some existing stains just can’t be removed.
• Have some kind solution on hand for removing carpet stains, paired with the above two guidelines, there is virtually nothing you can’t remove.

A college dormitory or campus lounge can be a messy place.  Pizza is eaten, Mountain Dew is spilled, people sometimes drink things they shouldn’t, and the carpet can suffer.  Students that have been up all night cramming for a midterm spill things because they’re tired.

Doodoo Voodoo isn’t just for removing stains pets leave behind.  It has proven extremely effective for odor removal of milk, human urine and other bodily fluids.   Adding a bottle to a care package for your favorite college student isn’t a bad idea!