Carpet Cleaning: Dealing with Pet Odors

Olfactory fatigue – the major reason it’s hard for us to detect the odors our furry friends have in our home, but to a visitor, this odor stands out and if your pet is in bad health, can be a bit offensive. This is especially true when dealing with pet odors that might not be immediately noticeable to us. Olfactory fatigue is the temporary inability of the sense of smell to perceive an odor due to prolonged exposure to the odor. It happens everywhere, you’re not alone in this.

We love our pets, but we don’t always love their odors. Most issues can be resolved with regular mopping, vacuuming, and bathing our pets, but sometimes pets make mistakes, and dealing with pet odors becomes inevitable. When this happens, some foul odors rise to our senses.

Animals tend to mark their territory—this much we know. Sometimes the solution is additional training, but sometimes it is a medical concern. If you’re dealing with pet odors and find your pet “marking” areas of your home, try to use positive reinforcement to encourage them to do their business in an accepted place (like the litter box, outside, or puppy pads). If more accidents happen, make sure to completely remove the stain and odor from the spot because if you do not, they will continue to see that as an acceptable place to relieve themselves. If proper retraining does not help, consult your vet to discuss other options.

The Humane Society has some suggestions for the proper cleaning of pet marking messes. For one, they recommend a layer of paper towels covered by a layer of newspaper. Once you apply pressure, the mess should start absorbing. When dealing with pet odors, it’s important to finish by rinsing the area with water and removing as much of the water as possible. The last step is difficult without a wet-vac or professional care.

Dealing with pet odors can be frustrating, but simply covering the stain and smell with scented cleaning chemicals is less likely to work than a deep cleaning. The pet odor-causing molecules need to be completely removed for maximum effectiveness. Basic carpet cleaning chemicals may mask the scent from you and other humans, but your pet will still be able to smell it and continue to mark there. To help with dealing with pet odors, pet stores sell “pet odor neutralizers,” which will work much better than normal carpet cleaners.

Unfortunately, when left untreated, pet stains on wood can lead to permanent damage. The only solution at this point is reapplying varnish. Like carpet stains, they are best treated as soon as possible. Allowing Sparky’s markings on any surface may lead to damage that even professional cleaners cannot fix. Dealing with pet odors in the home should also be a priority, as they can linger and contribute to unpleasant smells that are difficult to remove.

If your pet is still in potty training, or you have begun retraining them, give us a call at Accents in Cleaning. Our deep cleaning procedures can restore your floors to like-new conditions. If you don’t believe us, check out the customer review on Yelp stating that our services kept them from having to pay a re-carpeting fee on their rental apartment. Clean floors are wonderful to have, and we won’t let you consider rehousing your pet in order to maintain cleanliness in your life. Call us today on 925-565-9255 so we can help you keep a clean, and fresh smelling home.