For many dog and cat owners, pet odor removal from carpets is an unfortunate fact of life. Puppies and kittens have a tendency to mess up flooring quite a bit before they are properly trained, and by the time they’re going outside or in the litter box, the floor may resemble a warzone. There are, however, a few ways a homeowner can wipe out the smells and stains that animals leave behind. In some cases, a professional may be needed to handle a particularly difficult and soiled situation. 

The first thing to do when attempting pet odor removal is to locate the problem area on the carpet. This is often easier said than done, as dark flooring can make the area practically invisible. If finding the spot is too hard to do with the naked eye, illuminate the area with a black light. This type of bulb will highlight areas where Fluffy or Spot have been doing their business and will make give a starting spot when it comes to tackling the problem. Another way to track down soiled spots is to watch how other animals track through the home. If there are multiple dogs or cats in the house, they will stop and thoroughly investigate and sniff any area where other animals have evacuated. Animals have a tendency to use the bathroom where they detect the scent of urine or feces, so the problem could snowball and training the pup or kitten will be that much more difficult. Pet odor removal must also be done immediately because if the soiled patch of carpet is allowed to sit for too long, it will require more dramatic methods to get rid of it. If the animals are allowed to soil the flooring for weeks at a time, and the fabric is not cleaned thoroughly every time, the carpet may need to be replaced.The best way to approach pet odor removal is to clean from the outside of the stain in. Starting from the center may push the stain out further and deeper into the flooring. Scrub inward with a bristle brush and paper towels. Use the paper towels to absorb liquid, and don’t scrub with them, as they may tear and get intertwined with carpet fibers. Urine odor removal requires six separate steps in order to ensure successful and complete removal. Three of these steps involve odor control chemicals and three involve rinsing and removing liquids.