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It
is not unusual for homeowners who have household pets to have
urine stains on their carpet.
Pets will urinate on carpet as an act of territorialism, anxiety,
or simply out of need.
The
color of pet urine and it's staining potential will often depend
on dietary habits and the age of the pet. Foods high in protein
tend to produce a darker, more pungent and acidic urine. Foods
higher in carbohydrates such as corn or oats produces more alkaline
urine that is less likely to stain carpet and does not produce
as potent an odor. Typically, because cat diets are richer in
protein than dog diets, their urine will produce harsher odors
and are more likely to cause stains.
Unlike
dogs, cats do not urinate for territorialism. This behavioral
pattern in male cats is accomplished by spraying. This urine product
also contains the male hormone testosterone which makes it even
more pungent than urine. Although spraying is typically done on
a vertical surface (such as a couch) it could also conceivably
come in contact with a carpet. 
Another consideration is the age of the pet. The older the pet
the more renal function diminishes, thus producing urine that
contains more plasma proteins. Because less uric acid is secreted
in this urine it is less likely to stain a carpet; however, it
will produce an even stronger odor. In almost all cases cat urine
is the worst perpetrator for pet stains.
The
degree of staining from pet urine on a carpet will depend in part
on the fiber type and dye method of the carpet.
Solution dyed fibers will be the most resistant to urine stains
with olefin fibers providing the greatest stain resistance. In
most cases, stains created by urine tend to leave either a red
tinge (by adding to the existing color) or a yellow tinge (by
reducing existing color). In either case the shift in color is
almost always permanent in nature. Although there are some commercially
available products designed to remove urine they are only effective
on fresh spots. Neutralizers and deodorizers offer only minimal
help in removing urine and urine odors once it has set into the
carpet and pad. Even the sub floor can become contaminated.
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Acids
found in pet urine can also liberate calcium carbonate fillers
used in carpet latex, causing it to lose it's bonding strength.
Therefore, it is not uncommon to experience delamination (a loss
of tuft bind strength) in carpet exposed to pet urine. Urine stains
can be identified in several ways, the most obvious means being
smell. Because pet urine is so concentrated it will initially
emanate a strong ammonia odor, which after several days develops
into a musty odor. Because of it's mineral content pet urine will
fluoresce wider a black light Using litmus indicator paper, pet
urine (cat in particular) will display a red (slightly acid) color
(pH 6-6 1_2). Extractions taken from stained fibers can be tested
for the presence of uric acid. Staining of the carpets backing
is also usually apparent.
Stains
that have appeared within a couple of hours can often be cleaned
with good success. This can be accomplished by using a 50/50 solution
of white vinegar and water, followed by blotting with water only.
After this, absorb the spot with clean colorfast towels until
it is as dry as possible. Next, place a one-half inch thick weighted
layer of colorfast towels over the spot and let it sit overnight.
This final procedure must not be overlooked, since crystallized
urine residues left in the carpet are capable of reproducing odors
during the warmer more humid months. Older urine stains often
require replacement of the carpet and pad in the affected areas
and can also necessitate cleaning the sub floor with a disinfectant.
A final concern for carpet stains from pets is vomit. Hydrochloric
acids found in the stomach of pets will be present in any vomit's
material. The degree of acidity of these materials and their potential
staining of carpet will be based on stomach content. Foods from
the stomach tend to dilute the hydrochloric acid content, reducing
the chance for staining. On the other hand, reflux of bile from
the small intestine, which is more common with dogs, can be highly
acidic. Typically, stomach acids are very acidic-A pH2, which
explains why vomit is much more likely to stain carpet than food.
Like
urine, the effectiveness of cleaning vomit is based on expediency.
The first step is to scrape up as much of the matter as possible.
Next, it is important to elevate the pH of the stained area. This
should be accomplished by blotting using a solution of one part
non-sudsing ammonia to five parts water, followed with blotting
with a damp towel until the spot is as dry as possible. Again,
it is also recommended that you place a weighted layer of white
towels folded one-half inch thick over the spot and allow it to
sit overnight to allow residual matter to wick up into the towel.
Penny
Martin, Falls Church - "We want to thank you for your prompt
and thorough service. We moved into a house that had two dogs
living in it prior to our purchase. I was very concerned about
this since I am allergic to animals and have been hospitalized
with asthma in the past. The first night after you guys came and
cleaned our carpets, I slept in our new home and had no problems
whatsoever. The carpets look brand new, and there are no traces
of animal stains or odors. We were really happy with the results
and would not hesitate to recommend you guys meticulously. Our
free demo will speak for itself.
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