How Pets Affect Flooring with Scratches & Urine Stains

1. Wood floors. Wood is porous and highly susceptible to urine stains. These stains can make the wood appear darker. Wood floors that aren’t treated properly are more subject to stains. The best way to protect your wood floors is to treat them so that liquids can’t penetrate them. Clean spills as quickly as you can, even if your floors are treated because the treatment just slows the penetration time.
2. Tile floors. There are many types of tile floors. Most are either ceramic or stone. Ceramic glazed tiles can stand up to pet stains better than others, but only if the mess is cleaned up quickly. Stone floors are more porous and prone to discoloration when wet. These tiles will take more time to clean when it comes to pet stains and odors.
3. Carpeted floors. The worst flooring for pet stains and odors is carpet because it’s good at hanging onto odors that can be hard to remove Carpet is highly absorbent and can become discolored. The way carpets are cleaned depends on what they are made of and the sooner you clean a pet accident, the better.

How to Get Rid of Pet Odors on Carpet

• Baking soda. You use baking soda in your fridge to keep odors away and it’s also a great way to eliminate odors from carpet. If you find an area that smells bad, sprinkle baking soda over it. Then use a brush over the surface to make sure it gets deep into the carpet fibers. Next, add more baking soda so you’re left with a thick layer. Let the baking soda sit for 12 to 48 hours. The time you let it sit will depend on how bad the smell is. Use a powerful vacuum cleaner to effectively remove the baking soda. If you find that the carpet still smells, you can repeat the process or move onto vinegar.
• Vinegar. Vinegar is another good option for odor because it’s naturally acidic and can kill smelly bacteria. Use a clean cloth and blot the vinegar over the smelly carpet or use a spray bottle. Like the baking soda, the vinegar needs time to penetrate into the carpet fibers, but no to the point that the carpet is soaked. Let the vinegar sit for about 15 minutes and blot with a clean cloth. You can then rinse with clean, cool water, blot and allow it to dry completely.
• Hydrogen peroxide. Another substance you can try is hydrogen peroxide. You will have to test it on a hidden area of carpet first to make sure won’t affect the color of it.

Pet Stain & Odor Removal Services in Quincy, Macomb, Hamilton, Warsaw & East Alton Illinois | Hannibal, Missouri

Pet odors are stubborn and may require steam cleaning to remove them. There are special cleaning solutions that are formulated to treat these stubborn stains. These methods may only be enough to mask odors, and they may come back. The best way to keep your flooring smelling good is to have them professionally cleaned. You can trust the professionals at American Hometown Services to do the job! Give us a call today.