Key-Points
It's not always about that "litter box smell"
How to check for pet urine after carpet removal
What if I'm nose blind?
Blacklights work too
It's vital to remove pet urine after a carpet removal, or the odor can foul your home or rental property quickly! Today, we'll teach you how to find pet urine damage (you cannot always smell it after a fire or other disaster).
We'll discuss which chemicals work to remove pet urine and why you should trust your home or investment property to a genuine biohazard cleanup crew.
It's Not Always About That "Litter Box Smell"
You know the smells associated with dogs and cats that pee in a home.
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In the worst case, it's an eye-watering stench that smells of ammonia, oils and hormones.
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The smell is absorbed by wood flooring, carpeting, carpet padding, furniture — even the walls and subfloor!
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It's incredibly frustrating for investment property owners who must make a living space, well, livable, in between tenants.
Pet urine is tricky. During colder weather, you might not notice it. But come the next hot and humid day, chemicals in the urine will soak upwards in a process called "wicking," like the wick of a candle pulling up wax. It can come up through padding and carpet even after a thorough cleaning. So you'll need to check for pet urine after carpet removal.
This is crucial because even if your human nose doesn't register lingering pet odors, the next pet in the home will smell it. They will have the impulse to mark the same place. So pet urine can become a never-ending cycle if it isn't treated correctly.
How to Check for Pet Urine After Carpet Removal
Let's assume you've pulled up the carpet and pad and plan to replace them. Close up the room for several hours, and then re-enter with a fresh nose.
"Nose blindness" isn't a medical condition, but the medical community recognizes it as a genuine phenomenon. It happens when we become accustomed to a foul odor after time. That's why people can learn to live with pet smells. So it's important to leave the room, or the entire home, for a few hours and get some fresh air.
Re-enter with your fresh nose and take a few deep sniffs. Can you detect a hint of pet urine? If so, you'll need to treat it. If you cannot smell the pet urine but know that your tenant had a few animals, you need to inspect the floor visually. Any spots are suspicious.
What If I'm Nose Blind?
Smokers, older individuals, or people who live with strong odors at home or work might struggle to find that whiff of underlying pet urine. As we said, pet urine is tricky. Cold temperatures make it harder to detect. Some devices might help. Chewy.com sells a pet odor finder and flashlight.
Blacklights Work Too
Wait until dusk, turn off the lights and scan the area with a blacklight. Wavelengths in blacklight cause phosphorus and proteins in urine and other body fluids to glow.
Pet stains that weren't cleaned with a pet urine enzyme cleaner will show up under a blacklight, so they're an excellent tool for homeowners and landlords to check on a cleaning contractor's work before installing a new carpet and pad.
That leaves you with two options: do it yourself, or call a professional biohazard team—sometimes known as a crime scene cleanup company—to step in and get the job done right the first time.
Call For More Information
In the meantime, if you have questions about pet urine cleanup before or after carpet removal, or would like a biohazard cleaning quote, give us a call today.
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