Pet Stain Removal & Prevention

Black lights show pet urine stains beyond what the eye can see.

Pet stains are not only gross, they are damaging to your carpet and floors. As professional carpet cleaners, we have seen pet urine stains and smells that are so bad they cannot be removed, which leads to expensive carpet replacement. “Pet urine stains is among the top reasons we replace carpets in homes.” said Marc Holt spokesperson for 651 Carpets. We love our pets and want to share our home with dogs and cats without having to spend money to clean up after them all the time. Following are some things you can do to prevent pet urine stains and our tips for pet stain removal.

Pet Stain Prevention

Prevention is the key to keeping your carpets free from pet urine stains through proper house training techniques, signs of pet illness, and applying carpet protector regularly.

House Training Tips from Dr. Black – We are experts on carpets, not dogs or cats. So we asked a local veterinarian to share her tips on proper house training techniques in order to prevent accidents from happening. Dr. Catrina Black, D.V.M. of Midtown Animal Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma says:

For dogs, I think the best way to potty train is with positive reinforcement. Start with small puppy pads too. Some of them have pheromones to attract the puppies to urinate on them. When they are used to a pad you just start slowly moving it toward the door then outside. A lot of dogs will learn from other dogs too especially if you have a doggy door. Also, reward them after they do their business outside with a treat. Any accidents need to be cleaned and sanitized immediately so the area doesn’t smell like a good place to urinate in the future.

Cats will naturally want a litter box. It needs to be cleaned or scooped several times a day. Leaving poop or urine in a litter box is like not flushing the toilet. Nobody thinks it’s cool to lift the lid and see a gross surprise. Keep the litter deep and it is easier to keep cleaned. There should be a litter box per cat plus one. So a house with 3 cats needs 4 litter boxes. These boxes should also be placed in quiet low traffic areas where they feel safe to go. Most inappropriate elimination issues with cats are behavioral such as the cat not liking the dirty box, not enough boxes, or a stressor in-house like a new puppy not letting your cat get to the box.

Pet Expert – Dr. Catrina Black, D.V.M.

Pet Urination Problems – Again, we asked Dr. Black, D.V.M. how to know if something is medically wrong with your cat or dog or if it’s just house training woe. She advised when to see a veterinarian:

• If they are constantly having inappropriate elimination issues, have your vet rule out infections or other diseases first.
• You should seek medical attention for any animal that is not producing urine. They could have a urinalysis blockage. That is an emergency. Cats, especially neutered males, can have a buildup in the urethra that can block them. Both dogs and cats can have urinary stones called uroliths.
• Bloody urine, super dark urine, or large amounts of urine also needs to be checked out. The animal could have anything from a urinary tract infection to diabetes.
• Even normal animals should have a urinalysis done every 6 months to identify and remedy any problems that may arise. Spending $40 every six months is better than $1000 for a urinary issue. An ounce of prevention is work 10 lbs. of cure.

Protect your Carpet – Carpet Protectors such as Scotchgard will form a protective seal around each carpet fiber to prevent spills from soaking in immediately, keeping them on the surface until they can be blotted up. Carpet protectors will not prevent pet urine from creating a stain, however the stain will not soak in immediately and give you time to clean it up without immediate damage. Most professional carpet cleaning companies recommend your carpets to have Scotchgard re-applied after a deep clean. A deep carpet clean removes the protector along with the soil in the fibers leaving it a neutral ph.

Pet Stain Removal

Professional grade stain removers actually work!

We would like to say there is a DIY pet urine removal trick that actually works, but the key is to remove the urine quickly and with a professional product.

Carpet Cleaning Products – Most carpet cleaning companies will recommend a quality stain remover to purchase for use at home in-between professional cleanings. Sometimes they will even make their own pet stain removal product, such as A-Team Carpet Clean’s Urine Stain Remover. Carpet cleaning products sold in stores are not professional grade and do not remove the urine or the odor, so the extra cost for a professional cleaner is worth the price.

Professional Deep Carpet Cleaning & Stain Removal – Your carpets should be professionally deep cleaned a minimum of once a year, but more often if you have pets that live in the home. A professional cleaner has the equipment and products necessary to remove not only dirt and grime, but also pet hair and possibly urine stains. If a professional is not able to remove a pet urine stain, then it cannot be done and your carpets will need to be repaired or completely replaced.

We hope you find these tips helpful in maintaining a clean home for you and your pets.

We LOVE our furry mascot, Axel!