How to Remove Pet Odor from Carpet

The flip-side of having your pet pooch rove freely around the house is the mess that it will create. There are quite a few liabilities and apprehensions that a pet en'tails'. You can train a pet as much as you like, but there will be times when the dog will just let go on the carpet. The problem will be exacerbated if the carpet starts stinking, inviting the dog for an 'option' much closer than the nearest fire hydrant. A stinky carpet will attract fleas and repel guests instead of the other way round. So what to do if your pet decides to 'break free' on your precious carpet? You can scarcely continue buying new carpeting for your house. The only option left is to find ways to clean the carpet yourself.

Removing Pet Odor from Carpet

Well, first things first. Learn your lessons. Try keeping your pet away from carpeted rooms or don't let it linger for too long. A repetition of this experience is best avoided...

1. The dirtying is best identified in its earliest stages before the smell sets well into the carpet. So be sure that you clean the carpet as soon as possible. Just picking up the rubbish isn't going to help. You have to first look around for the full extent of the damage. In case it is not easily visible, you can use a black-light bulb to search for the location of the accident.
2. It is important that you clean the stained spot using water extraction carpet cleaning machines or at least a special carpet shampoo machine. Make sure that you don't end up using ammonia-based cleaning agents as they'll only worsen the smell. Ammonia resembles the smell of waste, so the dog might be misled into using the same spot again. Also ensure that you don't use hair dryers or steamers as they'll only fix the odors more strongly into the carpet.
3. You can use different types of deodorizers as per your choice. Deodorizing powder will keep your carpet smelling fresh. On the other hand you may also use vinegar on the spot. Baking soda is also a good deodorizer for those who prefer an unscented one.
4. Vacuum the spot again so as to ensure that the dirty water is absolutely sucked out. Sometimes if the carpet is not cleaned out soon enough, the urine seeps into the carpet and turns up later unexpectedly. This is called wicking. Another option to stop wicking is to place a thick old rag on the stained area and place something heavy on the rag. This will have a sponge effect on the wicking. But ensure that the heavy thing kept on the rag isn't too valuable! You can also use electric air purifiers to clean out any lingering smells.
5. If all fails, then ring up a professional carpet cleaner.

I'm sure you will not want this to happen again. Search the cause why the dog dirtied the carpet. If this was a one-off thing, it is all right. But if it turns into a routine, it needs to be curbed. Make sure that somebody is there when your pet wants to attend nature's call! Sometimes the dog might feel that carpet is a suitable place to relieve itself owing to the smell. In that case you should continue using deodorizers to discourage this myth.