Pet stain and odour removal
Urine is not dirt. It is a salt that soaks through to the backing and the underpad and comes back to life every humid day. Treating it is a separate step, not a stronger rinse.
DeepSteam.ca treats pet urine, vomit and faeces spots before extraction, not during it. Affected areas are located (including the ones you cannot see), saturated with an enzyme or oxidizing treatment that breaks down the urine salts and bacteria causing the odour, given dwell time, then flushed with the truck-mount and rinsed. Ordinary hot water extraction on an untreated urine spot can set the stain, which is why this is its own service.
Why can't a regular steam clean fix pet urine?
Two reasons. First, heat. The Carpet and Rug Institute's own guidance to homeowners says: "Don't use a steam cleaner when dealing with urine spots because the heat will set the stain." A professional works around that by neutralizing and breaking the urine down first, so the extraction that follows is removing a treated deposit rather than cooking an untreated one. Second, depth. Urine goes through the carpet into the backing and the underpad. A surface rinse cleans the pile, leaves the source underneath, and the smell returns as soon as the humidity rises.
What does the treatment involve?
- Find every spotGrant checks with a UV light and by smell and touch. Urine fluoresces; most homes have more spots than the owner knows about.
- Assess depthFresh spots are pile-only. Repeat spots have reached the pad. The treatment and the honesty about outcome depend on this.
- TreatAn enzyme or oxidizer appropriate to the fibre is applied generously enough to reach as deep as the urine did, and left to work.
- Flush and extractThe truck-mount rinses the treated area and pulls the dissolved deposit out. Extra dry passes reduce wicking.
- Repeat where neededHeavy, old areas sometimes need a second treatment. Grant will tell you if replacement of a section of underpad is the only real fix.
Will the stain come out completely?
| Situation | Odour | Visible stain |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh urine, cleaned within days | Removed | Usually removed |
| Repeated urine in one area, months old | Greatly reduced; may need a second treatment or pad replacement | Often a faint yellow remains, because urine bleaches and dyes fibre over time |
| Vomit and faeces | Removed | Usually removed; bile and dyed pet food can leave a shadow |
| Cat urine in wool rug | Needs a full wash, not an in-home clean | Depends on age and dye stability |
What should I do before you arrive?
Blot fresh accidents with a dry towel and cold water only. Do not use hot water, do not scrub, and do not apply a retail "pet spray" that contains bleach or strong fragrance; it makes the spot harder to treat and can bleach the carpet. Tell us where the spots are, and how long the pet has been having accidents there.
Related: carpet cleaning, area rug cleaning, the guide to pet urine in carpet.