Servpro, the national fire and water cleanup and restoration company, has a lot of experience restoring different types of materials after emergencies — including carpets. They are also experts when it comes to protecting your possessions from damage and keeping them safe. Here is the company’s guide to getting rid of animal stains in your carpet, courtesy of James Cummings, the general manager of Arizona’s Servpro of Ahwatukee & South Tempe, a local branch of Servpro.
Cats may be considered one of the cleanest animals, and dogs may be man’s best friend, but neither pet is easy on carpeting. Neglected animal stains have always been a problem with carpets and rugs. Two types of reactions generally take place between the chemicals in urine and those in fiber dye:
1. Some dyes change color as soon as urine comes in contact with them. Their original color can often be restored by the immediate addition of a weak solution of ammonia or white vinegar. We suggest picking an inconspicuous area of the carpet and testing small amounts of the solution to determine its effect on the fiber and dye.
2. The other change develops over a period of several months and results in the permanent change of fiber dye. Along with the dye change, some fibers become weakened or destroyed. After cleaning, these areas are more obvious because the soil that hid the true color has been removed.
The next time you are confronted with an animal accident, immediately absorb as much liquid as possible. Use the directions and products in your Servpro Home Spotting Kit specifically designed for these types of cleaning tasks. If you don’t own a Spotting Kit, another option is to wash the area with a solution of one teaspoon of neutral detergent (which contains no bleach) with one cup of lukewarm water. Absorb into white tissues or a towel. Add a white vinegar solution (one part white vinegar with two parts water). Absorb until the surface is as dry as possible. Place a half-inch layer of white absorbent material over the area and weigh it down. Allow it to dry for about six hours.
If you take these immediate actions to remove an animal stain, don’t worry. No change in color should occur, and that forgotten accident will not become apparent after your carpet has been professionally cleaned.
