Odor removal services will usually make generalized claims that they can eliminate any odor, though many specialize in eliminating pet odors, particularly dog and cat urine.
Each home has its own smell. And unless you live with Martha Stewart, chances are that smell is not of the Burberry and lilac variety. If your house begins to smell like a wet dog or a smoking lounge, have no fear. Odor removal services will rid you of your stinky ways for good. So quit buying all those scented candles at the mall (you know, unless it’s your girlfriend’s birthday or something) and locate your nearest odor removal service pronto.
What is it?
Odor removal is a service that aims to rid clients of any unwanted smell within their home, business, or in some cases, automobile. Of course, methods and specialties vary from company to company. But generally speaking, most odor removal services will aim their efforts at the carpet, which can easily soak in rotten smells. A fairly common way for these services to treat an affected area is to saturate specific areas with their preferred deodorizer and then let it set for an hour or until it seeps into the carpet padding. In extreme cases, the carpet may have to be pulled up so that the backing, padding, subfloor, and the actual carpet can be cleaned and treated.
Odor removal services will usually make generalized claims that they can eliminate any odor, though many specialize in eliminating pet odors, particularly dog and cat urine. Other common odors that are treated are smoke, food, smells from cooking (such as grease, curry), dead animals (like dead mice within the walls), and septic backup.
One of the more popularized odor removal forms is known as oxidation, in which specialized devices and equipment will release enriched oxygen atoms to the odor substance which will undergo a chemical change that ultimately produces a scentless by-product in the odor substance’s place. See, turns out chemistry class was relevant after all. Services that specialize in oxidation (Arizona Odor Free Ozone, Enviro Sharp) will usually require that the process be performed in a vacant room so as to not risk any potential harm to pets and humans.
Who needs it?
If there has recently been a fire in your home or if your basement is prone to flood, odor removal services may be the only true way to rid you of the stench. On top of that, odor removal services will also usually rid you of airborne and surface contaminants (viruses, bacteria, mold spores) as well as allergens (dust-mites, pet dander, pollen). So if you have bad allergies, or constantly feel under the weather, odor removal services can help. Either that, or wait long enough until you get a sinus infection, as your stuffy nose will eliminate your sense of smell altogether.
Benefits
The most beneficial form of odor removal appears to be oxidation, as the results tend to be permanent (that is, until your dog pees on the rug again). This can not be said of older, more traditional forms of odor removal that rely on masking the odor with another fragrance or by using chemicals, such as chlorine or hydrogen peroxide, that bleach anything they come in contact with. In fact, one of the biggest pulls for oxidation is that it’s free of chemicals and environmentally friendly.
Furthermore, oxidation will not bleach or do harm to mostly all carpets, upholstery, or other fabrics. Lastly, the process is relatively quick, and depending on the size of the area being treated, will last somewhere 3 to 12 hours (one hour for automobiles).
