Sometimes young children or pets can escape onto your carpet. Urine stains, whether of human or animal origin, are different from more common stains like ink, coffee, sauce or red wine. Although these may disappear with intensive rubbing, urine has the particularity of resisting this type of surface cleaning.
It is therefore important not to treat urine stains as you would with another substance. Beyond the visible aspect, it is also necessary to treat the odor.
1. Use a mixture of baking soda and water
Baking soda is magical for eliminating all kinds of odors. In fact, it is frequently used in kitchens as a homemade air filter. By mixing this ingredient with water, you get a paste that you can then apply to the urine stain. Once everything is dry, all you have to do is spray the stain with distilled vinegar. If bubbles appear, don't worry. It's completely normal. Just rinse well with water to remove the paste and vinegar. If the smell persists, you can repeat this process up to 3 times in a row.
2. Use non-toxic, enzyme-based cleaners
These cleaners are sometimes available in pet stores. One of the advantages of these is that they do not require rinsing or rubbing. Just follow the directions and apply the product to the stain. Normally, it is sprayed. Unlike more toxic products, these natural cleaners must be left on the carpet for almost a whole night in order to considerably reduce odors.
3. Use a wet vacuum cleaner
Wet vacuums are designed to remove stains and odors from carpets. However, unless your pet often urinates on your carpet, you may not want to purchase such a product. On the other hand, if you often need to do a deep cleaning, investing $200 in the purchase of such a vacuum cleaner could prove to be very useful. Unlike normal (dry) vacuums, the wet version is excellent for removing all types of stains and odors.
4. Hire a professional
A professional cleaning service will use an industrial version of the wet vacuum cleaner. They can also apply an enzyme-based cleaner before cleaning. It is certain that by doing business with a professional, you are assured that your carpets and furniture will be cleaned with the best equipment and the most effective techniques.
5. Make sure that the urine has not infiltrated under the carpet.
If you see the urine while it is still fresh, you can soak it up with a paper towel and avoid further damage. On the other hand, if the urine has infiltrated the carpet and into the lower part, the smell may be more difficult to eliminate. You must then attack the underlay of the carpet before even trying to eliminate the smell on the surface.
