Pet Urine Damage – Keeping Your Home Healthy
Pet accidents are going to happen.
Most pet owners are quick to blot up these stains, but rarely give much thought to the human health risks associated with small amounts of pet waste left behind, not to mention the potential permanent aesthetic damage to the affected textile.
Watch a short video about Pet Urine Damage.
Health Risks
Hygroscopic Stains – Pet urine deposits will actually absorb moisture from the air. If left alone long enough, those areas will likely breed mold spores. Over time, this will cause rotted areas to appear. Rental spotting machines typically only exacerbate the damage – keeping the pet stained areas too wet for too long. A professional cleaning is the only way to ensure that impurities like mold are completely removed.
Bacteria Colonization – All it takes is one bacteria mother cell to start a colony growing. The moisture in these pet stains act as a nutrient source and encourage more bacteria to grow. Pretty soon, we’re dealing with a strong odour and bacteria that may cause illness. This is not something you want to use an over-the-counter spotting solution on. A professional disinfecting and deodorizing is the only way to know your rug remains in a healthy state.
AESTHETIC DAMAGE
Discoloration & Dye Damage – While pet urine is deposited in an acid state, as the stain dries, it becomes increasingly alkaline. This pH shift will often loosen the dye bonds in rug fibers. The yellow staining associated with pet damage sort of works like a dye as well, causing the permanent visible discoloration. The only way to fix this problem is with professional color/dye correction – a process that can take some time as it is as much an art as it is a science. The results are worth the wait!
Fiber Damage – Moisture build-up from repeat pet damage can cause mold, mold can cause dry rot, dry rot can weaken fibers, and weak fibers can break. When the foundation yarns of a pet damaged rug begin to crack open, there is very little a professional cleaner can do to repair the damage. If the rug has sentimental value, perhaps an expert weaver can be called upon to remodel the rug or remove the affected areas and either patch or reweave them, but in most cases, the textile may be considered a total loss. If you find yourself in this situation, replacement may be the answer.
We’re never going to be able to prevent pet accidents from happening, but we CAN be proactive if we have pets. Having your rugs and furniture fiber protected before accidents happen will go a long way toward keeping them looking their best for a very long time.
A professionally applied fiber protector will help prevent permanent pet stains or discolorations, and will aid in the overall cleanability of your textiles.
Please call or email us if we can answer any questions you may have about your rugs and pet urine damage.
