Pets are wonderful, of that there can be no doubt! They have even been called ‘man’s best friend.’ But you know how it goes... The minute you turn your back, your pet decides that your new carpet is the perfect place to relieve himself. You clean and clean, but you can't get rid of that horrible smell and that ugly stain. Don't worry, when your best friend has a little accident…. Call Referral at 260-483-4383 to clean it up! There are many misconceptions surrounding the removal of pet urine stains and odor. We built this page to help you understand important technical aspects, educate you on your options and offer solutions to help keep your home clean, healthy, comfortable and happy.

Pets Leave Their Mark!

FUR!  Hair shedding and animal dander are allergens that contribute to asthmatic symptoms for many people.  Pet hair can be embedded in carpet, rugs, and furniture. 
OILS!  Pets secrete oil from their fur and hair that leave a residue on your floors and upholstery which can lead to the accumulation of smelly, hard to clean soil deposits.
SMELLY ODORS! Have you ever gone into someone’s home that smells like ‘dog’ or ‘cat.’  Many pet owners do not realize their home has an odor problem because overtime they have acclimated to the malodors.  Guests can tell immediately if you have a pet unless you are very diligent with cleaning.  But that’s where we can help. Referral can handle almost any pet odor or pet stain issue. 
DIRT AND STAINS! Perhaps your pet decided to ‘readjust’ your landscape or yard and dug a hole or two, or they just rolled in, what truthfully you are not quite sure.  Maybe they could not find their bone, so they decided to chew on your ink pen! 
URINE STAINS & ODOR! Pet Urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment. Urine contamination often requires many steps than just ordinary, topside cleaning. Installed carpeting and upholstery have many surfaces that can be affected. Not only is the top of the carpet or upholstery contaminated, but often times the backing, padding, and sub-surfaces, must be decontaminated or replaced before urine decontamination is successful. Another concern with urine is that the acid in urine may permanetly change the dye structure of the carpeting or upholstery. We can treat these with neutralizers, but please be aware that occasionally the dye structure will be permanently stained from urine. If the urine contained medicine, occasionally this will produce a stronger acid that could damage the dye structure as well.

Important Aspects Of Urine Contamination.

The problem can range from a one-time accident of an animal, over-spray around the toilet (if you have children of the male persuasion, you understand) or a Great Dame who believes the living room carpet is his own special sandbox. A dog or cat that weighs less than 5 pounds will produce more than 10 gallons of urine a year. If the animal concentrates most of that into an area of less than 100 square feet, which many of them do, the problem can be quite extensive. Urine leaves the body (man or animal) in an acid state, with a pH of about 5 to 6. It is rather pure and generally contains no harmful bacteria, pathogens or microorganisms. However, it becomes the perfect bredding ground for those things as soon as it leaves the body. The main ingredient in urine is uric acid. It also contains yellow pigment, urea, cholesterol, enzymes, and small amounts of other chemicals. The uric acid begins to change immediately upon leaving the body. The warm acid state of the urine offers a friendly environment for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state, the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which may become permanent if the urine is not removed from the carpet. As urine begins to dry, it changes its hydrogen content and forms crystalline salts, which take on an alkaline pH. Then the smell begins!

When dried urine is remoistened, it gives off an ammonia gas. This is one way to identify a problem area, by the odor. Odors associated with urine come from two sources. The first source is bacteria that grow abundantly in dark warm places with a never ending food source (the dog feeds the bacteria daily!). This bacteria growth and breakdown of the urine creates amino acids. These complex organic compounds work deep into carpet fivers until they're nearly part of the fiber. This can present a challenging situation. The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor. The second source of odor is chemical odor that remains even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason more than disinfecting is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are formed are hydrophilic and draw water to them. As the salts are reactivated by moisture, they give off a greater proportion of odorous gases.

Before Urine Can Be Treated, It Must Be Found.

We Use 4 Tools For Urine Identification.

Nothing is more frustrating than searching for the source of urine odor. Each spot must be identified and properly treated.

1. Our Nose-As explained above urine contamination will smell. Our nose will often lead us to the source of the problem.

2. Our Eyes- Usually urine stains are visible to the eye. However you will learn that the damage may be more sever than meets the eye.

3. A Black Light- A black light becomes a valuable tool in locating the exact areas in need of treatment because it makes use of special ultra-violet rays which are on the same wavelength as pet urine, thus turning a tedious task into a breeze. The crystalline structure of dried urine causes it to fluoresce a dull yellow color under ultraviolet or "black" light. Urine is not the only substance that will fluoresce. Some soaps and detergents have components that fluoresce, even after rinsing thoroughly, as well as some fabrics and lint. These will usually fluoresce a bright white or even bluish hue, not the dull yellow of urine. However even after the areas have been decontaminated the affected areas may continue to fluoresce.

4. A Moisture Detector- When bacteria attacks uric acid, the bacterium leave behind a crystalline waste which is 'hygroscopic; meaning that it constantly draws moisture from the enviroment. Although the contamination may appear to dry to the touch, the moisture detector will 'ping' when it comes into contact with urine because of the minute traces of water molecules found in the bacteria waste crystals.

Urine Contamination May Be Much More Severe Than You Realize.

Urine usually enters the carpet or upholstery from the topside. As the urine is emitted, it tends to spread downward and outward to a larger size in the padding and subsurface. Many times a small urine spot that is detected from the topside is double or triple in size by the time it reaches the padding and subsurface. If total decontamination is expected each layer of contamination needs to be treated, a area larger than the visible spot on the surface will usually have to be deconatiminated or replaced.

Your 4 Options For Pet Stain And Odor Removal Depends On The Severity.

Urine decontamination often requires more than just a top cleaning of the carpet.  There are many surfaces and layers that can be affected.  Please note that when cleaning urine spots, there is a difference between cleaning the urine stain and treating for urine odor. Cleaning existing urine spots MAY NOT remove the associated odor. In fact, it could INCREASE the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time. Here are some options depending on the severity.  Not all treatments can be guaranteed to completely remove the odor. Let us explain your choices for removal and your expectations of what the results will be.

1-Light Contamination-50% Successful

The pet has had an occasional accident and the carpet backing and padding has not been saturated and may be acceptably surface cleaned. 

1. First, the affected spots must be identified as explained above. 
   
2. Next, an appropriate pretreatment is sprayed on the top of the carpet. It’s probably a good idea to treat the spots as well as the whole room since pets track their mess onto other areas of the carpet.
   
3. Finally, we thoroughly rinse and extract the urine and soil with our powerful truckmounted cleaning equipment. 

2-Moderate Contamination- Sub Surface Extraction 75%-90% Successful

The pet has repeatedly contaminated the same spot. The carpet and pad are contaminated with urine. Although this treatment is a valiant attempt, it is NOT guaranteed to eliminate the odor, but it is often successful therefore avoiding the inconvenience of pulling the carpet up.

1. First, the affected spots must be identified as explained above.
2. Next, from the topside of the carpet we saturate a special cleaning solution on the urine stains penetrating the carpet and padding to reach the source of the odor.
3. Then, we use a special deep extraction tool called the water claw to remove the cleaning solution and urine deposits from the carpet and padding. 
4. Finally, we thoroughly clean, rinse and extract the urine and soil with our powerful truckmounted cleaning equipment.

3-Heavy Contamination- Almost Guaranteed Odor Removal.  99.9% Successful

1. First, the affected spots must be identified as explained above.
2. The carpet is pulled back from the contaminated area.
3. The affected carpet cushion / pad is removed.
4. The sub floor is swept and cleaned to remove contamination.
5. Apply an odor barrier/sealer to the sub floor, tackless strip and wall if needed.
6. Saturate the contaminated carpet with a special cleaning solution.
7. Extract the cleaning solution from the carpet with our powerful truckmounted cleaning equipment.
8. Install new carpet cushion / pad.
9. Reinstall the carpet.
10. Finally, allow the carpet to dry before replacing furniture.

4-Replacement-  Guaranteed 100% Successful

Depending on the age & condition of the carpet and the severity of the urine contamination it may be wise to consider replacement of carpet and pad. The sub floor and any affected walls or baseboards must still be properly cleaned and sealed and then new pad and carpet can be installed.

A Helpful Product To Prevent Damage From Pet Urine In The Future.

If you are concerned about spills or pet accidents, you may want to install Stainmasters Carpet Cushion with odor barrier when you replace your carpet. The STAINMASTER® carpet cushion breathable moisture barrier minimizes objectionable odors by preventing liquids from soaking into the cushion. Spills such as milk and pet accidents, if absorbed into your carpet cushion, will linger and cause odors for years. This won’t happen with properly installed STAINMASTER® carpet cushion because the moisture barrier prevents liquids from soaking into the cushion. These spills remain on top of the cushion where they can be treated and removed during cleaning.To learn more click here.

What Are Other Fort Wayne Pet And Animal Owners Saying About Referral Carpet Cleaning?

You are a little more expensive but good!  The technicians are very nice and worked hard.  The pet odor smell was gone.  We appreciate you coming out to help us.  – Mrs. Reimscheser, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

You did a super job removing the pet stains.  Very conscientious about doing a great job of cleaning our carpet.  It dried quickly.  It was a pleasure doing business with Referral.  Thank You.  -  Mr. Schroff, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

Thorough cleaning even getting spots from red wine, pet stains and food spills.  They are trustworthy.  They dry the carpet using fans.  The carpet smells clean and fresh, not wet.  They called before arriving and were punctual.  They are neat and careful when moving items.  They talked to me and let me know the concerns they had about the job as they encountered stains.  They protected all corners and blocked the door to prevent the wind from entering.  Referral actually works at removing problem areas.  They know carpet and how it reacts and what to use on it.  They listen to concerns and answer questions I had about how to better keep the carpet clean.  They care about what they do and aren’t just in a hurry to get out and on their way to the next job.  -  Ms. Clabaugh, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

Referral did an excellent job removing the stains in the carpet other companies could not remove.  Referral did the job I asked them to do.  They even removed my dogs mistakes and saved my carpet!  -  Mrs. Keefer, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

Recently one of my dogs had a virus that unfortunately gave him diarrhea.  The dog had several accidents through the house.  I called a major carpet cleaning chain in town and they sent someone over.  All they did was deodorize and clean the area.  I was left with a large mustard colored stain in the center of my living room with cream colored carpeting.  I could not sleep that night I did not know what to do, the carpet was only 2 years old.  In desperation I called the Beaulieu, the carpet manufacturer and CR carpet where I purchased the carpeting.  They said to try Referral and they are successful at stain removal.  I called Ron at Referral immediately and he was very reassuring that they could take care of the stain problems and somebody would be at my house the next day.  Referral treated the spots and in what I consider to be a miracle, the mustard color stain COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED!  Interestingly a supervisor at Beaulieu carpet contacted me after Referral had already done their magic and told me to try and contact a company who used a specific brand of products and it so happened that this is exactly what Referral used!  I am a very satisfied and relieved customer.  Referral Carpet Cleaning was professional, very prompt and got the job done.  I now have them on my cell phone’s speed dial.  Thank You.  -  Mr. & Mrs. Shields, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

You saved our wool carpet from a very bad pet accident. You came late at night, were concerned and very pleasant. You also re-cleaned another room and restored it to its original look, doing what another carpet cleaner couldn't. Thank you so very much! - Mrs. Thomas, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

A job well done!  For over one year we had the odor of cats in our son’s room but now it is all gone!  Mr. Jordan, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

I am extremely pleased with Referral Carpet Cleaning's service. I recently took in a rescue dog that had many health problems and that always had accidents on the carpet. My house had a VERY unpleasant odor due to two months of daily pet accidents and stains, but when Alan was done, my carpet looked and smelled like new! No more odor, no more stains. I felt that they did a better and more thorough job than other companies I have paid to clean my carpets. I'm not embarrassed to have company over anymore. I would definitely recommend this company to others, especially pet lovers!‎ - Fort Wayne Pet Lover

I had a cat and a puppy that made a mess on my carpet.  I thought it was ruined and would need replaced.  First I tried cleaning and the odor is gone and it looks like new!  I am very pleased!  -  Mrs. Stolte, Fort Wayne Pet Lover.

www.aboiteanimalclinic.org

www.aboiteanimalhospital.com

3020 Hillegas Road

46808

260-427-1244