It seems that our pets have great taste. After all, they always choose our best rugs to have an accident on! When this happens, we need to remember that there are certain rules to follow to avoid causing any dye or fibre damage to our textile, while also ensuring complete removal of any odour-causing bacteria found in pet deposits. It’s important to keep your rugs sanitary and clean!
Here are some basic pet stain removal do’s and don’ts for you to follow:
Do
Find any pet stains as soon as you can – early treatment improves chances of removal
If solid, pick up as much as you can from the surface – this helps with stain removal
BLOT with a mild solution of cool water and a few drops of neutral detergent - like a clear dish soap
Use absorbent towels – stick to white paper towels or terry towels
Continue to BLOT until dry – change out towels as necessary
If stains persist, call us – we can help
Find any pet stains as soon as you can – early treatment improves chances of removal
Don't
Wait too long to treat stains – they become harder to treat the longer they sit
Only BLOT – DO NOT RUB at the stains
Use a towel that may transfer colour onto your rug – stick to white
Reach for an over-the-counter pet stain remover – they are far too harsh for most area rug fibres and dyes
Quit too early – these things take time
Over-wet or saturate the area – you’ll only spread the stain and possibly harm the dyes
Professional Help Required
In the case of pet urine stains that have set, or rugs that have received multiple urine stains, dye bleed damage, fibre damage, brittle foundation yarns, and even rug pad replacement are some important variables to consider in addition to bacteria and odour. Spot cleaning with over-the-counter products won’t get the job done well, if at all.
Our pet urine removal process includes:
- Blacklight scanning to search for hidden urine stains
- Harmonic vibration to break up urine salts in pet stains that have dried
- Total immersion washing to treat the face and back of your rugs, as well as the interior foundation yarns
- A thorough cold-water rinse
- Temperature-controlled drying
This type of deep cleaning cannot be done in your home, but gives the best possible pet stain and odour removal results.
Pet Damage Related Services
- If your rugs are showing signs of dye damage already, rest assured that we can help. Cheshire Rug Cleaning has skilled dye-bleed correction technicians on staff for just this type of damage.
- If your rug pads have had pet damage, please consider replacing them. When we put a freshly cleaned rug down on an old rug pad that may smell faintly like pet urine, it’s practically an invitation for new pet damage. Have us cut a new rug pad to fit!
- When repeat damage has caused brittle fibres and cracking or rotted foundation yarns, we may recommend replacement over treatment, so be sure to tell us if a particular textile has sentimental value. In those instances, we’ll work with you to improve the textile for light use, even if we can’t fully guarantee the final result.
If you find yourself unable to treat a pet accident on your own, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! We see this kind of damage every day, and are always happy to provide assistance. Our dedicated rug washing studio is equipped with specialised rug care tools and cleaning solutions, and we have had the advanced training necessary to treat your Oriental, Contemporary, Tufted, and other specialty fibre area rugs – whether they are pet damaged or not!
We have a pure silk rug bought in India. It is only small [less than 2 square metres] but was vey expensive for its size so needs to be looked after carefully. It has no real stains but could do with a professional freshen up . What is your price for such a job please?