How To Treat Pet Urine On An Oriental Rug
Daily, Oriental Rug Salon receives calls from panicking rug owners on how to deal with pet urine on their wool or silk area rug. It seems that “Fido” has had an accident on a cherished area rug, and the owners know that if something is not done quickly, the wool or silk fibers may begin to discolor, develop a nauseous odor, or if left untreated, cause dry rot.
Wool is naturally resilient, water-repellent, naturally fire retardant, and dirt-resistant, but urine can alter the fibers and the rug dyes if allowed to sit. If the day comes that your usually well-trained dog has an accident on your cherished wool or silk area rug, rapid response is half the battle. Having a “mess kit” of towels and cleaning supplies ready is essential.
The following steps are designed for rug owners who can catch pet accidents while the urine or feces are still in the moist stages. You can also use these pointers on nylon and other fabrics. In all instances, before running full steam ahead with these in-home remedies, make sure you test the fibers in an inconspicuous place to make sure the dyes are stable.
Treating Fresh Pet Urine and Feces – Spotting
Step 1
Place a thick pad of paper or cloth towels directly over the wet spot to draw out the moisture as quickly as possible. In the event you are dealing with feces, remove as much as you can with a spoon.
Do not press on the paper towel pad, as doing that would spread the puddle beneath the rug. This is especially important if the rug or carpeting has padding under it. Discard the paper towels as they become saturated and replace them with dry ones. Continue this process until towels can no longer pick up much moisture.
Step 2
Put cool water in a bucket, and add one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar per cup of water. Carefully dampen the stained area with the solution to neutralize and dilute the urine.
Step 3
Place a folded white towel over the spot and blot with additional white towels until they absorb all of the water and vinegar solutions.
Step 4
Dry the rug by propping it from beneath to allow airflow. You can use a hairdryer or fan to speed the drying. If the treated area is on wall-to-wall carpeting, use a fan or hairdryer to dry.
White vinegar neutralizes pet urine, and therefore the above combination works. If there is a remaining stain, you will need professional assistance, and Oriental Rug Salon would be happy to help.
Combating Odor
If, after treating the accident, you detect an odor, the following steps will help.
Step 1
Mix a 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and one teaspoon of mild liquid soap. Chemist Paul Krebaum invented this formula at Molex Labs to eliminate skunk odor. Still, it works on pet urine in the same way, using oxygen to neutralize odor-producing proteins chemically.
Step 2
Test your rug for colorfastness before applying the solution because hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach.
To test, apply a small amount of the solution to an inconspicuous area of the rug and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse it with clear, cool water, and blot it dry. If the spot looks OK, proceed to the next step. If there is any fading or color bleeding, do not use this solution. Instead, consult your wool rug manufacturer for recommendations or give Oriental Rug Salon a call for professional help.
Step 3
Use a saturated sponge to apply the solution liberally to the affected area and allow it to soak for about 10 minutes. Blot the wet spot with clean, white towels. Rinse the site with clear, cool water, and immediately blot it dry again with fresh white towels.
Step 4
Dry the rug thoroughly, using a hairdryer or fan if you wish. Vacuum up or sweep away any residual baking soda that may adhere to the rug. Restore the nap by brushing the rug lightly with a soft brush.
Oriental Rug Salon is a full-service Oriental and Persian rug washing and repair company serving all of SW Florida. We are nationally certified as a WoolSafe approved Service Provider. We are also a Certified Partner with the international Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the prestigious Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI).
Oriental Rug Salon is A+ Rated by the Better Business Bureau and an eight-year-in-a-row-winner of the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award.
For more information about our hand-washing services, please feel free to visit us online at www.OrientalRugSalon.com or “call us on the carpet” anytime at 239-424-8171.
You can also visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/OrientalRugSalon
