According to sources, at least 58% of the Canadian population owns at least one pet. Meanwhile, Toronto is currently home to approximately 230,000 dogs. Although owning a pet has been proven to relieve stress and anxiety for owners, it can also come with its fair share of inconveniences.
Pet odour is a common “pet peeve” among dog owners and house guests. There’s nothing more off-putting than pet odours on upholstery and carpets. Pet owners who want to maintain a pleasant smell in their homes frequently begin with the carpet.
Most carpets and rugs are made from non-porous, woven polyester fibre, which easily absorbs scents and liquids. When these polyester fibres come into contact with liquids like urine or drool, the stains spread quickly and penetrate deeply into your carpet or upholstery. A damp cloth or paper towel is a good initial step to cleaning up your carpet, but it won’t eliminate the odours and germs embedded in it.
There are several reasons your pet’s odour doesn’t leave your carpets. It can be dog urine, drool, natural oils, or a combination of all. The first step to getting rid of the unpleasant odour is identifying why it is happening in the first place. This article discusses methods on how to remove dog smell from carpets.
Factors Why Pet Odors Stick to Your Carpet
- Your Dog Isn’t Potty Trained
If your dog isn’t potty trained, they will likely urinate on your carpet. It can be dangerous to your health if you leave your carpet soaked with pet urine for a long time. Once you suspect your dog has urinated on your carpet, it’s best to act immediately. If you have difficulty seeing which spot your dog urinated on, you can use a backlight to help you identify which spots to clean.
Keep the black light held at a distance of a few feet from the ground and turn out all other lights. Under a black light, dog urine stains can appear in a muted green or yellow. For this step, it’s best to have a professional from a carpet cleaning company in Toronto do this.
- Their Paws and Fur are not Thoroughly Cleaned
Your dog’s fur and paws carry bacteria. The oils from your dog’s feet and coat can stick to your carpet, resulting in an unpleasant odour. Before letting your dog indoors and walk all over the carpet, you can use wipe deodorizers to clean their paws.
- There’s Food and Drool on Your Carpet
Aside from dog urine, your dog’s drool may also affect the smell of your carpets. Certain canine breeds like Bulldogs and Saint Bernards are known to drool excessively, potentially ruining carpets whenever their saliva pools. Drool is protein-based and may contain tiny food fragments, making it a nuisance to clean up.
You can’t train your dog to stop drooling, but you can either train them to stop sitting on the carpet or have your rug cleaned regularly.
Although DIY methods may temporarily work to remove the dog smell from your carpet, it’s best to get expert rug cleaning in Toronto.
How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Odor from Your Carpet:
Eliminating dog odour from a carpet can be challenging, but it can be done in a few simple steps. Here are some ways to remove and prevent your dog’s scent from staying on your rug.
- Vacuum Regularly
There are several methods for cleaning carpets that can help prevent or get rid of dog odour. A common method is to use a vacuum cleaner with a filter specifically made to pick up pet hair.
Thoroughly vacuuming the carpet is the initial step in eradicating dog odour. Carpets are notorious for harbouring unpleasant odours from pet dander and hair accumulation. Vacuuming helps reach the difficult-to-reach regions where pet hair and solid waste hide. Use a full vacuum for larger carpeted areas; throw rugs and tiny mats; use a handheld vacuum. Eventually, debris and odours gathering in the carpet fibre will be significantly reduced if you make vacuuming a regular habit.
- Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are a powerful duo against odours and stains. Vinegar is an excellent all-natural cleaner that may be used to eliminate unpleasant odours. Two cups of white vinegar plus a small amount of water make a powerful cleaning solution that can be sprayed on a smelly area.
Meanwhile, baking soda deodorizes by neutralizing both acidic and basic odour molecules. They are both highly effective when used in addition to water and soap for cleaning.
To clean a carpet with baking soda and vinegar, fill a spray bottle with one cup of distilled white vinegar, one cup of water, and two tablespoons of baking soda. Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients, then spray it on the stain to remove it. After letting it sit for a while, use towels to clean it.
If these home remedies and house cleaning solutions cannot resolve your pet odour problems, you should consider seeking professional help from experienced rug cleaning companies in Toronto.
- Opt for a Pet-Safe Enzyme Cleaner
If vinegar and baking soda are not enough to eliminate the lingering pet odour, search for a pet-safe enzyme cleaner online or at your local pet store.
Since these products are designed to eliminate odours, they are quite effective. Formulas containing enzymes help eliminate odour-causing germs, leaving behind a clean, pleasant aroma on your carpet.
However, some chemical cleaners have been linked to being health hazards when used improperly. Search for a non-toxic spray that is safe for children and dogs, is effective on carpets, and has been authorized by veterinarians.
Although these home remedies may provide temporary solutions to the odour, you may find your carpet smelling unpleasant again after a few weeks of cleaning it. It is best to get a professional pet odor carpet cleaning service from an expert rug cleaning company.
Schedule a Professional Carpet Cleaning Session
If your pet spends most of its time indoors, you may need to clean your carpets professionally every 6-9 months. The carpet will eventually become embedded with pet hair, grime, dander, and other debris they’ve rolled in.
Even if you cannot see any visible signs of filth, you can notice an unpleasant odour emanating from your carpet or get irritated skin if you sit on the carpet. Maintaining a regular professional steam cleaning schedule is the best way to free the carpet from the grime that has settled there over time.
Additionally, dogs may also damage your carpet as they tend to chew or scratch it. When this happens, the best course of action is to get it repaired by a professional company that offers rug repair in Toronto.
If the dog odour and stains on the carpets and couches can’t be removed with the simple remedies mentioned above, you should find a company specializing in carpet cleaning odor removal. Reach out to our expert carpet cleaners at Love Your Rug. Contact us today! .
