Oops! When Your Pet Has an Accident

Without question, pet urine is one of the most pungent of odors, especially when it has been absorbed (like a sponge) into porous surfaces such as wood floors and carpeting. Urine is actually a weak acidic liquid ladened with body bacteria and salts.

In order to remove the odor, you must organically decompose it. The least harmful to any surface and easiest remedy to resolve your problem is a non-toxic, non-staining bacterial/enzyme digester such as "Bio-Aid."   This type of product introduces non-pathnogenic "good" bacteria which engulfs and "eats" the odor-producing bacteria. Its action takes several days so you have to be patient. IT WORKS!

Forget about any perfumed soaps or liquids. You apply this product with the clean sponge side of a "green-padded" scrubbing sponge (available at supermarkets or hardware stores).  Liberally spread onto the stain, agitate with scrub side of sponge. Allow to air dry. Don't put any other cleaning agents on the stain since they may affect the potency of the digester.

In case you suspect but can't find the source of the odor or assume it to be pet urine, use a black-light fixture on the floor and it will make the invisible source of odors glow in a dark room This is only the first step. If you don't know where to find a black light, ask a neighbor with teens. They often have them to let posters glow. Often we suspect one corner and have the problem in many areas. Check every room with the lights out. Urine and Feces residue will glow!

Disinfectants will kill odor producing bacteria but will only penetrate carpeting and wood surfaces so far and will not reach deep down
into these surfaces; thus, still leaving plenty of the pet's body bacteria to create those horrific odors.

Some of our readers have also recommended Natures Miracle, found in pet stores.

If you are moving in, and have no pets the following should work on old urine, although it is second to the above bio method.

1. Mix one teaspoon of a neutral detergent (a mild non alkaline non bleaching detergent) with a cup of luke-warm water.
2. Blot.
3. Mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water.
4. Blot.
5. Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia with a half- cup of water.
6. Blot.
7. Mix one teaspoon of a neutral detergent (a mild non alkaline non bleach detergent) with a cup of luke-warm water.
8. Blot.
9. Sponge with clean water.
10. Blot again.

The problem is that with pets, they smell over 10,000 better than you can. They may sense the acid, alkalai and former urine stain. Opps, target practice.

This article has been contributed in part by Michigan State University Extension

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