Six out of ten Americans own an animal, and chances are that most of them found themselves confronted with a urine odor problem at one time or another. Add potty-training toddlers to the mix and the odds of sooner or later encountering the sights and smells of excretions on carpeting increase even further.

When accidents happen, quick action is necessary to contain the urine or excrement as much as possible. The pet owner can perform initial intervention by blotting wet carpet to absorb some of the liquid. Excrement should be scooped up and disposed in the toilet. While these responses may successfully remove the visible evidence, urine odor and unsightly stains often remain. The next logical step for most pet owners is to treat the affected area with a fragrant cleaning agent or stain remover available through numerous retail outlets. Caution must be used, however, as some agents may set the stain and make removal difficult at best.

Although these products may provide temporary relief from unpleasant smells and unattractive splotches on carpet, this solution is rarely permanent and the problem tends to return shortly thereafter. Liquid substances penetrate carpet q uickly and tend to fester deep in the padding, even when the surface appears to be clean. In order to achieve complete neutralization of urine odor and pet stains, the services of a professional carpet cleaning firm and a certified Odor Control Technician are indispensable.

Certified technicians are trained in detecting the sources and location of noxious smells, and are proficient in the application of chemical solutions. They have special enzyme abstergents and powerful oxidizing agents that reach deep within the carpet and padding to neutralize the bacteria and protein molecules that cause the offensive smell of pet excretions. In addition, professionals have extraction machines capable of thoroughly flushing any residual materials for a clean carpet that is free of offensive smells and stains.

There are several techniques a technician specializing in urine odor control may use to address the problem. In homes where only a few areas of c arpet are saturated with pet excretions, the technician usually implements the following steps for effective spot treatment:

• Inspect the room/home and detect pet deposits with the help of an ultraviolet light.
• Power vacuuming to remove loose offending matter that might be deep within the carpeting.
• Pre-treatment of affected areas.
• Flush affected areas to remove bacteria and protein contaminants from carpet and padding.
• Hot water extraction to permanently remove olfactory pollutants.
• Apply stain remover.
• Speed dry carpeting.

In homes where pet deposits are excessive, the technician may lift portions of the carpet and subsequently seal the floor with a urine odor barrier. The floor is then covered with permanent plastic sheeting for further isolation, and to help keep the en zymes in an active state where they can digest the offending matter. The remainder of the room is subsequently cleaned and deodorized as described above. Approximately five days after initial and sub-surface treatment, the technician will schedule a follow-up appointment to remove the plastic and perform a final rinse to the carpet.

Certified Odor Control Technicians have received documented training and education through a school approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the standard-setting body for the industry. They have earned the privilege to bear the CleanTrust™ logo, a symbol of technical proficiency, knowledge, and ethical conduct. Consumers can locate a firm in their area that is certified in Odor Control by visiting the IICRC website.