How To Clean Pet Stains From Carpet
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Genesis 950 is the best pet stain remover for surface stains and urine odor removal. Unlike most pet stain removers, Genesis 950 is a surfactant based cleaner. This type of cleaner works with water. When Genesis 950 and water are mixed, they work together to break the bonds of stains. Once the bonds of a stain are broken, the stain loses adherence and can break away from the surface it has adhered to. After this happens, the stain can be flushed away with water.
There are a number of pet stain removal methods available, but pet owners often find themselves frustrated with stains coming back, or odors reappearing. Here are some of the reasons the pet stain removers you have been using aren't working.
There are a number of pet stain removal methods available, but pet owners often find themselves frustrated with stains coming back, or odors reappearing. Here are some of the reasons the pet stain removers you have been using aren't working.
Vinegar For Pet Stains
Vinegar is often the most called on ingredient for at home DIY pet stain remover recipes. However, vinegar is easily the WORST thing you can use for pet stains. To understand why, you must first be aware of how animals go to the bathroom. Both cats and dogs are drawn to a spot based on scent. Urine has an acidic base. This acidic odor instinctively attracts animals to use a specific spot as a bathroom area. Dogs will sniff out to find a usual spot. They are sniffing for that acidic odor. Cats go in a littler box because of the ammonia used in cat litter. Knowing this helps understand why vinegar is such a bad choice for pet stain removal. Because vinegar has an acidic base, when applied to carpet, you have essentially outlined an area where your pet will be attracted to urinate. If you have been cleaning with vinegar and battling with your pet who keeps going to the bathroom in a certain area, it is because of the vinegar. The only way this pattern can be broken is by thoroughly removing the pet urine AND the vinegar from the carpeting.
Baking Soda For Pet Stains
Another popular staple in the DIY pet stain remover recipes is baking soda. Baking soda is often listed because of it's odor neutralizing ability. However if you have pet odors, you do NOT need to neutralize them . . . you need to REMOVE them. Neutralizing is just a more complex way of saying "masking." If you have used baking soda, you probably immediately notice the smell is gone. It's not. It's still there, and once the baking soda odor dissipates, the urine smell that was masked will still be there. Chances are even stronger because it hasn't been effectively removed.
But there's more with baking soda. Baking soda, when listed in DIY pet stain removers can be used in 1 of 2 ways. It can be sprinkled on as a powder, or ground into a paste to be used as a cleaner. If used as a powder to "remove" odors, it doesn't even get into the padding. When a pet urinates in the carpet, the urine travels downward into and below the padding. Baking soda, even if it could remove odor, has absolutely no impact on and odor causing stain below the carpet surface. In the event that a paste is made, you are running the risk of ruining your carpet.
Both in paste form and powder form, baking soda can destroy carpet cleaning machines and vacuums. As a powder, the tiny particles clog up the filter and bag. As the filter becomes clogged, strain is put on the motor. If you have ever had a vacuum engine burn out on you, think back as to whether you have ever used a powder based substance on your carpet. Likewise, carpet cleaning machines may also suffer from engine strain if baking soda is used. In this instance, it would be from the fluids being introduced to the powder. This results in clumping. The clumps of wet powder can easily cause a carpet cleaning machine to breakdown.
But there's more with baking soda. Baking soda, when listed in DIY pet stain removers can be used in 1 of 2 ways. It can be sprinkled on as a powder, or ground into a paste to be used as a cleaner. If used as a powder to "remove" odors, it doesn't even get into the padding. When a pet urinates in the carpet, the urine travels downward into and below the padding. Baking soda, even if it could remove odor, has absolutely no impact on and odor causing stain below the carpet surface. In the event that a paste is made, you are running the risk of ruining your carpet.
Both in paste form and powder form, baking soda can destroy carpet cleaning machines and vacuums. As a powder, the tiny particles clog up the filter and bag. As the filter becomes clogged, strain is put on the motor. If you have ever had a vacuum engine burn out on you, think back as to whether you have ever used a powder based substance on your carpet. Likewise, carpet cleaning machines may also suffer from engine strain if baking soda is used. In this instance, it would be from the fluids being introduced to the powder. This results in clumping. The clumps of wet powder can easily cause a carpet cleaning machine to breakdown.
Dish Soap & Laundry Detergent For Pet Stains
Many DIY pet stain removers are compromised entirely of all the WORST things you can use to remove pet stains: Vinegar, Baking Soda and Soap. Whether it be laundry detergent or dish washing soap, neither are acceptable for use in carpet. You should never put any type of soap in your carpet. If you have ever had an issue where you cleaned a spot on the carpet, but then days later the spot mysteriously returned, you were using soap. The reason the spot came back is no mystery.
Soap attracts dirt. When cleaning with soap, the soap will pull dirt and debris towards it. because soap foams and spreads, as it moves, the attracted debris moves with it. In liquid form, the soap travels downward into the padding. In doing so it pulls the debris downward. Over time, the soap in the padding continues to attract dirt to the spot where it has settled. Changes in humidity bring the soap upward to the surface . . . along with the dirt and debris. The stain has reappeared. In cleaning that spot with a soap based cleaner, the cycle continues and over time, as the process repeats, the accumulation of debris grows in size.
Another issue with soap is it is almost impossible to remove from carpet. As it suds and foams, it leaves behind a greasy residue that can stiffen carpet or mat it down. It also has absolutely no impact in regards to removing odor. In fact, the greasy film can trap odor causing stains in the fibers and padding.
Soaps that include oxidizing agents are also notorious for discoloring carpet. If you have an orange or pink tint to your carpet after cleaning, you used a soap based product with oxidizing agents or bleach. This damage is not reversible.
Soap attracts dirt. When cleaning with soap, the soap will pull dirt and debris towards it. because soap foams and spreads, as it moves, the attracted debris moves with it. In liquid form, the soap travels downward into the padding. In doing so it pulls the debris downward. Over time, the soap in the padding continues to attract dirt to the spot where it has settled. Changes in humidity bring the soap upward to the surface . . . along with the dirt and debris. The stain has reappeared. In cleaning that spot with a soap based cleaner, the cycle continues and over time, as the process repeats, the accumulation of debris grows in size.
Another issue with soap is it is almost impossible to remove from carpet. As it suds and foams, it leaves behind a greasy residue that can stiffen carpet or mat it down. It also has absolutely no impact in regards to removing odor. In fact, the greasy film can trap odor causing stains in the fibers and padding.
Soaps that include oxidizing agents are also notorious for discoloring carpet. If you have an orange or pink tint to your carpet after cleaning, you used a soap based product with oxidizing agents or bleach. This damage is not reversible.
Genesis 950 For Pet Stains
Genesis 950 is the best way to remove pet stains and odors. it is also the best way to remove odor left behind by vinegar or residue from soaps. What makes Genesis 950 different is the manner in which it cleans. Being a surfactant, it actually alters the structural bonds of stains to cause them to lift from the surface. Once lifted, they can be rinsed away.
