Can you help us to solve this fellow viewers household dilemma?

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This month's dilemma:

How do I remove urine and pet odors from carpet and fabrics?

- Asked by Terri in GA.

Suggestions:

After being in many houses where urine smells were prevalent in my business, I have observed that when the carpets were removed, sometimes the wood flooring underneath had absorbed the substance and had magnified the problem.  This can be determined by feeling to see if swollen areas of substrate underneath possible stains.  If this is not the case, then I would suggest a product containing baking soda (powder) some containing fragrance.  The best ones are the ones with nuetra in the name, as it stands for neutralizing the smell.  Also a true steam cleaning, not one with just premixed hot tap water, as is some of the products available in the stores.  True steam cleaners such as the ones advertised on television, that are handheld, etc.  may help kill bacteria causing odors. I hope this helps.  Tom, SC.

Febreeze...it works wonders for pet odors. First, soak as much of the liquid up as you possibly can, then clean well with soapy water and spray w/ Febreeze.....(we have a cat that loves to "mark" his home, we have just about broke him of that :) A spray bottle of water helps to deter the urge for most cats.  Teresa

I'm in the carpet business and have run across a product called Urine-Off odor and stain remover. Product is from Pio-Pro Research LLC in Sarasota Fl. www.urine-off.com. The Pros know that urine "glows a dull yellow color" under black light and if you have a black light, you can find the problem areas. Fresh areas should be blotted up with paper towels and then saturating the area with Urine-Off and allow to air dry. Old dried deposits can also be removed by saturating the area and covering with plastic wrap for 24-48 hours (to allow product to work and not dry out too quickly). After area is dry, rinse sparingly with water and blot with paper towels to remove any residue that may attract dirt. Urine-Off should be available in better carpet retailers and at many Veternary Hospitals. The website has a retailer locator service.  Dick, NY.

To remove pet urine odor from carpet, you must use something with the same chemical makeup as the urine, such as ammonia or Biz Tablets.  Saturate the area with product of choice, let stand for 20-30 minutes, then shampoo up.   This REALLY works!!  Make sure your room is well ventilated when cleaning!  Jennifer Williamson, GA

I use my steam-cleaner's handheld part with a diluted mixture of Oxiclean and hot water (2 parts Oxiclean to one part water).  It lifts the stain and takes away the smell.  Margaret, AL

If the urine soiled area is DRY, sprinkle two tablespoons of canned coffee grounds over the area, let sit for about an hour then vaccum.  Phyllis, MO

QVC has a product that takes odors away and leaves no lingering odor itself.  It ix XO odor neutralizer (natural & organic).  It elminates all odors.  I believe they have upgraded with another product that also cleans.  I even spray it on our dog between baths. I have been using it for 3 years and nothing can match it.  I also use a Bissell hand held spotlifter if I am lucky enough to catch her when it happens.  You can also put some XO in with carpet cleaner.  LME, VA

I have found that if you mix 1 part White Vinegar to about 10 parts water in a spray bottle it will work at neutralizing the odor.  Just spray the affected area until you can use a rented carpet cleaner to remove the stains. On really set in stains use Oxi-clean in a rented carpet cleaner (about 2 scoops per Gallon of Hot water and make sure the powder is fully disolved) or I have used Simple Green.  The Simple Green has a fresh sent to it also.  Misti, OK

I recently had a dilemma with spilled nasty old wine that had been stored way too long.  Reading through my "Queen of Clean" book, she suggested using a product for pet odors called "odorzout" which also has a website by that name (www.odorzout.com) It's a natural product & completely took out the nasty wine smell from the woodfloor & other cloth things it had soaked
into overnight. I would definitely try this product, it can even be used IN litter boxes and such.  Maryanne Lentner

Try Zero Odor spray.. website is: zerodor.com I ordered this product "as seen on tv" and I swear by it that it works.. I have very expensive parson chairs and was skeptical in using store bought products but when I seen the advertisement for zero odor I ordered and I am pleased with the results.. NO more lingering odors.. I use it all over the house..  R'netta

Vinegar used about three times, letting it dry in between will usually get rid of the odor.  If it is a piece of clothing  hang it out in the sun to dry.  I had a $650 leather jacket...and it worked.

I have three dogs and a Putting Green.  In the summer the urine smell is awful.  The best thing I found to deorderize it is vinegar. It also works on carpeting, just add a 1/4 cup to your steam cleaner along with your cleaning solution!  Tess, NV

I work in the textile restoration business and specialize in stain and odor removal from carpets.  Forget the OxyCleans, the Resolves, the Nature's Miracle.  They are not going to do you much good.  When is comes to urine, blot up as much as possible with a clean white towel, then saturate with a half and half mixture of white vinegar and water.  This will help kill the smell and remove a good deal of urine.  It will leave no residue and won't damage the color of your carpet.  Use in conjunction with some kind of steam cleaner, and if you do use an off the store shelf product be sure to RINSE IT ALL OUT!  Dry cleaning will do you no good in this situation since it cleans on the surface of the carpet and not down deep. If you continue to have problems, or if the urine had a chance to dry in the carpet, LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS!  All you will do otherwise is make the problem worse and more expensive to fix.  Remember, if you don't remove the urine, you will not remove the smell.  You will understand when the humidity raises back up and your carpets still smell.  Steven Hoppe, IN

Use vinegar, full strength.  The odors will disappear shortly.  M Krell

Odo-Ban is available at Sam's club.  You can spray it directly on the area, let it soak, and then blot it up.  It works great.  I have used it in my carpet cleaner in the rinse water.  It makes any room smell clean.  Jennifer, TN

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