Cleaning your carpet from time to time is a great habit. It keeps it in good shape, extends its life, and prevents carpet moths. But sometimes, a foul smell appears from nowhere, leaving us confused about what we’ve done wrong. And if this happens to you, I can assure you that you’re not the only person suffering from this mysterious problem.
“I shampooed my carpet and now it smells like urine” How’s it possible! This question is common among homeowners. It often leaves them frustrated since they don’t know where this awful odor is coming from. However, this shall end today. In this article, we’re going to reveal the culprit behind this foul odor and what you should do to remove it for good.
Table of Contents
I Shampooed My Carpet and Now it Smells Like Urine
What Makes your Carpet Smell Bad After Shampooing? Why does it smell now?
Search no further. Your pet is the primary culprit. The thing is, the stink of pet urine isn’t usually strong, which may explain why you didn’t notice it when it occurred for the first time.
Also, when this stain has dried, it will not emit a foul odor. However, because pets’ urine includes ammonia, it releases a nasty smell the moment it comes into contact with water.
Now that you’ve identified the root of the problem, here’s how to solve it.
Identify the Affected Area
You’ll indeed be able to smell the foul odor from the urine, but unfortunately, you cannot see it. Even if your carpet smells awful, that doesn’t mean the entire rug is stained (I hope not).
In this instance, we recommend using a UV flashlight, which is thought to be the most effective way of locating pet urine.
If you use it during the day, close all the shades, turn off the lights in your rooms, and find that nasty area. This device will help you locate the affected zone by making it glow yellow.
Once you’ve identified the pet urine stain, we recommend sticking your nose close to it to ensure it’s the one responsible for the foul odor.
Things You Need to Know Before Cleaning the Carpet
If the pet urine stain is on a small or medium-sized carpet, here is how to tackle it.
First, clean the subfloor, then the bottom of your carpet, all the way up to the top of your rug. If you have padding between the rug and floor, clean it the same way as the carpet.
We suggest doing this because when a urine stain has time to dry, it often ends up at the bottom of your carpet. And if the quantity of that urine were significant, then it might even reach your subfloor.
Therefore, focusing only on the top of your carpet won’t be enough to get rid of that smell.
How to Make Your Carpet Smells Good Again
Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
Fill a bucket halfway with white vinegar and the other half with water (Avoid using hot water since it will just make the stain and odor more challenging to remove). Pour a large amount of this solution into the affected area.
If you think the amount of urine was large enough to reach the subfloor, you’ll need to pour a significant amount of the mixture to establish physical contact with the urine. Vinegar will neutralize ammonia while eliminating the odor, which is precisely what we want.
Once the mixture has thoroughly dried, sprinkle baking soda all over the stain, wait for a few minutes, then take it off using your vacuum.
Remark: Before you start cleaning your carpet, please ensure adequate air circulation in the room where your carpet is located. Leaving your carpet wet for an extended length of time may result in mold and mildew, which you definitely don’t want to deal with.
Enzyme
If, for some reason, you can’t get rid of urine using vinegar and baking soda, then it’s time to use a pet urine enzyme cleaner. This type of enzyme has been shown to help remove urine stains and odors.
Just put the enzyme you want to use on the affected area, cover it with a damp white cloth or paper towel, and leave it alone for the right amount of time.
This process can take 30 minutes in some cases and up to several hours in others. So, to get rid of the stain the right way, you need to read the instructions on the product’s label.
Hot Water Extraction
Unlike small rugs, large carpets need a different cleaning approach. If you’ve cleaned a big carpet and got that awful smell at the end, it means that scrubbing the surface wasn’t enough. In this situation, you’ll need to reach the bottom of your carpet or even the subfloor. And what else could you use for this task other than a suitable liquid extraction device?
All you need to do is to apply the product of your choice, leave it to act, then rinse with water and absorb all the moisture using a water extraction device.
This device will not only take off the detergent you used, but all the urine and everything related to it. This technique might not be possible for everyone, but if you can, then we highly recommend it.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a water extraction device or can’t afford one, you might need to schedule an appointment with a professional cleaner. But before you hire a company, make sure they have the right tools to deal with this issue.
Conclusion
After reading this article, we hope that the “I shampooed my carpet and now it smells like urine” statement isn’t an issue for you anymore. Now you know why the carpet smells and what to do with it.
If you think we’ve forgotten to mention an efficient tip, don’t forget to leave us a comment letting us know which one, please.
You can also visit our various guides on cleaning carpets from different things, such as Carpet Moths.
How do you get the smell of urine out of carpet after shampooing?
To get the smell of urine out of carpet after shampooing, mix equal parts white vinegar and water, apply the solution to the affected area, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before blotting it dry with a clean cloth.
Why does carpet smell like urine after cleaning?
Carpet may smell like urine after cleaning if the urine was not completely removed during the cleaning process. Urine contains proteins and bacteria that can penetrate deep into the carpet fibers and padding, and if not fully removed, can continue to produce odors even after the carpet has been cleaned.
Does urine smell in carpet go away?
The urine smell in carpet can go away with proper cleaning and treatment. It’s important to remove as much of the urine as possible and use enzymatic cleaners specifically designed to break down the proteins and bacteria in urine. In some cases, professional cleaning may be necessary to fully eliminate the odor.
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