My daughter bought a house. The carpet has been used as a bathroom by the former owners cats and dogs.?

Question

How do we clean and get the smell out of the carpet?

Answer 1

Remove it, and the padding and replace it.

That isn't the cheap way, but certainly is the best way.

Rev. Steven

Answer 2

After scanning thru the answers, I agree that you are going to have to remove the carpet and pad and clean the flooring underneath.

The one thing I want to add that I didn't see in the other answers is that if you don't replace the carpet, any other animals that are brought into the house will smell the odor and think it is ok for them to pee there as well (others did, why can't I?), so the cycle will continue.

Answer 3

you have to remove the under pad where damaged also the urine most likely soaked through to the floor so clean and disinfect the floor before you piece in the new under pad. While you have the carpet rolled back clean the backing of the carpet where stained before you relay it. Finally clean and disinfect the carpet and hope the stains will come out, but this should rid of the foul odour. I would recommend steam cleaning possibly hiring a professional with a "Truck Mounted" steam cleaner if it's in your budget. it shouldn't be much more expensive then renting a portable unit and having to buy all the cleaning solutions, disinfectants etc... good luck

Answer 4

I have a similar situation here. I used to clean residential carpets many years ago, and we found that usually the urine goes through the carpet, all the way into the subflooring. If you clean it, many times the smell becomes worse. That usually leaves two choices. Cover the smell with air freshners, etc., or replace the carpet. Unfortunately, the landlord here will not give me compensation if I replace the carpet so I have to cover the smell.

Answer 5

wow.....I am sorry to tell you this, but cat pee or poo the smell of it is very hard to get rid of....in fact I have had that experience before and I just got rid of the carpet and got a new one....I have not found anything that gets that smell out....and if the carpet got soiled but the cats pee and poo then it soaked down threw the carpet and onto the hard floor and if the floor is hard wood flooring then it soaked into the hardwood floor too, which means the smell will be in the hardwood floor too. And getting the smell out of the hardwood floor will be another challenge. Good Luck

Answer 6

I would definately REMOVE the carpet. Pet odors are almost difficult to remove. You can try shampooing it, but most like likely the odor will still be there because the urine most-likely has made it's way down to the floor boards. I would look around for someone who could remove the carpet and then if she can't get new carpet, then just have hardwood floors and get them polished and invest in some area rugs.

Answer 7

You cannot remove that smell, no matter what anyone tells you. You can clean it and put lots of baking powder in the water---rent a commercial steamer that heats the water, which will help, but the only way to get rid of the smell is to remove the carpet.
It even gets down into the wood in the floor. I would replace it with vinyl or tile. You'll never get rid of the smell.

Answer 8

I read most of the answers and some are really close. Remove the carpet pad and tackless strips mop floor with White distilled vinegar let dry well run air if you have it. Seal floor with zinzer primer sealer its better than killz. Reinstall. Everyone is right there is no cheap fix to permanently get rid of those odors. so don't through money away on cheap fixes.

Answer 9

You could try a shop vac or I think it's called "steam cleaning." Unfortunately, if the pets' urine seeped down under the carpet, I think you'll probably have to rip it out to truly get rid of it. If there's a foam matting under the carpet, that could be soaked too. Even the wood beneath the floor could have moisture damage that could need to be repaired.

Answer 10

It's heartbreaking, but true. You must get rid of the carpet. Don't throw good money away trying to fix it. I just had to toss an 5' by 8' rug because I couldn't get the smell out.

Answer 11

Rip it up. Rip up the carpet pad. Clean the floor below. Then get new carpets. I had this same problem once and that was the only solution.