Just moved in a place with carpet -How do you get dog smell out of the carpet?

Question

We tried shampooing the carpet,frebrezz it plugins in the room but the room stinks as if the people never cleaned up after the dog pee on it!It's too strong in there I have to close the door.Do I ask landlord to replace it?Can't put the kids in that room the smell is too strong.What should I do?????

Answer 1

Depending on what type of flooring under the carpet you have, what caused the smell, will depend on if you can remove it. If it's just "dirty dog" smell you should be able to use a carpet cleaner. If the previous animals continuously urinated on the carpet, it would have soaked through the padding and wood floors/concrete. Cleaning just the carpet doesn't eliminate the smell, it goes deeper then that. If you willing, try "ODO-BAN" you can get it from Sam's Club, You can also try using Vinagar which you can buy from any grocery store. (However you are stuck with the smell of Vinagar for a few days.) I just want to remind you soaking the floors with detergents and other agents, causes the floor to hold moisture....Moisture grows mold....mold can make you sick. (You may want to pull up a small area in a corner to see whats under it, but make sure you put it back!)
If you can't fix the problem, you may ask the landlord to replace the carpet AND padding, after removing old carpets concider cleaning the floor base first before laying new carpet, so that it does not absorbed any "old" odors. You can always try the nice approach invite the landloard over after having the room closed tight to help intinsify the smell and mention that updating the flooring to even cheap tiling will increase the property value. If you have to get nasty; Remember your children's health is a big factor, the smell can't be good for them. Read over your lease agreement, and see what clauses are in it for repairs.

Answer 2

There are a couple ways. 1. Rent a carpet cleaner or hire someone to do it for you. 2. 3 parts water, 1 part vinegar, and half part lemon. Grab a brush, kneel down, and start scrubbing. Don't get the carpet too wet, but enough so that the solution can penetrate the carpet. 3. Bleach does work, but it can harm the carpet so you'll need to test a small area first. Scrubbing will be the same as number 2. Bleach has fumes and you should only use half part bleach to 3 parts water, and make sure the house is ventilated. You can also add tea tree oil to the second solution. Lavender and other good smelling extracts from health foods stores can be added, as well for scent. Tea Tree won't cover it up but help get rid of it. I really don't like the bleach or anything sold in stores, personally. They can be unhealthy if you inhale them, I prefer the natural approach. The black light ideas mentioned are a good idea too.

Answer 3

If the people that lived there before you never cleaned up the urine right away and let it sit, the urine has probably soaked through the carpet, the padding, and made its way into the baseboards of the floor. No matter how many times you clean the carpet, the smell wont go away because the smell is from underneath the carpet. The only way to get rid of the smell entirely would be to tear up the carpeting, padding, and replace the baseboards. I would ask the landlord to replace the carpet, padding, and baseboards.

Answer 4

Definately ask the Lanlord to replace it. Stale urine is unhygenic and dangerous for children.

In the meantime, there are enzyme cleaners available that will remove the parts of urine that regular carpet shampoo can't. However, they are designed more for spot cleaning.

I have had success with carpet deodorizers, not the liquids like "febreeze" which are designed to cover up the smell, but the powder kinds which are designed to absorb the smell. Sprinkle it liberally over the entire carpet, leave it for a day, then vaccuum up the powder. There is one specifically for animal smells which can be found in the cleaning section of any grocery. Alternatively, use baking soda. It will absorb alot.

Good Luck to you! And good luck with the landlord.

Answer 5

If you can get the landlord to replace it that would be optimal, of course.

But if that's not going to happen, then the carpets need to be cleaned with a solution like Nautre's Miracle (it eliminates odors, removes stains, and returns materials to their normal PH). It's available in most larger pet stores and on line.

But keep in mind that the pad under the carpet is also going to be urine saturated... and maybe the floorboards under it, too, so you have a big job ahead of you.

If you manage to get the carpet clean and odor free enough to suit you, I would then pass the bill on to the landlord. He should be responsible for at least a portion of the costs (if you've "improved" his property by thoroughly cleaning it.)

Answer 6

You wont be able to get rid of the pee smell because it is no longer in the carpet...it moves through the carpet and is now beneath it soaked into whatever the carpet was put one. Everything would have to be ripped up and replaced to get rid of the smell. If you took the apartment and didnt mention the carpet before your landlord may not be obligated to replace it. Depending on how bad it is though and since you have children, you could probably report him and get it replaced if he wont do it.

Answer 7

If you can find a carpet cleaning company that uses a peroxide-based or an enzyme system (often with the word "oxygen" or "organic" in the title), that would be your best bet. White vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work great for spot treatments, but a peroxide or enzyme wash will work on a larger surface. I would ask the landlord to pay for it, and definitely let the landlord see how nasty it smells first. If cleaning doesn't work, it wouldn't be unreasonable for you to ask for new carpet.

Answer 8

Definitely see if the landlord will replace it or pitch in some of the cost. Sometimes landlords will pay for the carpet if you pay to get it installed or vice versa. Otherwise, vinegar can help break up stains and smells.

Answer 9

Hit up the Landlord. If no luck there, your best bet is to get the Urine Off stuff that has a bunch of enzymes to counteract with the dog pee, works better than cleaning the carpet.

Answer 10

It definitely shouldn't have been your responsibility to get the carpet cleaned. That's what the security deposit is for. The landlord should have made a walk through and kept the security to have the carpets cleaned or replaced. I'd contact him about it for sure. It's shouldn't be your responsibility.

Was the odor brought to his attention before you moved in?