Why Pet Odor Does Not Come Out with Cleaning

When a dog or cat urinates on carpet, the liquid soaks through the fibers and into the padding below. If it happens repeatedly, urine reaches the plywood or OSB subfloor and crystallizes as it dries. Those uric acid crystals are not water-soluble, which means shampooing or steam cleaning does nothing to remove them. Every time humidity rises or the area gets wet, the crystals reactivate and release odor. The smell intensifies in summer when Portland homes heat up, and during wet months when moisture rehydrates the contaminated materials.

Why Enzyme Cleaners Often Fail

Enzyme products work by breaking down organic compounds on contact, but they only work on surfaces they can reach. If urine has soaked into padding or subfloor, surface applications do nothing. Some homeowners pour enzyme cleaner onto the carpet and hope it seeps through, but by the time it reaches the source, it's too diluted to be effective. Pet odor that persists after multiple cleaning attempts almost always means the contamination has reached the subfloor.

Professional Pet Odor Removal Process

We start by using a black light to map contaminated areas, which glow under UV illumination. Then we pull back carpet and padding to inspect the subfloor. If urine has stained the wood, we remove the padding and treat the subfloor with enzymatic solutions designed for porous surfaces. In severe cases, we seal the subfloor with an odor-blocking primer or replace sections that are too damaged. Carpet gets deep-cleaned with truck-mounted extraction equipment, and new padding goes in only after the subfloor is dry and odor-free. Thermal fogging can also be used to neutralize airborne odor molecules that have settled into walls and furniture.

Insurance Coverage for Pet Damage

Most homeowners policies exclude pet damage because it's considered gradual and preventable. However, if the odor resulted from a sudden event like a sewage backup that affected the area where the pet had accidents, there may be coverage. We document all findings, photograph contaminated materials, and provide a report that explains the scope of damage. If your policy covers any part of the loss, we'll handle the claim.

If pet odor will not come out of your carpet, call for a free inspection. We'll find the source, remove contaminated materials, and eliminate the smell permanently.