Sean's Carpet Care

Have you ever wondered why your Do it Yourself pet urine odor removal secrets have failed? Have you had a hard time trying to remove pet urine odor from your carpets? Often, many people think that carpet cleaning will fix the pet urine odor in the carpet. If you look around on the web or in pet stores you’ll find an abundant supply of pet urine odor removal secrets. I am a professional carpet cleaner providing Carpet Cleaning in Portland. The truth…I rarely see these products work on removing pet urine. The problem is that most products only treat the surface of the pet urine. When someone calls to ask about carpet cleaning I always ask, “Is the carpet or is there pet urine?” I know that once water is added to pet urine the pet urine odor will return immediately and carpet cleaning alone will not fix the urine odor. See the video and watch what is in the pad of the carpet and what needs to be removed.

Now you can see what your up against. The truth is that the pet urine in this is an extreme example of pet urine in carpet, but it happens to be this color every so often. There is always pet urine in the pad  and unless it is treated then the pet urine is still there.

Before spending too much money on Do It Yourself Pet Urine treatment it may be better to hire a professional experienced with pet urine odor removal. I provide Pet Urine Odor Removal in Portland

Hope this information is helpful…..Until next time….Thank you…..Sean!

There’s a funny article floating around on the Net entitled How to Prepare for Your New Puppy. I would strongly encourage you to read it before you buy a Christmas puppy. Allow me to quote some of the steps:

1. Pour cold apple juice on the carpet in several places and walk around barefoot in the dark.
2. Immediately upon waking, stand outside in the rain and dark saying, “Be a good puppy, go potty now – hurry up – come on, lets go!
3. Cover all your best suits with dog hair….
4. Tip over a basket of clean laundry, scatter clothing all over the floor.
5. Jump out of your chair shortly before the end of your favorite TV program and run to the door shouting, “No, no! Do that outside!”

You get the idea. Owning a puppy has its drawbacks. Most of us get in over our heads quickly. The article goes on to say that owning a dog represents a ten to fifteen year commitment at a cost of $2000 a year. It takes a couple years to house train a puppy, and in that time they can do much damage to your home including your carpet. However, owning a pet can have many benefits if you plan ahead.

Carpets and puppies don’t mix. If possible, keep your puppy on a tile or cement floor. Have a barrier that keeps your puppy off the carpet. Most trainers recommend crate training early on in a dog’s life. Crate training gives the dog a place of its own and gives the owner a measure of control over the dog’s movements. If you have the crate on the carpet during a family time, put plastic under the crate to catch any pet urine accidents that may occur inside the crate.

Even with careful planning and training an accident will eventually happen. The secret to pet urine removal is to blot up the urine right away. With a solid accident scrape up the area with a piece of cardboard or old spatula. You must get the liquid up before it soaks through to the pad underneath. Use a clean white, dry rag. Step on it to get out all the liquid. Get it as dry as possible.

Use vinegar to neutralize the urine. Spray the area. Blot with a clean, dry rag. Repeat several times. It’s important to neutralize the urine to prevent odor. The vinegar helps with the odor and also acts a deterrent to future urination. You may want to consider as part of your dog ownership an investment in a regular deep clean of your carpets.

I provide carpet cleaning in Portland, Oregon, so I understand the difficulty in pet urine removal. I encounter urine odor all the time and have invested heavily in equipment designed for the purpose of pet urine removal. Many of the over-the-counter urine cleaners depend on chemicals to combat urine odor. They work for awhile, but the odor often returns. Professionals know that you have to remove the source of an odor to really get rid of it. I bought a device called the Water Claw that sucks the dissolved urine clear down to the sub floor.

Hope this information helps. Until next time…Sean.

Okay, I’m no veterinarian, but I come in contact with cats everyday in the course of  providing carpet cleaning in Portland, Oregon. Pets can bring unparalleled happiness and joy to a home. Cats have interesting personalities and behaviors when compared to dogs. Among other habits, cats are famous for their tendency to scratch with their claws. I have been known to provide carpet repairs for areas where cats have scratched the carpet. When I find customers who have learned to re-train their cat’s bad behaviors I pay attention. My customers have passed on a few tips that I wanted to share with you.

First of all, understand that scratching for a cats is as natural as eating.  Cats scratch carpets for several reasons. They sharpen their claws,  mark their territory, and stretch their muscles.   You notice that sats often scratch when getting up from a nap. Punishing a cat for scratching will only serve to frustrate the cat. They will change behavior alright. They will scratch when you are not around. Cats respond well to redirection and positive reinforcement as opposed to punishment.   You have to work with their nature and train them in the way that they learn.

Provide an alternative. One should get a scratching post before buying the cat or shortly after. Once a cat gets started on your carpet or furniture then you have to break them of that habit while teaching them to use the post  It’s easier to have only one task to teach. You can purchase a cat scratching post from a pet store or for less money at a local discount outlet.  You can easily make one with a piece of plywood, a 2 by 4, and some scrap carpet. If you have a big house, you may want to get more than one. You want them readily available to your cat.  Buy some good quality cat nip to rub on the post. The cat nip will attract your cat to the post.

Protect  problems area on the carpet or furniture. Cats like most of us are creatures of habit. They like to scratch in the same place over and over. They will pick their favorite couch or section of carpet. If we can discourage use of that area, they will more readily seek the cat post. I came across a an article on how to stop cats from scratching that had some great ideas for protecting your house and train the cat. The article cited recommended that you tape tin foil, or plastic wrap, or a carpet runner bumpy side up to the cat’s favorite scratching site. Cats don’t like any of those surfaces. They will avoid touching that area. If you’ve provided an attractive alternative in the form of a cat post, they will go there.

The article mentioned spraying an area with vinegar, and it is true that cats don’t like vinegar, but neither does your carpet. They also mention squirt guns or pennies in a can to scare the cat when they attempt scratching in the wrong place. If your cover the offended areas and provide a scratching post, you really shouldn’t have to resort to scare tactics.

I did find the motion detector idea interesting.  This lady had one room that the cat liked to scratch. She set up a motion detection with a loud alarm.  I guess that would do it as long as you didn’t mind hearing the alarm during the learning process. Whatever you decide remember to not make the cat angry and want to get even by peeing or spraying the carpet. Cat urine removal and treatment can be difficult!

Hope you find this information helpful. …Until next time Sean.

Have you recently had a spot or stain on the carpet? Have you searched around the web for help? Isn’t it amazing at how much information there is to remove  spots and spills from your carpet and upholstery? Pet Urine removal is also a hot topic with tons of supposed secret information on how to treat pet urine.

As a professional carpet cleaning in Portland I am amazed at how much mis-information there is on the web. Some of the information I learn that my cleints have tried has often made spots worse or improssible to remove. The truth…using the correct chemistry to remove a spot can keep it from becoming a permanent stain. Use the wrong chemistry on a spot or stain and the spot can become permanent.

Everyday, I see things done with carpet, upholstery, counter tops, tile, etc. that cause major, often unrepairable, damage. With a little education on how to take the best care of your carpet, upholstery, tile & grout, and more you can keep your home in great condition.

What I’ve Learned – Secret Carpet Cleaning Information – For My Clients

Helpful Tips to Keep Your Home Looking It’s Best

Tip #1 – CAUTION Putting Area Rugs Over Carpet - You want to put a beautiful new area rug on top of the carpet in an area of your home.

Ok, but please make sure the rug does not have latex in the backing. Latex releases a gas called BHT that over-time naturally causes irreparable damage to the carpet turning it yellow. For example, the latex back on new shower mats is white and turns yellow over time. The BHT gas sometimes can also turn vinyl floors yellow.

Tip #2 – Acids Etch Natural Stone Counters/Floors- Natural stone counter tops and floors are prone to etching when exposed to acids, such as lemons. It is important to have these surfaces sealed. Often contractors skip sealing natural stone counter tops. Even after sealing natural stone surfaces can still etch, so be careful letting any type of acid sit on these surfaces.

Tip #3 – Unsealed Tile - Tile floors, counter tops, and showers are often left unsealed by contractors.  We can bring these areas back to life and seal them to help keep foreign debris from penetrating the grout.

Tip #4 – Prep A Repair Piece (Just in case J) - If you have new spare pieces of your carpet then I would recommend taking an approximately 12 x 24 inch piece and placing it where it will get lots of foot traffic (preferably shoe traffic). This will serve as great piece of replacement carpet that will blend in with the original carpet, if needed. After about a year of walking on this carpet have it cleaned and then put away.

Tip #5 – A Reason Why Dogs Like Certain Rugs – Do you have a dog that likes to pee on certain rugs and not others? The reason some dogs pee on one rug consistently and not the others is because the rug they favor may be made out of wool. Of course the dog has not seen a lamb running around the house, but the wool causes the dog to think there is a lamb near. The dog thinks, “Hmm…No lamb is coming into my home and taking over.” The dog pees on the rug to mark its territory. Bleach dissolves wool. So if you carefully remove one fiber from the rug and put some bleach on it and it dissolves then you know it is wool! Do Not put bleach on the rug.

Tip #6 – Microfiber Upholstery – Microfiber is a fabulous material that is very durable. This fabric is imitation suede, which is a compliment. If you have a spot on this type of fabric make sure to BLOT the spill. NEVER rub the spot or you can permanently damage the fabric turning it from a suede look to a leather look. Microfiber is not like carpet and cannot be re-dyed.

With the information above you should be better equipped to take the best care of your home. I found a great article on AOL that discusses How to Avoid The Top 5 Cleaning Faux Pas to help provide the best home cleaning tips. P.S. Make sure to read the comments section. There are some great tips there as well.

Hope this information is helpful! Until next time….Sean

Home maintenance is often thought of vacuuming and occassional carpet cleaning. If you have pets in your home you may need to step up your home maintenance schedule.

Have you noticed at how many people have their pets, especially dogs and cats, living in their homes? I mean isn’t interesting how many people let their pets take over their home and run the house? Everyday, in my business providing carpet cleaning in Portland, I visit homes that need help with removing and killing heavy pet urine.

Did you know that, according to the CEO of Coit, in their article Pet Services Program, “More than 60 percent of U.S. households include pets.”

Hey, i’m a pet fan and to me dogs are especially great, so I understand that families and pets can live happily together. I believe pets are important and can greatly enhance people’s lives. The trick it seems is to live together without letting the pets take control of the house. Removing pet urine from the carpets can be difficult without help from a professional carpet cleaner.

Pet Urine is Difficult – Pet Dander Is Impossible (Almost)

When dealing with pet urine removal from carpet there is more than just the odor. Another problem is the yellow stains and the salt. Yes, salt is a huge problem with pet urine removal. Have you looked at the shelves of stores for pet removal products or around the web for pet urine removal formulas? Isn’t it amazing at how many products for pet urine removal secrets are available for consumers? The problem is that many of the secret solutions only deal with a couple problens associated with pet urine.

The real issue with pet urine removal is that if not all of the issues with pet are solved then the pet urine will still remain and be annoying.

Some carpet manufacturers are trying to develop special carpets to protect against pet urine problems. You can even buy special carpet pad to protect against pet urine from penetrating the carpet and working its way into the sub-floor of the home. Lately, I have even heard of special carpet protectors that protect against pet urine odor and stains from becoming permanent.

Pet urine removal from carpet can seem impossible, but what is really impossible, well almost impossible, is the removal of pet dander from the carpet. Regular vacuuming is the best defense against having pet dander penetrate carpet fibers and carpet backing permanently.

Vacuuming and Carpet Cleaning Didn’t Work!

Ok, so you have tried to vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Maybe you have even tried to have the carpets cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner, but the pet dander smell is still there. You know that annoying odor that smells like wet dog or sometimes smells like pet urine.

The truth…Carpet cleaning and vacuuming alone will not get rid of tough pet danger odor problems in carpet. Trust me…I have seen a lot of pet dander problems, especially in apartment and house rental situations.

Solutions – that Kill Odor

The best solution for pet urine odor removal is by hiring a professional carpet cleaner that has experience in dealing with tough pet urine removal.  The truth is that a professional carpet cleaner needs to use formulas to remove the yellow, kill the bacteria, and remove the urine salts down to the level of their contamination.

For heavy pet dander odor removal it is also important to hire a professional carpet cleaner. Cleaning may not be the ultimate solution to correct the odor caused by pet dander. A special type of pairing deodorizer may be needed to remove the odor permanently.

So before risking your hard earned money on trying to fix pet odor issues make sure to find a reputable professional carpet cleaner in your area.

Hope this information is helpful…Thank you…Sean!

Moving is almost always a pain isn’t it? Not one of my favorite things to do. It always seems amazing at the amount of stuff that was somehow collected. The challenge of organizing and packaging possessions can be overwhelming.

The scary part after removing items is the amount of cleaning that is needed to get your apartment ready for the move out inspection. Once everything is removed from the apartment it is like, “hey where did that spot come from on the carpet, or I never noticed all that black stuff down there!”

With this article I will help provide some tips to get your apartment ready ready for the big day.

Everyday, I get calls about what to do to get the carpet ready for moving out of an apartment. One of the hard parts to moving is dealing with all of the spots on the carpet. There can be black spots, red spots, yellow spots, or pet urine on the carpet.

Who to Hire?

Now that you notice all of the spots there is the tough decision of what to do about them. I mean should you hire a professional carpet cleaner or do your own carpet cleaning? I understand that everyone has a budget when getting their carpets cleaned. I get that the main goal with apartments and cleaning the carpet is to get it clean enough to get the deposit back.

The deciding point about whether to hire a professional carpet cleaner or to do it your self is deciding who has the best chances of getting the spots out? Black Spots are pretty easy in most cases. The spot cleaner Folex, which is sold at Home Depot, is great at removing most stains. For red stains it may be best to call a professional carpet cleaner. Often red stains need special attention and using the wrong spot remover will permanently set the stain. Secret Tip: Using and “Oxy”gen based spot remover will set most red stains.

Pet urine removal is most often best performed by a professional carpet cleaner. Most of the products used to treat pet urine don’t work. If you want to understand pet urine and how to remove it click the pet urine link above.

If you want to do your own carpet cleaning here are some useful tips on how to do it yourself carpet cleaning. This will tell you how to setup a rented carpet cleaning machine to get the best results.

Not Just Carpet

Obviously there is more to preparing for a move out inspection than just cleaning the carpet. You still have to clean the rest of the house!

Here is a great article that proivdes step by step details and how to prepare your apartment for moving out:

How to Clean an Apartment Before Moving Out

• Find out whether your landlord or apartment complex automatically cleans the carpet, without charge to you, when you move out or whether they require you to have stayed in the apartment a certain number of years before they will waive the carpet cleaning. Spot clean tough stains with a spray-on carpet cleaner first, like Folex.
• Before painting make sure the apartment manager is not going to paint anyway
• If there is damage you want want to start a conversation with the manager of the apartment about what they might charge to fix it. They often get deals from contractors to help with their repairs.
• Check the list on the site above to make sure you have all the items you need before you begin cleaning.
• Have family or friends help you with the cleaning. You can bribe them with offers of free meals at your new place.
• Bring a radio to listen to while you clean.
• If viable, begin cleaning in the room farthest from the front door, working your way towards the door. This prevents you from cleaning yourself into a corner.
• Send your new address to the landlord, so they know where to mail your security deposit.
• Take photos after cleaning your apartment to show the condition if needed.
• Hold on tight to the various records associated with your stay, such as:
  • apartment lease or rental agreement
  • rent receipts or checks
  • a copy of all agreements regarding damages between you and the landlord
  • a copy of the letter sent to your landlord with your forwarding address

Now you have your list and it’s time to get to work!

Hope this information was helpful…Until next time…Take care Sean

Sean is the owner of Sean’s Carpet Care, providing Carpet Cleaning in Portland.

Pets are a wonderful addition to the family. Hey, I am a pet person, so I understand the down side in dealing with unexpected cat urine or dog urine accidents. Almost everyday in my carpet cleaning Portland business I receive phone calls for help with pet urine issues.

I get calls all of the time for asking for help with pet urine removal from carpet and then there are those special calls: Pet Urine Removal from Wool Rugs.

Pet urine removal is challenging, except for carpet cleaners with specialized knowledge and tools. Pet urine in wool rugs requires additional specialized experience and knowledge to properly treat.

Damage from pet urine in wool rugs can sometimes be minimized if quickly and properly treated. If the urine is not properly treated quickly there can be permanent staining, color loss, fiber damage, and more!

Here is a great article written by Lisa Wagner, “The Rug Chick”, that has a great article that provides answers to the question: Pet Accidents Happen. Now What?

Search the web or visit pet stores and you will find a wealth of pet urine removal tips and products. Do it Yourself Pet Urine Treatment, once the urine is dry, is really a myth. To help my clients with Portland Pet Urine Odor Treatment needs I created a great page on my website to explain why pet urine smell returns and why many of the store bought treatments don’t work.

Here is a great article that provides some specialized methods on How to Remove Cat Urine Odor From Carpeting Hopefully this information will also help you!

Talk to you again soon…Sean

We all have seen many popular tv shows like CSI that show how investigators use special tools to uncover crime scene evidence. One of the investigator’s favorite tools is a black light.

Many professional carpet cleaners carry a black light to reveal hidden pet urine spots before cleaning. Once water is added to pet urine deposits the smell comes back and further treatment is required.

For more information check out our Portland Pet Urine treatment webpage.

Anyway…To learn how to do your own pet urine detection here is a great article that discusses the topic in full detail.

This is a great article because it points out how to detect pet urine on your own with a reasonably priced tool. This is great information to use before signing a lease agreement on a rental home or apartment.

Hope this information is helpful…Sean

Oops! You accidently found a wet pee spot on the carpet or noticed strong urine smell indicating that the kitty has had a little accident on the carpet. Cat urine is one of the strongest per urine odors next to the odor left from an angry skunk.

Here is a great article written by Gene Rodriguez, III that details the reasons why cats pee and some solutions.

Our Solution

Did you know…That if you catch the pet urine when it is wet then you can usually treat it your self.

We are Portland Pet Urine Removal specialists.

But wait…If you give us a call at 503-922-4575 or an e-mail an we’ll send you a free copy of our secret formula for removing pet urine.

Talk to you soon….Sean