Removing Pet Waste Stains, Odors and Bacteria From Carpets

Whether you're a seasoned carpet cleaning professional, or the average homeowner or renter dealing with a not quite potty-trained pet, without the right product and plan, eliminating pet waste stains and odors, as well as the bacteria that accompanies them, from carpets can be quite a challenge.

One important factor is time. In a perfect world, our pets would promptly inform us after relieving themselves on one of our carpets or rugs, and allow us to soak it up before it completely soaked in. However, most critters are not so considerate, and left untreated for long spells, such spills, stains, odors, and the bacteria they foster, can become a bit more difficult to eradicate.

Also, depending on the type of pet waste involved, repeated incidences, left unaddressed, can eventually damage your carpet by promoting fiber and other component deterioration, while transforming it into a bacteria incubator. Further, if the waste product is urine, for example, and it happens to dry and blend into, or is otherwise hidden by the color or texture of your carpet or rug, you may be left with only an odor, and no idea exactly where it’s coming from.

The good news is there is a product capable of eliminating such “invisible” odors from carpets, as well as the more obvious ones that emanate from visible pools of urine or piles of poop, while also cleaning away the corresponding stains these messes can cause, and killing the bacteria that they can carry.

Why Clean, Deodorize and Sanitize?

Because, as stated by Dr. Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and immunologist at NYU’s Langone Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs, “Your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it some 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat.” Where does all this bacteria come from? While not the sole source, our soles are usually the most significant source.

In a recent University of Arizona study, ten test subjects were outfitted with brand-new shoes. After two weeks of normal use, the twenty shoes were tested for bacteria. The average single shoe sole was contaminated with 421,000 units of bacteria, with the average shoe interior populated with 2,887 units. While not all bacteria is “bad” bacteria, 70% of the test shoes were contaminated with coliforms (E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and/or Citrobacter), 40% were contaminated with C. diff, and Listeria monocytogenes was present on almost 80% of them. Interestingly, none of the harmful bacteria was identified inside any of the test shoes.

Another critical discovery was 90% of all test shoe exteriors were contaminated with fecal matter, with fecal bacteria appearing on 95% of all shoe soles. However, probably the most concerning finding was the “bacteria transfer rate.” When the test subjects were tasked with walking on carpet, a whopping 90% of the identified contaminates transferred for the soles of the test shoes onto the carpet. Combine this with the fact that some bacteria can survive on carpeting for up to four weeks, and there’s very serious cause for concern.

It’s also important to remember that the above contamination is solely from people’s shoes and excludes carpet contamination and bacteria infestation from equally common sources, including spilled food and beverages; dust, dirt and pollen; human and pet hair and skin cells, other pet waste, smoke, and any other contaminants that typically find their way onto our carpets.

Given the array of infectious diseases that such bacterial infestation can lead to, including Campylobacteriosis, Staphylococcal Infections, Salmonellosis, Respiratory Infections, Gastroenteritis, and others, routine carpet “sanitization,” just makes sense.

Some Clarity and a Certified Solution

Before we proceed, note that for this article we’re defining “Pet Waste” as: dog and/or cat urine, feces, vomit, and drool.

Also, because “sanitizing” is often confused with cleaning, disinfection, sanitation, and similar terms, and understanding its true meaning is essential here, we felt that providing an accurate definition was similarly important. “Sanitizing,” as it relates to disinfectants, sanitizers and other antimicrobial products, has a very specific, legal, and EPA established definition: “The act of reducing the number of germs on surfaces to levels considered safe by public health codes. Sanitizing, or sanitized, is also an EPA Antimicrobial Standard that stipulates the elimination of at least 99.9% of harmful bacteria on a given surface.”

Finally, the singular carpet care product we eluded to earlier, the one that effectively cleans away pet waste, as well as the odors and bacteria that accompanies it, is PermaSafe CLEAN.

PermaSafe CLEAN is an EPA and NSF (National Safety Foundation) Registered, multi-purpose, one-step, no rinse, disinfectant cleaner and deodorizer, that’s also a highly effective Carpet Cleaner, Stain Remover, Sanitizer, and Heavy Duty Odor Eliminator. CLEAN has earned the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval, is specifically certified as a Superior Pet Stain and Odor Removal Solution, and is a leading choice amongst carpet cleaning and maintenance experts when tackling pet waste clean-up, deodorization, and sanitization.

CLEAN goes well beyond surface cleaning. Its unique formulation and penetrating action thoroughly cleans, deodorizes, and sanitizes deep within a carpet’s fibers, powering through dirt, soils, and stains, destroying odors, harmful bacteria, and odor causing microorganisms. Unlike other products that mask odors, CLEAN genuinely eliminates them through the process of oxidation. In short, it just plain works!

Optimized for People, Planet, Pet & Property Safety

Despite its potent carpet cleaning, deodorizing, and sanitizing properties, CLEAN is surprisingly gentle. CLEAN is one of the very few disinfectant cleaners on the market to earn a “Category IV” rating for toxicity from the EPA. Category IV is the very lowest toxicity rating any disinfectant cleaner or sanitizer can be awarded, and one that means no gloves, masks, or other Personal Protection Equipment are necessary when applying it, no wiping or rinsing is required after it’s applied, even on food contact and medical surfaces, and no Precautionary Statements or “Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals” warnings are required on its labels. In fact, it’s so mild that you can wash your hands in it, and it’s gentle enough to use around the entire family, including babies. Use CLEAN to clean and sanitize chew toys, with no need to rinse them after it’s applied, and no need to worry if your pets lick them afterwards.

CLEAN also contains no harsh chemicals, CFC’s, VOC’s,  irritants or added fragrances; is water-based, 100% biodegradable, PH balanced, hypoallergenic, non-fuming, non-damaging, non-corrosive, leaves no sticky residue; dries fast and clear, and won’t stain, damage or discolor surfaces that water won’t.

Now that you’re up to speed on the “Right Product,” please take a look at the “Right Plan” … CLEAN’s Directions for Use … and learn how CLEAN is not only the most effective pet waste stain, odor and bacteria eliminator, but also the easiest to use and most economical.