Pet Urine and Oriental Area Rugs
Pet urine is one of the most common stains we see in our plant from households with pets. Besides the nauseous odor that is caused by urine salts and bacteria, there are three other dangers to be on the lookout for and they are as follows:
Staining – Permanent stains can develop on wool and silk area rugs if urine deposits are not attended too quickly. Acids and salts from urine can damage rug fibers and no amount of specialty cleaning can reverse this damage. Often, we see rugs that the owner has relied on “self-help” and “Googled” a home remedy only to create more damage to their beautiful Oriental, Persian or Turkish rug.
Once pet urine is discovered you must act quickly to avoid permanent damage.
If you’re going to use a “home remedy” dab as much of the moisture as you can with a white paper towel, followed with a mixture of 50% white vinegar and 50% club soda.
Place a little of this mixture on a paper towel and apply to the urine area with a weighted object. Wait five minutes and check the towel. If you do not see any color transfer to the towel, apply enough mixture to saturate the urine area, work in with the smooth side of a spoon and allow to dwell for about 15 minutes. Blot dry and place a fan on the area or use a hairdryer set on a low to medium setting to dry. This should eliminate dangerous urine salts and bacteria.
Dye Bleed and Color Loss – Dye bleed is not uncommon on many wool or silk area rugs. If you see the colors on your area rug migrating into each other, DO NOT attempt a home remedy, call Oriental Rug Salon.
Once colors start to move as a result of pet urine, spills, improper spotting or vomit, the damage is almost certain if not cared for by a professional. You should place a white paper towel on the affected area, blot lightly and contact a professional for assistance. In most instances, Oriental Rug Salon can reverse dye migration and remove color staining IF the rug owner has not caused damage by relying on self-help concoctions.
Mildew – Pet urine, if left untreated, can cause mold to form on the underside of an area rug which leads to dry rot. If this happens, the dry rot can not be “cleaned away” and will require extensive repair.
Pet urine, potted plants, and unattended spills can lead to mold and mildew formation which in turn, can lead to dry rot.
For more information on pet urine and area rugs, please click here to watch our informative video: https://orientalrugsalon.com/videos/pet-urine-rugs/
Oriental Rug Salon is a professional rug wash, restoration, and repair facility providing hand wash care for all Oriental, Persian, Turkish, wool and silk area rugs. Our services are relied upon by many of the areas leading restoration and insurance companies, interior designers, Oriental rug retailers and collectors, and owners of cherished wool and silk area rugs.
All area rugs are cleaned by hand by certified-experienced professionals, and our cleaning solutions are allergen-free and safe for pets and infants.
For more information about our area rug cleaning services, please visit us online at www.OrientalRugSalon.com or call us any time at 239-424-8171.
