We all know that Fido and Fluffy can have accidents in the house no matter how old they get. But do you know what to do and how to avoid damage to your area rugs when this happens? In this video we will outline the 4 ways that pet urine can damage your rugs and how you can protect them.
Urine can cause permanent fiber damage and it is not always visible from the top. Urine salts will cause moisture to be attracted to the cotton foundation of your rug. This moisture can cause the foundation to rot and mildew. Also, bugs will use this environment as a food source and if left will result in a hole in the rug.
The ammonia in urine can damage the dyes and damage the rugs ability to hold dye. This will lead to the dye bleeding and color loss, especially on silk rugs.
Urine decomposition also causes foul odors. We as rug owners get used to smells so over time as the urine continues to decompose the amount of odor will increase however, we may not even notice it as we have become used to it. To eliminate this odor, all of the urine salts and bacteria will need to be washed out of the rug. Top cleaning the rug with carpet cleaning equipment is not enough because the source of the problem is in the base of the rug in the foundation. Decomposing urine can stain your rug as well. What you see on the top is actually much larger on the bottom.
There are 5 things you can do to help keep your area rugs free from major damage or at least clean up when an accident happens.
- Have a spot removal plan
- Buy rugs that can be washed
- Get a busy design to hide potential spots
- Use pads to protect your floor
- Apply a fiber protector to suspend spills
If you have any further questions about proper maintenance of your rugs or how to protect from the potential dangers of pet accidents, contact us today!