Pet Urine in Carpets: How We Find It with a UV Lamp

A carpet can look clean and still smell. With pets, the cause is often urine that has soaked through the carpet into the underlay. You cannot always see it, and household sprays only mask the smell for a few days. This post shows how we find pet urine and what we can – and cannot – do about it, using photos from our own jobs.

Finding the problem with a UV lamp

Dried urine is often invisible in normal light, especially on cream and beige carpets. Under a UV lamp it glows, so we can see exactly where the problem areas are and how far they have spread – often far more than the owner expects.

Why the smell comes back after cleaning at home

Urine soaks down through the carpet into the backing and the underlay. Shampooing the surface does not reach it, and adding water can even spread it further. Once the moisture dries, the smell returns – often stronger on warm or humid days.

How we treat it

1. Find it – UV inspection to mark every affected area.
2. Treat the source – a product chosen to break down the urine itself rather than cover the smell, worked into the affected areas.
3. Extract – hot water extraction to rinse out the residue.
4. Dry – air movers to speed up drying, so the carpet is not left damp.

When the underlay is damaged

Sometimes the urine has gone so deep, for so long, that the underlay is saturated and stained. In that case cleaning the carpet alone will not fully remove the smell. We will tell you honestly if we think the underlay needs replacing in that area – there is no point paying for a clean that cannot solve the problem.

Tips if you have pets

• Blot fresh accidents straight away with kitchen roll – do not rub.
• Avoid strong-smelling sprays; they hide the smell for you, but not for your pet, who may go back to the same spot.
• Have carpets professionally cleaned regularly, not only when there is a problem.

Get a quote

Send a few photos on WhatsApp to 07377 693 355 and tell us where the smell is worst. We clean carpets, rugs and upholstery across Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. See more photos in our gallery.