Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics

It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment. When urine is first deposited onto a floor or fabric, it has a pH of about 5 or 6, which is on the acid side of the pH Scale and is easier to remove while it is still fresh. The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state the urine also begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which will become permanent if the urine is not removed immediately. After about 24 hours the urine turns into a strong alkaline between 10 to 12 on the ph scale and becomes more difficult to remove. Some of the color change can also be attributed to the chemical change of the urine as it goes from an acid state to a very hi alkaline pH similar to ammonia. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it can change the dye structure, causing permanent staining.

There are two sources of odors associated with urine:

The first source comes from bacteria that begin to grow in the dark warm places under your carpet. (A pet can feed the bacteria daily!) This bacteria growth and breakdown of the urine creates amino acids. These complex organic compounds will often work deep into the fibers to a point of becoming part of the fiber. This can present a challenging situation. The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor. When dried urine is re moistened, it gives off an ammonia gas. Once smelled it is seldom forgotten.

The second source of odor is a chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason that more than sanitizing is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are left behind as the urine dries act as a desiccant (adsorbs moisture from the air).

The second source of odor is a chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason that more than sanitizing is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are left behind as the urine dries act as a desiccant (adsorbs moisture from the air).