What to do about pet odors and upholstery? San Diego -based Clean Earth Restorations can help you with these tips.
CAUSES
What causes pet odors in upholstery? Even if you keep your pet clean, a combination of dirt, fur, skin oil, and dander can work themselves into the fiber of the fabric and cause musty pet odors.
PREVENTION
Prevention is the best remedy — when buying new furniture, and all other factors equal, try to choose furniture made with fabric that is stain- and odor-protected. If you think your pets will be using the furniture too, try to choose furniture with machine-washable coverings, or invest in a washable slip cover.
UPKEEP
Vacuum your upholstery regularly –at least weekly — being careful not to neglect the nooks and crannies. Use a stiff brush to whisk away dirt and fur if you don’t have time to vacuum. Wash removable coverings from time to time and air dry them. (Check manufacturer instructions first, to make sure the fabric is machine-washable. If not, take them to a professional dry cleaner.) Make sure to wash all the pieces, as opposed to just one or a few, to make sure that they don’t wear differently over time.
NEUTRALIZING ODORS
Keep a small saucer of activated charcoal (found at your local pharmacy or health food store) under your furniture to absorb odors. Taking furniture outside on a dry, warm day may help dissipate odors as well.
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
Over time, even regular maintenance may not do the trick and you may find yourself with pet odors embedded in your upholstery. (Be careful too — people who live with pets often become immune to the odors they live with. But visitors can be well aware…) Professional upholstery cleaning every 12-24 months is the most effective and efficient way to clean and deodorize your upholstery. Manufacturers recommend it because pro’s have better equipment and cleaning solvents, as well as specialized knowledge of textiles and their interactions. (Do you know what kind of material is covering your arm chair? Are you sure a water-based agent won’t damage that antique Italian sofa?)
At Clean Earth Restorations, cleaning is our specialty whether it be from fire, flood, mold, crime scene, or everyday dirt and pet odors. Contact us today for a free estimate for pet odor removal from your upholstery or carpets, upholstery cleaning and maintenance as well as for our other services which include: rug cleaning, leather cleaning, odor control/removal, carpet repair and installation, hard surface cleaning, color repair and spot dyeing.
For tips on maintaining your upholstery, see our blog post: U.U. – Upkeeping Upholstery in San Diego
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