Can carpet cleaning get rid of fleas?

Carpet cleaning is not a good substitute for professional flea treatments. Pest control services are essential for eliminating adult fleas, larvae, and eggs from carpeting, furniture, walls, and other places they could be hiding in. However, it is a great idea to have your carpets professionally steam cleaned AFTER these services have been provided to rinse away all the dead insects, chemical residue, and other unhealthy particles that have accumulated in the carpet fiber.

If you have pets in the home, it is essential to implement flea control measures such as regular pet treatments (topical or internal), vacuuming, and working alongside a reputable pest control company if the flea infestation persists. This multifaceted approach will ensure a more effective, longer-lasting solution.

Can carpet cleaning remove dog urine?

Although we can generally greatly improve the stain and odor, replacement is the only way to guarantee 100% remediation. Professional carpet cleaning can effectively remove some dog urine stains and odors with proper techniques and enzymatic cleaners. Unfortunately, and all too often, it can penetrate the backing of the carpet and into the padding and subfloor, which can require replacement. The amount of urine in the carpet significantly influences whether it can be removed (an accident or two vs. regular accidents). Due to the complexity of treating pet urine, we can't make any guarantees of stain or odor removal. 

Standard carpet cleaning processes often do not address pet urine concerns, which is why specific enzymatic cleaners are necessary. When urine evaporates, it leaves alkaline salts, emitting a smelly gas. This odor typically increases as the pet spot decomposes, putting off a bacterial gas. Pet-specific enzymes break down these salts for removal. Therefore, if pet urine is a concern, choosing a cleaning company with specific pet treatments is essential, rather than assuming a standard cleaning will address pet stains/odors. 

We love pets and are pet owners ourselves. We customize our pet treatments for each job after performing an on-site assessment. Our cleaning engineers will first determine the extent of the urine through visual inspection and confirm its presence with a moisture probe or a UV light. We will then develop a custom treatment plan using specialized cleaning techniques and pet-safe enzymatic cleaners designed to break down and neutralize the components of the urine, eliminating visible stains and underlying odor. As previously mentioned, we can't guarantee the complete removal of stains and odor, but we've had great success with our process throughout the 55+ years we've been in business. 

If you're dealing with dog urine stains or odors and are located in San Luis Obispo County, contact us for a FREE estimate to restore the cleanliness and freshness of your carpets.  

Fun Fact: Pet urine doesn't necessarily smell right away. When you notice an odor in your carpeting, it's possible the accident happened a while ago.

Can carpet cleaning kill fleas?

Carpet cleaners don't have pesticide licenses, so we can't claim to kill anything. That being said, if a flea survives what we do to the carpet, we've got bigger problems.

While professional steam cleaning (hot water extraction) can help eliminate fleas, it is not a substitute for pest control services. Fleas are very sneaky; when an infestation occurs, they likely are not just in the carpet. For comprehensive flea removal, professional pest control measures are necessary to kill fleas at all their life stages, including eggs, larvae, and adults. Having your carpets and upholstery professionally steam cleaned is an excellent idea after these measures have been taken to rinse away all the dead insects, chemical residue, and other unhealthy accumulated particles.

Can carpet cleaning remove cat urine?

Although we can generally greatly improve the stain and odor, replacement is the only way to guarantee 100% remediation. Professional carpet cleaning can effectively remove some cat urine stains and odors with proper techniques and enzymatic cleaners. Unfortunately, and all too often, it can penetrate the backing of the carpet and into the padding and subfloor, which can require replacement. The amount of urine present in the carpet has a significant influence on whether it can be removed. If an animal has used the carpeting as its personal litter box for an extended period, replacement would be recommended. Due to the complexity of treating pet urine, we can't make any guarantees of stain or odor removal.

While all pet urine isn't great for carpeting, cat urine is especially problematic because it's much more concentrated than dog urine. Unfixed male cats have the worst-smelling urine, as the testosterone presence is extra stinky. If you've ever thought cat urine smells worse than dog urine, you were right, and that is why! Unfortunately, the smellier an odor is, the more challenging it is to fully remove.

We love pets and are pet owners ourselves. We customize our pet treatments for each job after performing an on-site assessment. Our cleaning engineers will first determine the extent of the urine through visual inspection and confirm its presence with a moisture probe or a UV light. We will then develop a custom treatment plan using specialized cleaning techniques and pet-safe enzymatic cleaners designed to break down and neutralize the components of the urine, eliminating visible stains and underlying odor. As previously mentioned, we can't guarantee the complete removal of stains and odor, but we've had great success with our process throughout the 55+ years we've been in business.

If you're dealing with cat urine stains or odors and are located in San Luis Obispo County, contact us for a FREE pre-inspection to restore the cleanliness and freshness of your carpets.

Can carpet cleaning cause mold?

If you don’t know what you’re doing, you definitely can. Professional carpet cleaning services from a reputable company with an experienced technician will not cause mold. Carpeting that remains damp for an extended period can create an environment conducive to mildew or mold growth. Proper drying and ventilation are key for mold prevention, along with good cleaning practices and techniques.

Reputable companies utilize techniques and equipment throughout the cleaning process to thoroughly extract moisture from the carpeting and facilitate drying. Our company uses high-powered fans while we clean to expedite the drying process. Since airflow is essential for moisture extraction, opening windows and utilizing ceiling fans are important (provided it's not raining and water could get inside the open window). Humidity regulation may be necessary as well to facilitate the drying process. Letting the carpet completely dry before shutting the home up for an extended period is essential, as moisture does need somewhere to go. Proper cleaning techniques, adequate ventilation, and controlled humidity post-cleaning reduce mold development risk.

DIY (do-it-yourself) carpet cleaning practices carry a far greater risk of mold development. Inexperienced people with good intentions tend to use far too much water and equipment that isn't powerful enough to extract the amount of liquid used thoroughly. When individuals try to clean their carpeting at home, they often use so much water that they penetrate the backing of the carpeting, which gets into the padding and subfloor underneath, and that's when the big problems begin. Liquids that have reached the padding of your carpeting (water, pet urine, laundry soap, soda, etc.) cause problems that most often require replacement. It's also the most likely place mold can develop since the moisture has nowhere to go, creating a perfect breeding ground for this unhealthy organism.

When you choose a reputable professional carpet cleaning service and take action to facilitate the drying process, such as opening windows, utilizing ceiling fans, and allowing the carpet to dry completely before shutting the home up for an extended period, you will not have mold issues. When you use DIY methods (or inexperienced cleaners), mold development is more of a risk.