Whether it be because the dog likes the feel of the rug, or the cat is marking its territory, or they are both just plain lazy - there is no doubt that pet urine can do some real damage to our most valuable rugs.
In some cases it may not be because the rug is of a high dollar value, but more so the sentimental value, that requires the rug to be restored.
The biggest question to ask yourself is 'What is my tolerance level?' If your pet 'rules the roost' so to speak and is classed as one of the family, then when FiFi pees on the 50 year old Persian rug, it may not be such an issue as FiFi can do what she likes - therefore just cleaning the rug and a mild treatment might be enough as FiFi will most likely go back and do it again.
Then there are others that don't have pets and a friend has come to visit with their Maltese who loved the feel of your new designer shag pile rug so much it used it as a toilet.
Therefore the smell will be escalated even more and the tolerance level will be low.
Whatever the tolerance level, there are different treatments available.
It is possible to remove the urine from the rug by submerging the rug in special cleaning chemicals to fully remove the odour with a 100% success.
This would need to be done by a professional and certified rug cleaning company.
(Look for a company with a 100% money back guarantee.
) There are also surface treatments available for when the smell really isn't that bad.
It is impossible to remove urine by normal cleaning.
One of urine's main ingredients is Uric Acid, which leaves the body at a pH of 5-6 (as an acid).
When urine begins to dry, it changes its hydrogen content and forms crystalline salts, which takes on an alkaline pH.
The colour change that we so commonly see on rugs and carpet occurs because the urine oxidises and reacts with the fibres.
The strong ammonia smell comes about as the urine goes through chemical and bacterial changes.
The urine becomes more of a problem when moisture is added (such as when a carpet or rug is cleaned) or in high humidity.
The crystalline salts absorb water and moisture and put out an ammonia gas when this occurs.
Bacteria cause ammonia gas as well.
That is why it is common for urine odours to 'pop up' during or after you have cleaned a carpet with old urine spots.
Whether it be a $100,000 silk rug or a rug that has been in the family for 3 generations, they can be just as valuable as each other.
There are appropriate treatments for your situation.
Contact a professional and certified rug cleaning company with a 100% money back guarantee for your peace of mind.
For more information on rug cleaning and urine odour removal, please see the All Aces Services website.