Eliminate Pet Odor Before Selling

Eliminate Pet Odor Before Selling

Pet odors are some of the most stubborn to get rid of before you sell your house. Sometimes, no matter how much you scrub or try to deodorize, odors linger and make your house much less attractive to buyers.

Find the Source of the Odor

The first step in eliminating odor is to track its source. Often, odors embed in carpeting and become difficult to see, especially if they do not leave a stain. Your sense of smell will be key in determining which parts of the flooring have the most damage. Find the areas that are strongest to locate the spots where your pet may have relieved himself on the carpet. In some cases, you can purchase a black light from your local home improvement store to help you find urine stains. You will also need some chalk to help you highlight the areas. Simply turn off the lights and use the black light to shine it on the carpet. Urine-stained areas will glow in the dark. Use the chalk to circle those areas so that you will know where to concentrate your odor treatment.

It is important to know that carpet is not the only place where urine odors hide. They can also become pungent on drywall, woodwork, bricks and paneling. The black light should be able to highlight these areas, as well. Getting rid of odors in places other than carpets will require sealing those areas to trap the odor beneath the sealing solution. Once odor gets into woodwork, for example, there is no amount of scrubbing or cleaning that will remove it. Sealing is the only solution.15

Cleaning

If your pet is still in the house before you sell it, your job will be two-fold. You will need to clean the old stains and odors and you will need to reinforce good behavior so that your pet does not put the odors back that you have cleaned away. If you are dealing with fresh urine, use a paper towel to soak up as much of the urine as possible. Then place the urine-soaked paper towel in the place where your pet should be relieving himself. In the case of a cat, for instance, you might place the soaked towel in the litter box. It is best to avoid strong chemicals, since they may leave odors stronger than the pet odors when the cleaning is done. The best cleaning solutions are those made from natural ingredients. In the best scenarios, cleaners can be homemade. One of the most common mixtures is made by combine the following ingredients:

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar

• 4 tablespoons baking soda

• 2 cups warm water

You will notice the mixture start to fizz once the baking soda comes in contact with the vinegar. Add a little at a time if there is a chance it might bubble over. The mixture can be placed in a spray bottle, applied directly to the stain areas and allowed to sit on the stain for at least 5 to 7 minutes.  It is important not to scrub the area. Sometimes, this will embed the stain further. Use a clean rag to blot out the stain and repeat as many times as necessary. You can make a similar mixture with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dish detergent. Homemade cleaners are safer for pets and much easier on the respiratory systems of family members.

The Effect of Odors on Buyers

Sometimes, homeowners are not aware that their house has pet odors. They have been so accustomed to living in the space that they cannot detect the odors. Potential buyers are highly sensitive to any smells in a home that is for sale. Any offensive odor will turn them away toward the next house. If you have pets, it is a good idea to ask a trustworthy person who does not live in the house if he can detect an odor. He is not accustomed to being in the house and can be honest about the smell.

Other Odors

There are other smells besides pet odors that can potentially chase away buyers. Some of these include cigarette smoke, the smell that lingers after someone has had a long illness or the smell triggered by a trauma like a violent death in the house. In these cases, it is probably wise to hire a professional cleaning company to help eliminate the odors. It might mean a significant investment of up to $1,000. For some homeowners, this spells a significant dent in their wallets. For others, it all boils down to doing what it takes to ensure the sale.