Yes, professional carpet cleaning can often remove dog and cat urine smells, but simply cleaning the surface of the carpet is not always enough.

Pet urine can soak through the carpet fibres and into the backing underneath. If it is left untreated, urine deposits can remain in the carpet and produce an unpleasant smell, particularly when conditions are warm or humid.

At Cleanfootprints, we treat pet urine as more than just a surface stain. The affected area needs to be identified and treated with the appropriate professional products to help break down and neutralise the urine contamination before the carpet is thoroughly cleaned.

Why does the urine smell sometimes come back?

One of the most common problems with pet urine is that the carpet may appear clean after using a household carpet cleaner or deodoriser, but the smell returns later. This can happen because the product has masked the odour rather than dealt with the urine deposits deeper in the carpet.

Professional treatment is designed to tackle the source of the problem rather than simply covering the smell with perfume.

Can all pet urine stains and smells be removed?

Many pet urine problems can be successfully treated, particularly when they are dealt with quickly. However, no reputable carpet cleaner should promise that every urine stain or odour can always be completely removed.

If urine has repeatedly soaked through a carpet and into the underlay or flooring beneath it, additional treatment may be required. We will always explain what we believe can realistically be achieved before carrying out the work.

What should I do if my pet has an accident on the carpet?

Blot up as much liquid as possible using clean, absorbent towels or kitchen roll. Avoid rubbing the area, as this can spread the contamination further into the carpet fibres.

Try not to use household chemicals or products such as bleach etc, as these can damage or discolour some carpets and may make professional stain removal mor dificult. 

If the smell or staining remains, professional treatment is usually the safest option.

Need help with pet urine in your carpet?

Cleanfootprints has over 40 Years of experience in professional carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning with honest advice and no hidden charges.

Cleanfootprints professional carpet cleaners operate in Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Ilminster, Chard, Yeovil and most surrounding areas in Somerset.

Why Do Carpet Stains Sometimes Come Back After Cleaning?

It can be frustrating to have a carpet cleaned, only to notice a stain beginning to reappear a few hours or days later. But why does this happen?

There are two common reasons: wicking and residue left in the carpet.

What is wicking?

Sometimes a spill travels deeper than the surface fibres of the carpet and reaches the backing underneath.

During cleaning, the visible stain may disappear completely. However, as the carpet dries, moisture from deeper down can travel back towards the surface, bringing some of the original contamination with it.

This is known as wicking.

It is particularly common with larger spills where a significant amount of liquid has soaked into the carpet before being treated.

Cleaning products can also cause stains to return

Another possible cause is cleaning-product residue.

Some household carpet cleaners and spot-removal products can leave a sticky residue behind if they are not thoroughly rinsed and extracted.

That residue can attract new dirt, making the treated area gradually become visible again. It can sometimes look as though the original stain has returned when the area is actually becoming dirty more quickly than the surrounding carpet.

This is one reason we recommend being careful with supermarket stain removers and DIY carpet-cleaning products.

Can a returning stain be treated?

Often, yes.

The important thing is identifying why the mark has returned. A professional carpet cleaner can assess the affected area and decide on the most appropriate treatment.

With deeper spills, additional treatment and extraction may be required to deal with contamination below the surface of the carpet.

However, no reputable carpet cleaner should promise that every stain can be completely removed. Some substances can permanently alter or damage carpet fibres.

Professional carpet cleaning in Somerset

At CleanFootprints, we believe in giving customers honest advice about what can and cannot be achieved.

With around 40 years of experience in professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, we understand that different stains, carpets and fibres require different treatments.

We provide professional carpet and upholstery cleaning in Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Ilminster, Chard, Yeovil and Crewkerne.

CleanFootprints is also a Which? Trusted Trader, giving customers additional reassurance when choosing a professional carpet cleaner.

If you have a carpet stain that keeps coming back, contact CleanFootprints and we will be happy to advise you.

Have your carpets lost their fresh appearance? Even if they don't look heavily soiled, everyday foot traffic, dust, pet hair, and fine grit gradually build up deep within the fibres. Professional carpet cleaning goes deeper than regular vacuuming. It removes embedded dirt and revives the look of your carpet. Many customers are surprised by the difference, especially in hallways, living rooms, and other high traffic areas. At CleanFootprints, we use professional equipment and cleaning solutions designed to get great results while helping carpets dry quickly. Every carpet is assessed before cleaning so the right method is used for the type of carpet and the level of soiling. Regular professional cleaning can also help extend the life of your carpets by removing the abrasive particles that contribute to fibre wear over time. If your carpets are looking a bit tired, a professional clean can make a noticeable difference and leave your home feeling refreshed.

When a carpet starts looking dull, marked or generally tired, it's easy to assume that replacement is the only answer.

But before spending hundreds – or potentially thousands – of pounds on a new carpet, it may be worth seeing what professional carpet cleaning can achieve.

Over time, carpets gradually collect fine soil, dust and everyday dirt deep within their fibres. Because this happens slowly, you may not realise how much the appearance of the carpet has changed.

Busy areas such as hallways, stairs and living rooms can be particularly affected. The carpet may become darker, flatter or duller even though the fibres themselves are still in perfectly serviceable condition.

Professional cleaning is designed to remove contamination from deep within the carpet rather than simply freshening the surface.

Depending on the carpet and its condition, professional cleaning can help:

Remove deeply embedded dirt

Improve dull and discoloured areas

Treat many spots and stains

Freshen the carpet

Improve its overall appearance

Extend its useful life

Of course, professional cleaning cannot repair a carpet that is physically worn out or damaged. But many carpets are replaced because they look dirty and tired rather than because they have actually reached the end of their life.

With the cost of new carpet, underlay and fitting, replacing carpets throughout a home can be a substantial expense.

Having existing carpets professionally cleaned first can therefore be well worth considering.

At CleanFootprints, we have 40 years of experience professionally cleaning carpets, rugs and upholstery.

We provide professional carpet cleaning in Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Ilminster, Chard, Yeovil and Crewkerne, with clear, fixed prices published online.

So before you replace a tired-looking carpet, consider whether it simply needs a professional clean.

Don't replace — restore by professionals.

Hiring a Carpet Cleaning Machine vs Using a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Hiring a carpet cleaning machine can seem like a good way to save money. For a relatively small hire charge, you can take a machine home and clean your carpets yourself.

But is it really the same as having your carpets professionally cleaned?

The attraction of hiring a machine

The biggest advantage is obviously cost. If you only have a small area to clean and you're confident using the equipment, hiring a machine may initially appear cheaper than employing a professional carpet cleaner.

You can also do the work in your own time without having to arrange an appointment.

However, there are some important differences to consider.

Your carpets are an investment

Good-quality carpets aren't cheap. Depending on the size of your home, replacing carpets can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

That's why the cleaning method, chemicals used and — importantly — the amount of moisture left in the carpet all matter.

Professional carpet cleaning isn't simply about putting cleaning solution into a machine and extracting it again.

Different carpet fibres, constructions, dyes and types of soiling can require different cleaning methods and products.

The risks of DIY carpet cleaning

One of the most common problems with hired carpet cleaning machines is over-wetting or inadequate extraction.

Leaving too much moisture in a carpet can potentially contribute to problems such as:

Carpet shrinkage – Certain carpets and backing materials can be particularly vulnerable if they become excessively wet.

Colour bleeding – Some dyes may not be completely colourfast and can migrate when inappropriate products or cleaning methods are used.

Browning or water marks – Excessive moisture can sometimes cause discolouration as the carpet dries.

Wick-back – A stain may initially appear to have disappeared, only to return as moisture and contamination travel back towards the surface during drying.

Rapid re-soiling – Using too much detergent, or failing to rinse and extract it properly, can leave sticky residues behind. These residues can attract soil, meaning the carpet may appear to get dirty again surprisingly quickly.

Professional equipment makes a difference

Professional carpet cleaners use commercial equipment designed to apply cleaning solutions correctly and recover as much moisture and contamination as possible.

But equipment is only part of the equation.

Experience allows a professional cleaner to assess the carpet before cleaning, identify potential problems and choose an appropriate cleaning method.

Stains also need to be treated individually. A product that works well on one type of stain could make another stain more difficult to remove — or potentially damage the carpet.

Is hiring a carpet cleaner ever worthwhile?

For some people, yes.

If you're cleaning an inexpensive carpet, understand the limitations of the equipment and are comfortable doing the work yourself, hiring a machine may be sufficient.

But when you're dealing with good-quality carpets, difficult stains or carpets you're particularly keen to protect, professional cleaning can be the safer option.

The cheapest method isn't necessarily the cheapest if something goes wrong.

Professional carpet cleaning from CleanFootprints

At CleanFootprints, we provide professional carpet and upholstery cleaning throughout Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Ilminster, Chard, Yeovil and Crewkerne.

With many years of professional carpet-cleaning experience, we assess your carpets before cleaning and select the appropriate products and cleaning methods for the job.

If you're deciding whether to hire a machine or have your carpets professionally cleaned, you can also view our carpet cleaning services and fixed online prices before making your decision.

It can be frustrating to have a carpet cleaned only to find that it seems to become dirty again surprisingly quickly. In some cases, marks and traffic areas can even appear to return within days or weeks.

This is often described as rapid re-soiling, and there are several reasons why it can happen.

Too much cleaning product

One of the most common causes is cleaning solution being left behind in the carpet.

Using more detergent doesn't necessarily make a carpet cleaner. If too much product is used, or it isn't properly rinsed and extracted, a residue can remain on the carpet fibres.

That residue can become slightly sticky and attract soil from shoes, socks and everyday use. The result is a carpet that may have looked clean immediately after cleaning but starts looking grubby again much sooner than expected.

Inadequate rinsing and extraction

Cleaning the carpet is only part of the process. Removing the suspended soil and cleaning products is equally important.

Professional carpet cleaning equipment is designed to rinse the fibres and extract the dirty solution from the carpet. Good extraction also removes as much moisture as practical, helping the carpet dry properly.

If insufficient extraction takes place, more contamination and cleaning residue can remain behind.

Over-wetting the carpet

Using too much water can cause its own problems.

Excessive moisture can penetrate deeper into the carpet and, in some circumstances, into the backing or material beneath it. As the carpet dries, contamination from deeper down can migrate towards the surface.

This can sometimes make an apparently removed mark seem to return.

Heavily used areas get dirty first

Not every case of rapid re-soiling means something went wrong with the cleaning.

Hallways, entrances, areas in front of sofas and frequently walked routes naturally receive considerably more traffic than the rest of a carpet. These areas will normally show new soiling first.

Outdoor footwear can make a particularly big difference because very small particles of soil are continually transferred onto the carpet.

The condition of the carpet matters

Older or heavily worn carpet fibres can reflect light differently from areas receiving less use.

Consequently, what appears to be remaining dirt can sometimes actually be wear. Cleaning can remove soil, but it cannot reverse physical damage to the carpet fibres caused by years of foot traffic.

This is particularly noticeable on established traffic lanes.

Why the cleaning process matters

Successful carpet cleaning isn't simply about making a carpet wet and then removing the water.

The appropriate cleaning solution needs to be used in the correct amount, the carpet needs sufficient agitation where appropriate, and the suspended contamination and cleaning products need to be thoroughly extracted.

At CleanFootprints, we use professional carpet-cleaning equipment and suitable cleaning and rinsing products according to the carpet and its condition.

Correct cleaning helps reduce residues that can contribute to rapid re-soiling and gives the carpet the best opportunity to stay looking clean afterwards.

A simple tip after having your carpets cleaned

Allow your carpet to dry properly before returning it to normal use wherever possible, and avoid walking over a freshly cleaned carpet in outdoor footwear.

Regular vacuuming afterwards is also important. Removing dry soil before it becomes worked further into the fibres can considerably improve the appearance of the carpet between professional cleans.

CleanFootprints provides professional carpet and upholstery cleaning throughout Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Ilminster, Chard, Yeovil and Crewkerne.