Buying a used car is nearly always a risky business. You never know what exactly has been done in the car before you owned it or what people and pets have left behind. You simply have to use your research and best judgment to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
If you’ve bought a car with a smell of dog urine coming from the carpets or seat pads, to get rid of the smell and resulting damage, you will have to get rid of the material the animal urinated on and thoroughly clean the affected area.
The Damage Has Already Been Done
When caught early, right after the animal urinates, it’s possible to thoroughly soak up all the liquid before it damages the interior -providing you have leather and not cloth seats. However, when you have bought a used car with the smell already present, there is a very good chance the affected area was never thoroughly cleaned and any urine left behind has already damaged the seating pads under the upholstery. If there was a lot of liquid or it was never cleaned up at all, the urine likely went down into the carpet beneath the seat as well
Replace the Seating Pads
The best thing to do if the liquid was never cleaned up properly is to simply replace the seating pads in question. Even if you tried a deodorizer, there is no way to permanently mask the smell if the source still remains in the car. There are multiple places you can buy new seats and carpet and some places will also install it for you:
- car dealership
- auto repair shop
- junk yard
- online sellers
After replacing the seat pads or carpet, wipe down all other surfaces including all knobs, vinyl, windows, and handles in the car using soft cloths and strong cleaners along with applying a deodorizer to get rid of any lingering odor.
The Price of DIY
DIY projects are economical when they are done right. However, when mistakes are made, then that project can quickly become more costly both in time and money than hiring a professional in the first place. In order to remediate the dog urine odor, you must remove the source of that odor. Any remnants left behind can cause the odor to return. Putting in new seats and carpet will not be enough. If there is urine still beneath the carpet or on the seat chassis, the odor will more than likely return. So be sure to completely clean the affected area before adding the new carpet and seat pads.
Choosing a Professional to Clean Up the Dog Urine
A professional biohazard cleanup company is trained in remediating odors, including that from dog urine. They are properly equipped to get the job done. Professionally trained technicians are able to find the source of the odor and remediate it, so the car is clean and free from the dog urine smell. Georgia Clean has a facility that you can take your car to get the job done. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like us to get your car cleaned up.
