“D on’t j u dge ea c h d ay by
the har vest yo u reap b ut by
the se e ds t h a t yo u p l a nt.”
– Rob e r t Lou i s Steven so n
HEALTHY, WEALTHY & WISE
OCTOBER 2013
In This Issue
}} So What’s The Big Deal
About... Pet Urine?
}} Men And Osteoporosis
}} Helping Your Child Cope
With Pet Loss
}} Getting Enough ZZZs
}} Recipe: Pineapple Grilled
Pork Chops
}} Good Clean Funnies and
Quick Tips
SO WHAT’S THE
BIG DEAL ABOUT... PET URINE?
Our pets don’t understand why we make such
a big deal of a little urine on the carpet. To
animals, urine is an important social tool that
is used as a calling card, mate attractant or a
territorial warning. Urine lets other members
of the species know important information
regarding their gender, age and health.
Animal urine is a rather benign substance.
When it leaves a healthy animal it is sterile.
In small amounts and low concentration, the
odor and appearance may be undetectable.
Still, any urine deposit on carpet should be
treated appropriately.
If you are lucky enough to catch the animal
in the act, you can pour salt liberally onto the
urine while it is still wet. Use enough salt to
completely cover the spot. The salt will absorb
and neutralize the urine. Let it dry for 8-12
hours and vacuum it away.
ABC CLEANING
555.123.4567
www.abccleaning.com
Carpet, Rugs & Upholstery
Hard Surface Cleaning
Commercial Services
Water Removal & Restoration
Fabric & Carpet Protection
Exterior Cleaning Services
Windows, Roof & Pressure Washing
But most of the time, the urine is already dry
by the time we find it. Applying a neutral
carpet cleaning agent, gentle agitation and a
thorough rinse may be enough to treat light
urine deposits. Finish the job by placing a
folded white towel on the area. Set a weight,
such as phone book on the towel and leave
overnight. The remaining moisture and
residue will wick into the towel.
Once urine contamination has reached the
point that it has penetrated the carpet and the
cushion, removal of the odor becomes more
difficult. Heavy urine deposits are much more
challenging to treat and you will need the
help of ABC Cleaning. Why? Because urine
undergoes a dramatic chemical change as it
ages. The water in the urine evaporates and
leaves behind organic compounds that become
more and more concentrated.
Bacteria begin to consume the urine and
break down the proteins, sugars and other
organics. During the process of bacterial
digestion the bacteria secrete ammonia and
a strong, pungent odor becomes apparent.
The urine turns from a mild acid to a strong
alkali. This strong alkaline deposit attacks the
dyes in some carpets. Over time, the dyes can
be weakened or removed, causing permanent
color-loss.
The adhesives used in the carpet backing can
be dissolved, and the carpet can literally fall
apart. Permanent damage to wood subfloors
will also result from deep penetration of
concentrated urine deposits, requiring
additional expensive repairs. The most critical
action to prevent permanent damage is to act
quickly when you notice a urine spot.
ABC Cleaning has several techniques available
to clean and deodorize pet contamination.
In addition, there are different cleaning and
See “Pet Urine” on next page }