Why Do My Rugs Smell in Monsoon Weather? – Sedona AZ

In case you haven't already guessed it, the smell is probably from your four legged best friend. (sorry all you cuties to the left, the truth is out)

At Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care, in the spring and the first part of summer there aren't as many complaints about area rug odors.  

Then monsoon season starts and that telephone lights right up!  The area rugs REALLY STINK!  Along with the monsoons, relatives also roll into town seeking an escape from the Phoenix heat, if only for the weekend. Thus the emergency calls start to come into our office here at Arizona Oriental.

Urine has an acidic pH when it first gets deposited by our four legged family members onto your area rugs which tends to smell a little.  If you are like most rug owners, you are likely to dab up as much wetness as possible and then go about your busy day. 

News flash... DABBING  DOESN'T ACTUALLY REMOVE THE URINE 

These odorous urine salt crystals eventually dry and may not be very noticeable for awhile.  THEN the chemistry changes as bacteria feeding on the urine deposit off-gasses ammonia, turning the urine spot alkaline and making odors much more apparent. 

Suddenly the rains move in and the humidity skyrockets!  The urine salt crystals absorb this heightened humidity and begin to off-gas even more, making the odors way more noticeable.

Did you know that odors is only half the problem?

Urine is very damaging to the rug fibers because:

1. Dyes become unstable and bleed (perhaps you have noticed the reds dyres have travel into beige sections of the rug

2. Color loss  

3. Weakening of rug fibers (precursor to dry rot)

4. Dry rot that will split, tear, and leave holes in your rug

5. Rug is loaded with GERMS & BACTERIA!

So What's GOOD about urine odors?????  

It reminds us there is still harmful, acidic urine in your rug doing damage to the fibers as stated above and hopefully it is a reminder to correct the problem.

At Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ, we specialize in removing urine salt crystals and leave your rug fresh and clean.  Our specialized treatments are designed to neutralize and flush away the urine and have also been designed to be safe for wool and silk area rugs.  Just one of the many great reasons you only want to have professional rug washers caring for your beloved area rugs!  If you love your rug, then ask yourself if it is worth the risk of having it cleaned by someone who is not a certified wool rug washer and who doesn’t have a complete understanding of the proper care that is needed?

Till next time, enjoy your beautiful art for your floor and remember a clean rug is a rug that can last you a lifetime!

Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care serves Sedona, Prescott, Prescott Valley and much of the Northern Arizona areas. We meet the highest standards in professional cleaning of area rugs with rug wash specialists having earned the highest training, including certification as WOOLSAFE FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.

Call us for more information on proper urine odor removal and a cleaning estimate at 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available).