Assess the Damage
The first step to eliminating pet odors is to attempt and figure out what is causing them. Look for areas where the previous tenant’s pets may have urinated or defecated, such as on carpets, walls, or trim. You can also use a blacklight to help you find any urine stains. Just be aware that pet stains can often penetrate below the surface and may be coming from carpet padding or even the drywall. If there is any visible damage, such as urine stains or torn-up carpeting, these will need to be addressed.
Deep Cleaning and Odor Removal
Once you have identified where pet odors are coming from, it’s time to deep clean the entire house. Using a steam cleaner or hot water extraction method on carpets and upholstery can help remove any lingering smells. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet messes on hard surfaces such as tile or wood floors. These cleaners break down the bacteria that cause odors rather than just momentarily masking the smell.
If the pet odor problem is particularly stubborn, think about hiring a professional carpet cleaning or odor removal service. These specialists have specialized equipment and techniques that can effectively tackle tough odors.
However, it’s important to note that even deep cleaning will generally just remove surface odors and may not eliminate deeper smells embedded in floors, walls, cabinets, or carpeting.
Repair and Replace
If the deep cleaning didn’t eliminate the pet odors, it might be necessary to replace heavily soiled materials such as carpets, pads, subfloor, or even drywall and trim. This can be costly but may be required if deep cleaning isn’t enough to eliminate the odor. For instance, if pet stains have penetrated through the paint on a wall, repainting may or may not do anything to get rid of the smell. The same thing goes for flooring. In severe cases, you may need to replace sections of flooring, drywall, and trim to eliminate all pet odors.
Prevent Future Odors
Once you’ve effectively gotten rid of pet odors, it’s important for Kennesaw property managers to take steps to prevent them from coming back. For future tenants with pets, require them to use odor control measures such as pee pads or regularly clean up after their pets are outside. It’s also a good idea to routinely deep clean carpets and upholstery, even if there are no pets in the rental property. This can help prevent odors from building up and becoming a problem in the future.
Generally, getting rid of pet odors in a rental property can be difficult. Still, with deep cleaning and potentially replacing heavily soiled materials, you can restore your property and make it more appealing to potential tenants.
If you’d rather not deal with issues like stinky rental properties and pet addendums on lease contracts, Real Property Management East Cobb has your solution. We’re the local property management experts who can help your Kennesaw rental investment thrive. To learn more about our services, contact us online.