Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Carpet is a loss -- can the room be saved?

Hi:

Just bought a new home, and didn't notice until after the previous owners moved out that there's a NASTY stain on an upstairs bedroom carpet. Worse, now that we tried to have it professionally cleaned, and there have been a few warm, humid days, it smells AWFUL. I won't gross anyone out, but it seems a pet of some kind liked to make a mess frequently in the same spot (under the bed, I'm guessing).

I'm worried about what to do about it. I really don't think the rug can be saved, and I don't mind replacing it per se, but I'm worried about whether the stain made it to the flooring underneath. I think it's just cheap plywood (no hardwood floors).

If so, will I find that installing new carpet over it will only make the problem go away until the next hot, humid day? What can I do to be sure I've fixed the problem?

If you have been unsucessful getting rid of the odors using all reasonablr means, tear up yhe carpet and see what is there.

Odors are not like stains. Something can look good, but you are much more sensitive to odors as you are for visual things.

Once you find out what you have, you can go directly to a plan of action and get rid of the offending odors.

Dick

I'm sure one of the experts will weigh in, but normally if the stain/substance has soaked into the wood subfloor, it can be sealed by using the appropriate type of paint.

Replacement of the plywood would be the ideal fix, and may not be all that difficult to accomplish once the carpet is removed.

If the urine has soaked into the wood it can be very hard to remove but here is a successful treatment i have used on a regular basis. You can use a mixture of bleach and water and spray the wood. This will kill anything still there. A strong solution would be 5:1 (water:bleach). Let it dry out and spray the affected area with Kilz spray on paint. This will seal the wood. Lay your new pad and carpet.

Careful with the bleach and urine!! Your making a highly toxic chemical reaction! Ventalate well during this process, if you attempt it.

i just recently bought a house that was fully carpeted and filled up with cats. The smell was sickening [but the price was RIGHT] anyway we ripped out all the carpet and let the floors dry [plywood] I the went an painted the entire subfloor with kilz premium and the smell is gone! it seems to rid the smell completly as my kids cat did not try to mark any of the areas with its own...