Not Carpet? Find the Right Page
Why Pet Odors Keep Coming Back — And How We Stop Them
The Problem
- Pet urine spreads beyond the visible stain — soaking into padding and subfloor beneath areas that look fine on the surface, where standard cleaning never reaches.
- Deodorizers and over-the-counter enzyme sprays mask odor temporarily but don't penetrate deep enough to break down uric acid crystals in the padding or subfloor.
- Cleaning without a UV inspection first means treating visible spots while missing the contamination that's actually driving the odor.
The TCS Difference
- We map every contaminated zone with UV light before cleaning — so nothing gets missed and you don't get a partial result.
- Professional-grade enzyme treatment breaks down uric acid crystals at the molecular level — eliminating the odor source rather than covering it up.
- We'll tell you honestly when the pad needs replacing — and can coordinate pad replacement and subfloor treatment as part of the same service visit.
Transparent Pricing
General pet odor — +$0.25/sqft
That overall 'wet dog' smell through a room or the whole home. Usually combined with a carpet cleaning, priced as an add-on to your cleaning rather than a separate visit. We still UV-inspect first — there may be a few spots, but often there's no single accident to find, just an overall odor in the fibers. Our enzyme treatment isn't a deodorizer — it doesn't just mask the smell, it stays active and keeps breaking the odor down as long as the area stays damp.
- UV light inspection for any hidden spots
- Topical enzyme treatment over the full area
- Agitated into carpet fibers for full contact
- Rinsed and removed during final cleaning
This is typically added when you book your carpet cleaning.
Pet accidents — starting at $300
Specific accident spots rather than a whole-room smell. We UV-inspect to find exactly where the odor is coming from, then target those spots directly.
- UV light identifies every affected spot
- Enzyme treatment saturates each spot directly
- Full dwell time, then extracted with a water claw
- Repeated on a spot if odor remains
Padding and subfloor — quoted on-site
Urine has saturated the padding and most likely reached the subfloor. Surface treatment alone won't resolve it, so the carpet needs to come up.
- Carpet pulled back from affected areas
- Saturated padding removed and disposed of
- Subfloor treated and sealed where needed
- Carpet cleaned on both sides
- New padding installed, carpet re-secured
If the padding has saturated beyond saving, we'll tell you honestly when it needs replacing. See Carpet Padding Replacement.
Mild odor treatment is priced as an add-on to carpet cleaning. Moderate and severe pricing may vary based on condition and affected area. Final price is confirmed after assessment.
Odor Removal Guarantee
The odor we treat is gone — or we come back and treat it again. Free.
We guarantee the odor present at the time of service, in the areas we treat, will be eliminated. If it's not, we return and re-treat at no additional charge.
Doesn't cover a new pet accident after your visit
If we find deeper contamination than the tier covers, we'll explain what we found and what it takes to resolve it before doing further work.
Ready to Have Your Home Back, Odor-Free?
Book online in minutes, or call and talk to us first. Either way, it's guaranteed.
Our Process — Step by Step
- 1
UV Inspection & Area Assessment
We use UV light to identify all urine deposits, including dried and invisible spots. This ensures no affected area is missed and allows us to build an accurate treatment plan before we begin.
- 2
Enzyme Treatment Application
Enzyme solution is applied directly to each affected area and worked into the carpet, pad, and backing. It begins breaking down urine crystals on contact and keeps working through dwell time, while the area stays damp.
- 3
Hot Water Extraction
We extract the treated material using hot water extraction — flushing out broken-down contaminants, residue, and moisture from the full depth of the carpet system.
- 4
Post-Inspection & Results Review
We walk the area with the UV light again, re-inspect for odor, and confirm results. If any spots need additional attention, we address them before we leave.
A treated spot can still show up under UV light — sometimes indefinitely — even once the odor is completely gone and nothing is visible under normal lighting. The UV light is picking up residual staining, not odor, so a glow on its own doesn't mean the treatment didn't work.
What Customers Are Saying
"Highly recommended! Our cat had peed on a carpet and we tried product after product to get the smell out, finally admitting defeat. Matthew fit us in quickly, found that the urine had sunk through to the padding below the carpet (which is why nothing was working), removed the damaged padding, replaced it, and re-cleaned the rug. We are thrilled with his work; he is skilled at what he does and a pleasure to work with, and we strongly recommend this company."
Alison G
"Our cat had ripped up some of our carpet, and Total Cleaning Service was a lifesaver. They were in and out in under an hour, and now you can't tell where the damages even were. Total Cleaning Service was also one of the best valued companies I was able to find! They were very responsive, and made sure that I had every question answered! Highly recommend!"
Scotty O.
"Matthew was extremely courteous and professional. He wasn't the cheapest, but I chose to go with him anyway and I'm glad I did. With 2 puppies, my hard laminate floors were badly in need of a deep clean and now they are spotless. My apartment doesn't smell like dogs anymore! I plan to use him again in 6 months for the same service. Thank you, Matthew!"
Kirsten S.
"The owner of the company Matthew came to my apartment last minute and was able to save my carpet from an accident that my dog made. He was very professional and gave me tips just incase another mishap happens. Thank you for your speedy service!"
B B
"Do not hesitate to hire Matthew! I was in need of a rush job after my dog completely ruined my carpet... Matthew was the first to respond to my "rush" request, and showed up at my house literally just an hour later. I couldn't be happier with my clean carpet! Matthew was professional, nice, detail-oriented, and did a very thorough job. I've had two other companies tell me some of the stains along the edges of the room couldn't be removed, and Matthew was able to get them out! My 10 year old carpet looks practically new again. Thank you, Matthew!! I'll definitely be keeping your contact info handy!"
Pam M.
"Matthew did a FANTASTIC job. Not only did he clean our carpets really well, he just went above and beyond to ensure the cat hair and urine was removed from our carpets and tile floor. He was able to clean some pretty nasty amounts of cat hair and urine the previous owners of our home had left behind for us. He took his time and did the best job I could have asked for. I highly recommend them and will be using his service for our home for years to come."
Darlene S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will enzyme treatment completely eliminate pet odor from my carpet?
In most cases, yes, when the contamination is limited to the carpet fibers and padding. Professional enzyme treatment breaks down uric acid crystals at the molecular level, the only way to permanently eliminate pet odor rather than mask it. If urine has soaked through the padding into the subfloor, enzyme treatment alone may not be sufficient, and pad replacement or subfloor sealing may be needed. We assess the severity of contamination with UV light before we start and tell you honestly what to expect from the treatment.
How do you know where all the pet urine is if I can't see it?
We use a UV inspection light before any cleaning begins. Pet urine fluoresces under UV light even after it has dried and become invisible to the naked eye — including spots that have never been visibly wet or stained. This lets us map every contaminated zone across the room before treatment, so we address the full extent of the problem rather than just the visible spots.
What happens if pet urine has soaked through the carpet padding?
Urine that has saturated the padding continues to release odor as it reactivates with humidity — cleaning the carpet surface won't resolve it. In those cases, we recommend pad replacement: we pull back the carpet, remove and replace the saturated pad, treat the subfloor with an enzyme solution, then reinstall the new pad and re-stretch the carpet. In extreme cases where urine has reached the subfloor, an odor-blocking primer may also be needed before the new pad is installed. We assess severity on-site and give you a clear recommendation before any work begins.
Can you treat pet odor on multiple types of flooring in the same visit?
Yes, for carpet and rug in the same visit. For hard floors like LVP, tile, or concrete, see our Odor Removal page.
How much does pet stain and odor removal cost in Northern Virginia?
Pricing is based on the number and size of affected areas and the severity of contamination. A $300 residential minimum applies. UV inspection is included in the service. Pad replacement, if needed, is quoted separately after the on-site assessment. We provide clear pricing before any work begins and discuss all options with you before proceeding.
You Might Also Need
We provide pet stain and odor removal throughout Springfield, Burke, Fairfax, Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge, and surrounding areas.