Pet Odour Removal for London, ON Rentals: The Landlord's Complete Guide
- excelchoicebm
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Pet odour removal is one of the most common and most frustrating problems London, Ontario landlords deal with when a rental turns over. It's invisible, it hides in carpets and walls, and if you don't treat it properly, your next tenant will smell it the moment they walk in the door.
Pet odour in your London rental? Don't mask it, eliminate it.
Book a pet damage clean with Excel Choice
This guide fixes that.
Here's exactly what you're dealing with, what works, what doesn't, and why getting it wrong the first time doubles your cost and how professional pet urine odour removal saves you both time and money on your London rental property.
💡 Air freshener and a basic clean will NOT remove pet odour. It will mask it for a few days and then come back usually right after your new tenant moves in. That's a complaint you don't want.
Step 1: Understand What You're Actually Dealing With
Regular cleaning products clean surfaces. Pet odour and pet urine smell aren't on the surface they're in the carpet fibres, the underpad, the subfloor, the drywall, and sometimes the HVAC system.
Here's what's really going on:
Urine : Cat and dog urine soaks through carpet into the underpad and sometimes the subfloor. Once it dries, it crystalizes. Every time humidity rises like in summer those crystals reactivate and the smell returns. Regular cleaning just wets them again.
Dander and hair: Pet dander is microscopic. It collects in vents, behind radiators, under appliances, and in carpet fibres.
A standard vacuum doesn't get it all and it triggers allergies in new tenants.
Scratches and surface damage: Dogs and cats scratch hardwood, doors, baseboards, and window frames. This is cosmetic but it affects how the unit photographs and how new tenants perceive it on viewing day.
Staining: Urine stains on carpet and hardwood, muddy paw prints on walls, and food staining around pet bowls are all common. Some need specialist treatment, especially on hardwood.
Step 2: How to Remove Pet Odour From Carpet the Right Way
Order matters here. If you clean in the wrong sequence, you'll track contamination into areas you've already cleaned.
1. Remove all pet hair with a HEPA vacuum every surface, every corner
2. Treat urine spots with enzyme cleaner let it soak, don't wipe immediately
3. Deep clean carpets with hot water extraction (not just shampooing)
4. Clean all hard floors, baseboards, walls, and vents
5. Deodorize the space ozone treatment or professional fogger
6. Replace furnace filter and clean HVAC vents
7. Final sniff test in every room, closet, and corner
The enzyme cleaner step is critical. Enzyme-based products (like Nature's Miracle or professional equivalents) actually digest the bacteria in urine they don't just neutralize the smell. You need to saturate the spot, let it dwell for 10–15 minutes, and blot. Don't scrub , scrubbing spreads it.
Step 3: Pet Damage Cleaning vs. Replacement — Know the Difference
Not everything can be cleaned back to rentable condition.
Here's the honest breakdown:
Carpet with light staining: Clean. Enzyme treatment plus hot water extraction usually works.
Carpet with urine soaked to the subfloor: Replace. Cleaning won't reach the source.
Hardwood with surface stains: Clean and refinish if light; replace if deep damage.
Drywall with urine saturation: Replace that section. Odour lives in the drywall.
Door frames with scratches: Sand, fill, repaint. Usually cleanable.
Baseboards with urine seepage: Replace. They're inexpensive and odour hides inside.
HVAC filter: Always replace. Never clean a filter that's had pet air through it.
What Actually Eliminates Pet Odour
Air freshener / spray
❌ Masks smell for days. Odour returns.
Baking soda on carpet
⚠️ Mild surface help only. Not for saturation.
Regular steam mop
⚠️ Cleans surface. Won't reach underpad.
Enzyme cleaner (applied correctly)
✅ Breaks down bacteria at the source.
Hot water extraction (carpet)
✅ Pulls contamination from deep in fibres.
Ozone / fogger treatment
✅ Neutralizes airborne odour molecules.
Drywall / carpet replacement
✅ Only option when saturation is severe.
Skip the trial and error. Get it done right the first time.
DIY pet odour treatment often means doing the job twice once yourself, and once professionally after the new tenant complains.
Excel Choice uses professional enzyme treatments and extraction equipment that actually work on the first visit.
Why Landlords Trust Excel Choice for Pet-Damaged Units
We don't guess we assess: Before we clean, we identify every problem area. Urine spots, dander zones, surface damage. You get a clear picture of what's cleanable and what needs replacing before we start, not after.
Professional equipment, not hardware store rentals: The difference between a rental carpet shampooer and professional hot water extraction equipment is massive. Our equipment reaches deeper, extracts more, and dries faster so your unit is ready sooner.
We serve all London neighbourhoods: Old North, White Oaks, Byron, Hyde Park, Masonville, Wortley Village, Sunningdale, and everywhere in between. We know London rental properties from century homes to new builds and we adapt our approach to each.
Fully insured and WSIB covered: Your rental property is a significant investment. Every Excel Choice cleaner is background-checked and we carry full liability insurance and WSIB coverage. You're protected on every visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet smell really be fully removed from a carpet?
Yes, if the contamination hasn't soaked into the subfloor. Enzyme treatment followed by hot water extraction removes the odour source, not just the surface smell. If urine has reached the underpad or subfloor, replacement is the only permanent solution.
How do I know if the subfloor is affected?
Smell the carpet from very close up in the stained areas. If it's strong even after the carpet surface looks clean, the underpad is likely saturated. Lifting a corner of the carpet in the affected area will usually confirm it.
How long does a pet damage clean take?
A 1–2 bedroom unit with moderate pet odour typically takes 4–6 hours. Units with heavy saturation or multiple pets may take longer. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when you book.
Can I charge my tenant for pet damage in Ontario?
Yes, if the damage goes beyond normal wear and tear. Ontario doesn't allow damage deposits, so you'd need to pursue the claim through the Landlord and Tenant Board. Document all damage with photos and receipts before you start cleaning.
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