DALTON—Removing pet stains and odors are a major issue when it comes to flooring, especially carpet. To help end users choose products deemed effective in this area, the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) has expanded its popular Seal of Approval (SOA) cleaning solutions testing and certification program with a Pet Stain and Odor Removal category. Pat Jennings, SOA’s manager, said the new designation joins the program’s spot removers and cleaning solutions testing categories, but it will test products marketed specifically for pet stain and odor removal on their ability to remove stains such as tracked-in dirt, urine, feces and vomit, and urine odor.
To pass under the odor part, she said a product must score three performance levels better when compared to plain water. To gauge how effective a product truly is against cat urine, an odor assessment test is performed twice, with the second one done 72 hours later. The reason? Cat urine tends to grow stronger with the passage of time.
When it comes to testing a product’s effectiveness to fight stains, Jennings explained the protocol says it must perform equal to or better than plain water, without causing change in the carpet’s color or encouraging accelerated resoiling.
For more on the new category or SOA in general or to submit a product for testing, contact Jennings at 706.428.2123.