The Truth About Carpet & Upholstery Odor Removal
We get this question all the time — most recently from a client whose adorable French Bulldog had claimed a permanent spot on the couch. Between dog oils, slobber from his squishy face, and maybe a butt drag or two, the odor had officially settled in.
She asked:
“Will deodorizer actually fix this?”
The short answer? Yes. The honest answer? It depends on the type of deodorizer — and the source of the odor.
Because when it comes to carpet deodorizing and upholstery odor removal, not all products work the same way. In fact, in professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, there are two specific types of odor treatments we rely on most — and they work very differently from the sprays you’ll find at the store.
Before we explain what we use and why it works so well, let’s break down the main types of deodorizers and what they actually do.
The 5 Main Types of Deodorizers (And How They Work)
Understanding how odor removal works helps explain why some treatments succeed — and others fail.
1. Activated Charcoal (Charcoal Deodorizer)
How It Works: Activated charcoal adsorbs (binds to) odor molecules in the air. Instead of masking smells, it physically traps odor compounds on its porous surface.
Best For: Closets, shoes, refrigerators, light pet odors, and musty spaces.
Fragrance: Naturally fragrance-free; it doesn’t leave a scent.
Limitation: It neutralizes airborne odor — but does not remove the source inside carpet or upholstery fibers.
2. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
How It Works: Baking soda chemically reacts with acidic and basic odor molecules, reducing their volatility (how easily they evaporate into the air).
Best For: Light carpet odors, trash cans, refrigerators, mild upholstery smells.
Fragrance: Typically fragrance-free, though some products add scent.
Limitation: It works on the surface only. It does not penetrate padding or subfloors where serious odor lives.
3. Essential Oil / Fragrance-Based Deodorizers
How It Works: These products don’t chemically remove odors — they mask them with a stronger, pleasant scent. Some also contain alcohol or other agents that help odor-causing molecules evaporate more quickly.
Best For: Quick air freshening in bathrooms, cars, and living areas.
Fragrance: Scented — often with essential oils like lavender, citrus, or eucalyptus.
Reality Check: If you still smell something underneath the scent — that’s because the source is still there.
4. Enzyme-Based Deodorizers
How They Work: Bio-enzymes digest organic substances like:
- Urine
- Sweat
- Food spills
- Pet accidents
They break these compounds down into odorless components — eliminating the source rather than covering it up.
Best For: Pet stains, carpets, laundry, and organic messes.
Fragrance: Often lightly scented, though unscented options are available.
5. Odor-Neutralizing Sprays
(e.g., activated oxygen or zinc ricinoleate sprays)
How They Work: They bond to or chemically alter odor molecules so they can no longer evaporate into the air.
Examples include:
- Activated oxygen
- Zinc ricinoleate
This method neutralizes odor at the molecular level.
Best For: Fabrics, rooms, upholstery, and bathrooms.
Fragrance: Available with or without added scent.
So What Actually Works in Professional Odor Removal?
Now that you understand the different types of deodorizers, here’s the part most people are really curious about: What do we actually use when the odor is serious?
When we’re dealing with persistent pet urine, smoke, or deeply absorbed organic odor in carpet and upholstery, we don’t reach for masking sprays or surface treatments. We rely primarily on two professional-grade solutions — one designed to biologically eliminate the source, and the other engineered to chemically neutralize odor at the molecular level. Here’s how they work:
URINE LOCK
Urine Lock is specifically designed for persistent urine odor in:
- Carpet fibers
- Carpet padding
- Mattresses
- Upholstery
- Subfloors
Why Pet Urine Is So Difficult
Urine contains:
- Urea
- Proteins
- Uric acid crystals
Over time, uric acid crystals reactivate with humidity — which is why odor “comes back” on damp days.
How It Works
1. Bio-Enzymes Break Down Organic Waste: The enzymes digest organic residue at its source.
2. Deep Penetration: Urine often soaks:
- Through carpet
- Into carpet padding
- Down to the subfloor
Urine Lock is formulated to wick downward and spread, allowing it to reach the same areas the urine reached. Surface treatment alone will not stop recurring odor.
3. Attacking Uric Acid Crystals: Old urine leaves behind uric acid crystals that:
- Reactivate with humidity
- Release odor repeatedly over time
Urine Lock interacts with these crystals and neutralizes their odor potential, helping prevent that “it smells again on humid days” problem.
4. Odor Neutralization: While enzymes digest organic matter, additional odor counteractants bind to and neutralize airborne odor molecules. This provides faster odor relief while enzymes continue working beneath the surface.
The scent typically fades after drying. It is not fully fragrance-free, but it is mild compared to traditional air fresheners.
The Result
Urine Lock works through a dual-action process:
- Biological digestion of urine residue
- Chemical neutralization of odor molecules
Together, these actions eliminate persistent urine odors rather than temporarily covering them up.
ODORCIDE
Odorcide is a professional-grade odor eliminator commonly used for pet urine, smoke, and strong organic odors. It works differently from simple air fresheners.
1. Molecular Bonding (Encapsulation): Odorcide contains specialized neutralizing agents that bond to odor molecules (like ammonia from urine or sulfur compounds from decay). Once bonded, the odor molecules are chemically altered and no longer volatile — meaning they can’t evaporate into the air, so you don’t smell them.
2. Source Treatment (Not Just the Air): It’s designed to be applied directly to the odor source (carpet padding, subfloors, fabrics, etc.). By penetrating porous materials, it reaches where odor-causing compounds are trapped.
3. Fragrance-Assisted Neutralization: Most Odorcide formulas contain a light, essential-oil-based fragrance that:
- Helps indicate where the product was applied
- Temporarily improves the smell during treatment
- Fades after the odor is neutralized
Why Professional Odor Removal Matters
DIY products often:
- Treat only the surface
- Leave residue behind
- Fail to reach padding
- Temporarily mask odor
Professional odor removal targets the source, not just the smell, and that makes all the difference.
So What’s Best?
It depends on the source of the odor.
In the carpet and upholstery cleaning world, we use both enzymes and encapsulating/neutralizing products. Depending on the situation, we may use one or both — lightly applied or with a full flush of the fabric.
One solution does not fix everything. That’s why we keep an entire arsenal designed to target different types of odor at their source.
Quick Comparison
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Cover the Smell — Eliminate It
If your carpet, rug, or upholstery still smells after you’ve tried powders or sprays, the odor source is still there.
And the longer it sits, the deeper it sets.
At Mother Nature’s Cleaning, we don’t guess — we diagnose.
We identify:
- What type of odor you’re dealing with
- How deep it has penetrated
- What treatment will permanently resolve it
Whether it requires enzyme digestion, deep flushing, molecular neutralization — or a combination — we use the right solution for the job.
No masking.
No temporary fixes.
No “it smells good for a week” results.
Just real odor elimination.
Ready to Fix It Properly?
Send us:
- A few photos
- A brief description of the odor
- How long it’s been present
We’ll tell you exactly what it needs. Because your home shouldn’t smell “better.” It should smell clean.
