Will the Black Light Lie?

[Lee Stockwell]

I've got a million dollar KY lake home on the schedule tomorrow. A little dog tore up a couple of thresholds and a doorway, easy fixes.

The carpet looks great, no perceptible odor or visible problem areas. However the (timid) husband told me his wife has a black light and expects perfection on all the spots she has found.

Like other things in life I think this is more a psych problem than a technical issue.

Any ideas or experience?

Thanks!

 

[hogjowl]

Why are you asking this? You already know what's up.

 

[kmdineen]

Some urine stains will continue to fluoresce after treatment. I have had good luck with Cobb's odor attack and brightener for urine stains.

 

[Zee]

Is Ms. Perfectionist also perfectly honest about NOT using ANY spot remover with optical brighteners (for example)??

I could never guarantee UV glow removal....even if they didn't use anything when they attempted to "clean up".

 

[hogjowl]

Ok , now you've heard what we already knew. Now, what's up?

 

[Shawn Forsythe]

CTI used to a have a product called "Black-Out", specifically designed to mask urine stain fluorescence after your odor/stain treatment. Indeed, the UV chromophore of older urine deposits remains after conventional treatment exercises. It was most unfortunate that the product did not retain enough popularity to sustain CTI's continued manufacturing of the stuff. The old method of careful mapping is the only defense for your customer who may present a terrible scrutiny situation, where the perp of the deed is still present.

 

[Zee]

Adding to Shawn's post: I have resorted to pictures and tape measures to show the measurements from different walls to contamination center.

Heck, a customer was even offered free lab testing from her dog's samples and several of the glowing urine deposits, to see if they match (out of at least 45-50 areas in the home). She insists that none of that is from Fido but from a previous resident. But the old carpet AND old pad was ripped out and she moved into the unit on brand new pad and carpet.

 

[Mikey P]

"Mam or sir, the infected areas will continue to glow after cleaning. The dye damage is permanent in this situation."

Change the subject.

 

[Papa John]

Adding to Shawn's post: I have resorted to pictures and tape measures to show the measurements from different walls to contamination center.

Heck, a customer was even offered free lab testing from her dog's samples and several of the glowing urine deposits, to see if they match (out of at least 45-50 areas in the home). She insists that none of that is from Fido but from a previous resident. But the old carpet AND old pad was ripped out and she moved into the unit on brand new pad and carpet.

changing the pad a carpet is only part of the equation. . The subflr will still need to be cleaned and sealed and new tack strip installed.. other wise the new dog will smell the scent/pee of the previous dog and be required by his doggie nature to apply his own scent/pee on the new carpet.
I had one custy who replaced the pad n carpet after her dog died... never got a new dog but within a year the pet stains wicked up from subfloor to infect the new pad n carpet.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

"Mam or sir, the infected areas will continue to glow after cleaning. The dye damage is permanent in this situation."

Change the subject.

"These aren't the droids you are looking for".

Yep, I know the drill. That sounds like the best way to present it. Thanks!

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Years ago when I ran my business out of a commercial office/warehouse and first got a UV light I went into the bathroom to try it out. I don't know how many of you ever rode "Mr Toads's Wild Ride" at Disneyland but my bathroom looked exactly like that ride did. There was spots and "stains"of every color and size ALL over the place....I mean ALL over the place. Floor, walls, sink, oh and around the toilet too. I'm sometimes a bad aim, but I'm not THAT bad.

Ever since that first experience I tend to not trust a UV light.

 

[FB19087]

CTI used to a have a product called "Black-Out", specifically designed to mask urine stain fluorescence after your odor/stain treatment. Indeed, the UV chromophore of older urine deposits remains after conventional treatment exercises. It was most unfortunate that the product did not retain enough popularity to sustain CTI's continued manufacturing of the stuff. The old method of careful mapping is the only defense for your customer who may present a terrible scrutiny situation, where the perp of the deed is still present.

Shawn,

Would some of the products available to prevent UV fading of carpet/upholstery work?

like these
http://www.shieldindustries.com/F_UVSB.htm

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Trek7-16...eqsEJ0_uCy_AhuoNWVn_xRoCH-Dw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Shawn Forsythe]

Shawn,

Would some of the products available to prevent UV fading of carpet/upholstery work?

like these...

Indeed, they might just work. I know CTI's product did work as a fiber UV blocker, and it was at one time contemplated as a secondary use for the stuff.

It's certainly worth experimenting with the function and durability of those that which you mention, especially for an enterprising interested CC.

 

[Brian H]

Years ago when I ran my business out of a commercial office/warehouse and first got a UV light I went into the bathroom to try it out. I don't know how many of you ever rode "Mr Toads's Wild Ride" at Disneyland but my bathroom looked exactly like that ride did. There was spots and "stains"of every color and size ALL over the place....I mean ALL over the place. Floor, walls, sink, oh and around the toilet too. I'm sometimes a bad aim, but I'm not THAT bad.

Ever since that first experience I tend to not trust a UV light.

Barry. the spots and stains you were seeing were probably from bathroom cleaners with optical brighteners. The light up exactly like urine stains. I was at a distributor one time years ago and we did that same test. Made you never want to use a public restroom again until it was explained!!

 

[Desk Jockey]

I spray Clorox cleaner on the toilet seats here before I ever sit down. Who knows where theses young germtelman have been.


The only negative is my butt and upper legs have bleached white stripe on them from the Clorox.

 

[hogjowl]

Good grief. My wife sprays Clorox on our toilet seats at home. She likes the wooden seats painted white over the plastic ones, so we have to change out the seats every thousand miles or so due to the Clorox eating up the paint. I keep telling her there are nifty disinfectant cleaners that will do the same thing without eating up the seats, but she won't listen!

 

[Zee]

Good grief. My wife sprays Clorox on our toilet seats at home. She likes the wooden seats painted white over the plastic ones, so we have to change out the seats every thousand miles or so due to the Clorox eating up the paint. I keep telling her there a nifty disinfectant cleaners that will do the same thing without eating up the seats, but she won't listen!

So why don't you just take an orbital sander to it and paint it afterwords.

You might be hitting the out house, or mekkdonald's, for a day or two while the paint cures...but at least your backyard potty gets "freshened" up too.

 

[FB19087]

That seems like quite a bit of work/time to save ~$25

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=tools&field-keywords=bemis+wood+white

 

[Desk Jockey]

I'm pretty sure he has an outdoor shitter.

 

[hogjowl]

Screw driver required.

 

[Nate The Great]

Good grief. My wife sprays Clorox on our toilet seats at home. She likes the wooden seats painted white over the plastic ones, so we have to change out the seats every thousand miles or so due to the Clorox eating up the paint. I keep telling her there are nifty disinfectant cleaners that will do the same thing without eating up the seats, but she won't listen!

Kinda like you, huh.......

Barry. the spots and stains you were seeing were probably from bathroom cleaners with optical brighteners. The light up exactly like urine stains. I was at a distributor one time years ago and we did that same test. Made you never want to use a public restroom again until it was explained!!

Nah, I used the bathroom before he took a black light to it.......... I'm all for helping cleaners with job security....... Someone gotta clean it up and it's not going to be me.....

 

[Zee]

Nah..Marty you don't even have to take the seat off. Just sand it down a few minutes and slap a coat of paint and hit up mekkdonald's accross the street for a day to take a dump... No left or right handed screwdriver needed.



Although I'm not sure the left handed paintbrush comes with instruccccions or just the right handed ones...

 

[Larry Cobb]

Lots of chemicals used in the home will fluoresce . . .

but most show up as different colors .

Detergents will be a bluish-white, as opposed to the characteristic yellow-green of cat and dog urine . . .

After you have used a good UV light for a while, you should be good at distinguishing between spots and urine.

Notice the characteristics & color of this photo:

 

[hogjowl]

Flick that thing a few time before you come out of the bathroom.