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See also: (SNIFF for "Urine-Off")
• Urine-Off Spray Bottle & Gallon size
• Power Trigger Sprayer
• Stain and Odor Wipes |
Q: What is the Urine-Off black light different from others?
A: “Black” or ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of light wave within a certain, fairly broad frequency range. Within that range, there is a specific light frequency that will cause urine to fluoresce as brightly as possible. Urine-Off UV Black Lights are engineered to produce that specific wavelength of UV light, so they simply work better than normal store-bought black lights and make the task of locating urine deposits easier.
Any store-bought fluorescent “black light” will fluoresce dried urine to some degree – but the brightness will depend on the actual wavelength of the light output, and this varies considerably from light to light. Even among different lights of the same make and model, the manufacturing tolerances of consumer-grade black lights are simply not demanding enough to reliably produce a specific UV light wavelength.
These lights are fine for their intended purpose, but for the specific job of detecting dried urine, they are less than ideal (note too, that incandescent or screw-in household bulbs with “black light” coatings generally do NOT fluoresce urine at all).
Q: How do I use a black light to find urine?
A: First, darken the room as much as possible – the darker the room, the easier it will be to detect the dried urine. Dried urine has a characteristic dull yellow fluorescence or glow. This will help you to distinguish it from other compounds that may also glow. For example, some soaps and detergents will leave residue that glows bright white to an almost bluish white, and lint can glow a very bright white.
One way to learn the characteristic color of dried urine is to take your UV black light into the bathroom and illuminate the toilet and surrounding area. Even in the cleanest bathroom, you should be able to see the dried urine crystals that conventional cleaners cannot remove. Another way to distinguish dried urine from other compounds is by the shape and location of the stain. Urine stains are generally found in predictable locations, like corners and at the base of furniture, and will have a shape that resembles a puddle or a stream.
If cats are involved, be sure to check the baseboards and walls for traces of spraying. Keep in mind that if the urine was already blotted up or has seeped down into the carpet and most of it has been cleaned off the top layer of the carpet (in the fibers), then it will be harder to find with the black light. In such cases, it may be wise to pull back the carpet in the areas you suspect so you can be sure you’re not missing any smelly spots.
Q: Why is protective eyewear to be used with UV black light?
A: Prolonged and direct exposure to UV light can be harmful to the eyes. This is generally a concern only for professionals who use the very bright Industrial Black Light on a regular basis. With the Consumer model (or mini Black Light), the output is not so bright as to cause a problem in ordinary use, though caution should be exercised in never looking directly into the light.
As far as protective eyewear goes, most modern prescription glasses include a UV coating. Inexpensive safety glasses from the hardware or home-improvement store generally include a UV coating –check the product labeling to be sure.