Landlord Claims Pet Odor From Unit, Nobody Else Can Detect Odor

Hey r/legaladvice!

Location: Iowa, USA.

Over this past month, I've been trying to wrap my head around a situation with my landlord. I was served a notice that I had a lease violation, they claimed a strong pet odor coming from the apartment, and I had 7 days to remedy the situation. I do have a dog and a cat, but this was surprising as I keep my apartment pretty tidy. I am fully aware that we go nose blind in our own homes, so I was willing to accept that there was a problem that I just wasnt smelling.

I deep cleaned the entire apartment, including washing the carpets (although to note I cannot afford to hire a professional carpet cleaning company, I do have an upright carpet cleaning machine and used that twice through the entire unit.) And the walls, disinfecting every surface in the unit. I also washed every piece of bedding and fabric in the place.

When the property manager came to do the 7 day recheck, they claimed that there was still a strong pet odor. However, in that 7 days, I had asked several family members, friends, and neighbors if there was a pet odor in my apartment, and nobody else could detect it. I asked people who I do not believe would lie to me about this. The property manager at that time said they would give me some more time and come back in a few weeks.

I sent an email to property management asking if they could specify what kind of "pet odor" was being detected, and I was unable to get an answer until I had asked for the THIRD time. It was only when I gave multiple-choice style options for what the smell might be that I was informed that it was a urine smell. Prior to the 3rd time asking, all I got back was "there is just a pet odor".

They are coming back to do the follow up inspection on Monday, and even though I have once again deep cleaned, let the apartment air out with the windows open, placed deodorizers around the apartment as well as using baking soda on the carpets to deodorize, checked for any stains with a black light (and there were none), I am deeply concerned that the property manager will just claim there is still a smell and follow with an attempt to evict.

Is there anything I can do here? How can I prove that I have remedied the issue and that I have several witnesses to the fact that there is not a strong pet odor in this unit if I end up needing to do so?

I guess I can also add that my dog is kenneled when I am not home and overnight, and my cats have never had any issues with urinating outside of the litterbox. I do work with animals professionally, and I do feel like I am decent at monitoring animals and noticing when things are different, but who knows. Just stressing over this big time.

I appreciate anybody who takes the time to read this post and help me out. You all are wonderful, thank you!

ETA: I am not negating that you can tell that I have animals. I understand that pets inherently have an odor. I just don't believe that there is such a strong odor that it is disturbing others to the point of it being a lease violation. I have lived in this unit for 2+ years and this is the first time any issue like this has been brought up.