Eliminating Pet Odor

I wonder if there's urine or something absorbed into the cracks in the tile? Some tile is more porous than others and also absorb smell and sometimes the only thing that will work is to pull up the tile...wood paneling or other woodwork can be a culprit too though, as they absorb pet odor BIG TIME. There are some great cleaning products made specifically for pet smells and you can get them in pet supply stores or call a vet and ask what is best. I would try washing walls and woodwork as well as the floor...pet odors get absorbed into anything porous, unfortunately. We have a dog that is on the stinky side (she's a sweet girl, but no matter how clean she is, her natural smell is stinky...). Anyway, we have carpets and Arm and Hammer makes a GREAT carpet odor eliminator. I wonder if you use a few boxes of that stuff like you would in a refrigerator (ya' know, have the box open to absorb odors) if it might absorb odors in a room? Fresh-scented plug-ins and Fabreeze also work okay, but isn't really taking care of the problem. Focus on woodwork and walls and if all else fails, we have always had good luck with burning incense...if you don't mind that. We love sandalwood incense and it clings to things well and covers stinky stuff. Good luck!!

I agree with some other posts that the urine has probably soaked through the tile and grout and into the concrete subfloor. Or worse, the previous owners just laid the tile down on top of the floor to hide the pet stains before selling.

You may also want to try painting the ceiling and walls, using Killz stain blocking primer first. When we cleaned out my grandmother's house (who was a heavy smoker) ripping up the floor and painting all surfaces did WONDERS for eliminating the smell.

Did you try using bleach already?

Before ripping up the tiles, which may be the only answer, the easiest most effective and least expensive thing to try is pouring, yes pouring, white vinegar all over the floor, mopping it about thoroughly, then rinsing with water three times. That neutralizes pet urine, and pet odor (like "wet dog smell"). It may have seeped down between tiles to the concrete though, which is why you need to pour it on. If that doesn't penetrate, each time there is dampness, the old stains will be refreshed, and awaken.
Wish I could say this was a magic fix, but sometimes, you just have to start over.
Good luck,
D.

I've tried a few things. One is you can go to any pet store and get a pet odor eliminator/cleaner specifically designed to deal with the intense urea or whatever shemicals make the pee smell so intense. Lately, I've been using vinegar--not watered down bc I use this on upholstery/fabric--but I've heard this stuff works like a charm (and is pretty cheap in bulk at BJ's), and has worked fine for me. Let it soak for a little bit and then wash it off w/water. Not sure how it would do on floor surfaces, but good luck!

Hi T.,

I use Solumel for all odors. I don't cook fish when my husband is around and when I cook it and he is at work, I spray with diluted Solumel and he can not tell tell fish has been cooked. I also use it in the ferret cage, if hubby has not cleaned out the litter and for anyone who has a ferret, the odor can be very bad. It is a GREEN product, so it is safer for your health, children and the environment. It is so safe there is no child safety cap on it.

M.
http://livetotalwellness.com/mykid

Hi T., I am sorry about your dog smell - that must be very exasperating since you don't even have a dog! Since there is no carpet that is holding the odor, it must have permeated the baseboard or even possibly the sheetrock on the walls. If the dog urinated along the edge of the room, the smell may be in the baseboard (if there is any). You might try getting down & smelling the baseboard to see if the odor is stronger there. If so, I would consider replacing it. You might also do the same "sniffing" technique to see if the odor is permeated somehow into the tiles. Perhaps you will have to rip those up and put something else down. If the odor was simply dog odor which some dogs, particularly older dogs and certain breeds, emit, it should have been eliminated with your dehumidifier, washing the floor, candles and opening the windows to air out. I fear it may be from the dog urinating and could have seeped into the grout or even through the grout to the floor below. If it is not in the baseboard, it must be in the floor tiles somehow. Have you tried washing the walls? I suppose if the dog was in the room 24/7 and was a smelly dog, washing the walls might help. After washing the walls, I would even re-paint them - I would rather smell fresh paint than dog!! Hope these suggestions are a little help. If all else fails, you could try a good-quality air purifier such as Shaklee's Air Source. It does 3,000 sq ft. However, you really need to eliminate the source before you even consider an Air Source or dehumidifier. Hope this helps. E. Taft ____@____.com emilytaft.com

Hi
They make a product called (Urine gone or Urine clean) used to see the Infomercials all the time on tv. I found it by doing a search on google. Also most of your Pet stores sell a similar product. This is a enzyme that removes all sorts of pet oders. Where its tile you would be able to saturate it and let it sit for awhile to get deep in the cracks... also i would be sealing any painted surfaces with Kilz primer or something similar, (ask your local hardware store) The smell is most likely in the walls too. Hope this helps , It helped us