Cat Pee In Subfloor

[Richard in Smithville]

Friends have moved into house where the previous residents had a cat who liked a corner of the livingroom to do her business. They tore up the carpet but the pee is soaked into the subfloor. Tearing up the subfloor is one option past the last option. I thought of soaking bleach into the area but I'm open to any other suggestions.

[billwmeyer]

I understand that vinegar will help neutrilize the smell.

Bill

[Copper]

The enzyme-based pet urine removers work okay (and they don't smell as bad as bleach). You have to give them a little time to work. You should be able to pick some up at a pet store. A black light would also help you find all of the spots to make sure you get everything.

[Ed62]

The enzyme-based pet urine removers work okay (and they don't smell as bad as bleach). You have to give them a little time to work.

One of my kids used that stuff, with good results. Probably a better bet than bleach.

Ed

[dbhost]

I have used the pet urine remover / black light trick. It works. Kind of slow, but it works...

[Mr__Bill]

Enzyme-based pet urine removers work, they do take some time. A carpet cleaner guy told me that putting a really heavy coat of poly over the spot will seal the odor in, however he cautioned that you should use only oil based poly and using the other will just allow the smell to surface. I put a whole gallon on the sub-floor where a dog had used the carpet as a bathroom. I just poured it on and spread it with a squeegee. It sealed in the smell. In the basement on the concrete I used the enzyme-based stuff and then left it with the new tenant. She said it took about 3 months and several more gallons to get it where the smell was gone.

Bill

[Uncle Cracker]

Concur with the suggestions for the enzyme products. Bleach does not neutralize the base cause for the odor. It only disinfects, and then remains to cause problems of its own. The enzyme stuff is formulated specifically for this use, and I have had better-than-average luck with it in the past.

[eccentrictinkerer]

I had this problem when we moved into our house 35 years ago. The 70 year old oak flooring had a black stain 2 1/2' in diameter. We tried everything then available.

Wound up tearing up a large chunk of floor and subfloor and replacing it. Still, even now on a warm, humid day we get a faint reminder of the former tenants.

[headhunter636]

I may be wrong, but soaking the sub-floor could actually warp or damage the sub-floor couldn't it? Also, do your friends have any pets or plan on getting one? Even with the smell gone to our noses, a dog or cat will smell it right away and probably use the same spot. I know it is a pain, but I would replace that part of the sub-floor.

Dave

[catta12]

Enzyme treatment, then coat with Kilz paint.

[DaveS]

Why can't you tear up that part of the sub floor?

I have done this before, and it really isn't that hard.

Even with all the suggestions here - the smell might come back... for example, on humid days.

At that point, the nice, new flooring will be down, and it will be twice as painful to rip it up and replace the subfloor.

A whole sheet of new subfloor would cost less than a gallon of "nature's miracle" enzyme stuff.

[Bill Stock]

Friends have moved into house where the previous residents had a cat who liked a corner of the livingroom to do her business. They tore up the carpet but the pee is soaked into the subfloor. Tearing up the subfloor is one option past the last option. I thought of soaking bleach into the area but I'm open to any other suggestions.

The best I've used are the Oxygen based cleaners, Hydrogen Peroxide. A Canadian source is here: http://www.greenforlife.ca/downloads...stBrochure.pdf. Much cheaper than buying water from the pet store. Chlorine Dioxide also works well, but it will do you serious harm if not used properly.

[Richard in Smithville]

Lots of great tips guys, thanks.

I should have mentioned before that these people will only be renting and the landlord is giving them a free month plus expenses if they can take care of the problem before the new carpet comes in.

[jziegler]

Shellac can be pretty good at sealing in odors. The enzyme cleaners can be hit or miss. Nature's Miracle is said by some to not be as good as it once was and is probably the most popular brand, but there are many others.

Jim

[Bruce Cohen]

I used the bleach approach, dumped about a gallon of it on the sub floor (plywood) and let it set there for a few days (the house was unoccupied at the time, the area measured about 4' square. Worked like a charm.

My cats never used that spot again. The replacement flooring was Pergo, not carpet as before. Maybe that had something to do with it.

I'ts cheap enough to try.

Bruce