Replies

1. 
   Danno | Mar 14, 2009 09:57pm | #1

   My first wife owned a house that had a concrete slab on grade and carpet on the slab. Her son would not clean the litter box in his bedroom, and so the cat just "went" sort of in the corner. The woodwork, drywall and especially the carpet and pad were soaked and stunk. We tore the carpet and pad out, but the smell was still there--so yes, the slab can absorb #### and the odor. You could try some industrial type deodorizers (Citrace is one that I know of) and leave it on for a while. It may help, but short of jackhammering the slab, you may still notice a smell. (I was out of the house and the marriage about that time, so I don't know what the ex did or whether it worked--I think she replaced the carpet and pad after washing the slab with bleach or something.) A concrete sealer may seal in the odor--I know that shellac will seal odors, but do not know how well it will seal concrete.

   There may also be smell absorbed into the baseboard if it's wood, or even the drywall. You could give it the sniff test and if so, replace it. Good luck! (There are companies that specialize in such work--like even taking care of houses where murders have occurred--they may be able to advise you!)

   BTW, if you have ever smelled "Mylar" (used to be Mylar drafting film that I used at work), it smells very much like cat pee!

   
   

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   Edited 3/14/2009 2:59 pm ET by Danno

2. 
   JTC1 | Mar 14, 2009 10:13pm | #2

   Take this for what it is worth.

   DW and I bought a home with an unfinished basement - concrete floor (no paint), and painted block walls.

   Between the time we looked at the house and the time we actually bought it, the house was closed up with virtually no ventilation.

   Once we were in the house working on miscellaneous repairs, it became obvious to us that the previous owner's two yorkies had been busily "marking" areas of the basement for quite a while - the dogs marked in all of the attractive places. Steel support posts, alongside of the door, etc.

   Before calling professional odor control services, we decided to try a home grown cure. Did I mention people have called me cheap?

   Went to a local wholesale club and bought a 20 pound bag of A&H Baking Soda. Less than $10.

   DW went to the basement and started spreading baking soda in all of the likely places.  I went into the basement about 10 minutes later.

   As I was walking down the stairs, I was surprised at the already lessened odor.

   I said, "Is it just me, or is the dog pee smell going away?"  She said, " I thought it was going away, but then I just figured I was getting used to it."

   Bottom line was we spread about 1/2 of the bag in likely areas, left the house, returned the next day, swept and vacuumed up the baking soda.

   The dog pee smell has not returned in 6 months of winter heating season - not much of a track record, but it's all I have.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
1. 
   timc | Mar 14, 2009 11:07pm | #3

   Sometimes the easiest solutions get overlooked. It's definetly the place to start.
   By the way, I'm no connessieur but I reckon that cat pis* stinks 10 times as bad as dog pis*

1. 
   JTC1 | Mar 14, 2009 11:32pm | #4

   As the owner of two cats, I can safely say, from personal experience that you are 100% right!

   My MIL and FIL bought a house from a lady that had about 20 cats. Place stunk beyond belief - all of the adult children thought they were crazy to buy this house.

   Wall to wall carpet, wood floors.

   They brought in an odor control guy before the purchase.  He told them they would have to remove the carpet; paint the walls then call him back.

   They yanked out the carpet, washed the walls, painted and called him.  He was leaving on vacation the next day for 2 weeks........

   But he told them the name of a chemical and where to buy it.

   Instructions went something like this:

   Close all windows and doors; tape around the seams at windows and doors.

   Pour the chemical into throw away aluminum baking pans - he speced size and number for each room.

   Leave house and tape the seam at that door from the outside.

   Stay out of house for 3 days.

   Re-enter house, flush the chemicals down the toilet.

   Open all doors and windows ventilate heavily for a day.

   Don't know what that stuff was ------ but it worked all traces of smell were gone and never returned in the 10+ years they lived there.Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

2. 
   junkhound | Mar 15, 2009 04:07am | #6

   Take this for what it is worth

   First hand experiences are priceless, thanks for the message and advice.

3. 
   brucet9 | Mar 15, 2009 03:24am | #5

   I have a rental house, slab on grade, where our now evicted tenant let his dog pee everywhere; concrete floors, carpets, carpet tack strips were all soaked and stinky.

   I ripped out the pee-soaked carpets and pad (Now that's a job for you! No wonder the carpet layer refused to do it.) and I tore out all of the tack strips. Then I bought a pump type garden sprayer, filled it with 2 gallons of chlorine bleach and sprayed the bottom 2' of walls, and all the floors. I scrubbed floors with a stiff push broom, then opened windows and went away for a couple of days. When it was aired out, we painted and had new carpet installed and all is good.

   BruceT