Help me get rid of this urinal cake smell!

June 21, 2018 10:48 AM

I liberally doused the floor (wood and tile) with Nature's Miracle after my dog's accident. It was a mistake because the cleaner soon dissipated into a urinal cake smell and is still lingering 6 months later. I tried moping the floor with vinegar and hardwood floor cleaner multiple times, airing out the studio, and allowing time to pass. No luck! I'm going crazy, please help me get rid of this urinal cake smell!
posted by squirtle to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

At the shelter we use a product called Rescue. It's OP for most every day situations, but I think a really liberal soak- perhaps even a few times- would do the trick. I love that stuff. I foster kittens and they are stinky, messy, beautiful little beasts and people remark on how my house never has the "cat smell".
posted by Bistyfrass at 11:03 AM on June 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Though it's not a complete solution, I've found that a liberal dosing of a tolerably-scented can of Lysol disinfectant spray, along with a complete airing out of said room, can help lingering odors.

If it were me, I'd first clean the wood with Pine-Sol. Let that dry. Then a few days later, followup with the Lysol, air it out. Then a few days later, I'd follow that up with a light spray of pleasantly-scented Febreze.

This is not scientific, and people opposed to scents may cringe, but it's what I'd do.

(I do like vinegar, and I feel that it cleans floors, but doesn't do a DEEP cleaning.)
posted by hydra77 at 11:18 AM on June 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

I think rubbing alcohol is the cure for most fragrance issues. It's what you're supposed to use if you put on too much perfume. Not sure it's ok for your flooring, but that's a science based solve.
posted by jbenben at 11:57 AM on June 21, 2018

Natures Miracle smells when it's working. Is there any chance your dog is still peeing in the spot & reactivating it. Also being a hardwood floor, unless it's sealed incredibly well with something like marine varnish the dog pee will soak into the wood, specially in the cracks between the boards and the Natures Miracle has most likely soaked in the same way. The only way to be sure you've removed the smell would be to sand back & refinish the wood or replace it. You might try Hydrogen Peroxide as a long shot.
posted by wwax at 12:01 PM on June 21, 2018 [4 favorites]

Our child vomited all over our sofa and I but baking soda alllllll over it and it took care of the smell very fast. I also have a clay powder I put and rub into hardwood.
posted by catspajammies at 12:14 PM on June 21, 2018

This stuff is GREAT.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 12:53 PM on June 21, 2018

You mention tile , is there grouting? In my experience with urine accidents or poor aim of my son and friends, nothing soaks up urine better than the grouting and i could imagine that the nature miracle is now also in the grouting.
I got rid of the stink with help of toothbrush, vinegar and baking powder.
posted by 15L06 at 1:03 PM on June 21, 2018

It’s disgusting, isn’t it? I made the same mistake, assuming it was the same unscented formula it was with my last puppy. WHY, NATURE’S MIRACLE? WHY???? However, good news. I got mine out just by shampooing the bejesus out of it about three times and then doing a final round with vinegar water. Never again. There’s another product I found that’s like the old Nature’s Miracle and if I can remember when I get home, I’ll link you to it.
posted by johannsebastianbachpuppet at 4:17 PM on June 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

I too have discovered that Nature's Miracle now scents their products with the most appalling perfume scent. My solution on a nylon bag and a pair of plastic garden clogs (yes my cats have peed on stupid stuff) was to rinse many times with plain water. I also like the suggestion of rubbing alcohol. Be careful with both rubbing alcohol and water on your wood floor.

I've also found Fizzion to do a decent job getting the stink of Nature's Miracle out, and it has worked on various cat odors as well.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:32 PM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

This may be more of a nuclear option, but you way want to consider buying or renting an ozone generator. I bought one off of Amazon for about $200 and used it to nuke all the funky smells that came with a 1920s house and renovation project. An ozone generator will treat not only the floor, but any odors in your entire place.
posted by donguanella at 4:39 AM on June 23, 2018 [1 favorite]