Asked on Mar 29, 2012

Does anyone know how to get urine smell out of wood cabinets? I tried clorox but that doesn't help.

Cheryl J
by Cheryl J
  33 answers
  • Claudia Claudia on Mar 29, 2012
    Have you tried Nature's Miracle. You can buy it at Petsmart.
  • Lin R Lin R on Mar 29, 2012
    You also might want to try sprinkling baking soda in the cabinets and let it sit a few days. Good luck.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Mar 29, 2012
    Have you tried wiping them down with vinegar?
  • Cheryl J Cheryl J on Mar 30, 2012
    No, I have not tried any of these ideas yet. I will try them over the weekend and let you know.
  • Try UrineBGone also available at Petco or walmart. It's almost impossible to get the smell out with anything else...and it depends how much pee has soaked into the wood. With this product, you spray it on and it breaks down the enzymes in the urine. I've used it on a bunch of rental properties with success. If it's just the toeplate you may want to change it out.
  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Mar 30, 2012
    May I ask how urine got in/on wood cabinets?
    • Norma Norma on Jul 12, 2019

      Probably last renterkept kitty liter litter under the sink

  • Linda D Linda D on Mar 31, 2012
    I don't know if you have a SAM's Club around, but they sell a product called OdorBan that I have not seen anything it could not get smells out yet. We have a couple of rental houses and it has saved us a bundle on carpet replacement.
    • Marya Jo Leber Marya Jo Leber on Jan 02, 2018

      is this the same thing as odoban or different. I am tr to find it and I can’t find odorban. Can you send me a picture of it please !!!

  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Mar 31, 2012
    Linda D, ODOban is a great product I use on a dog run. I use it on a faux carpeted area the dogs can use 24/7. ODOban is the best product I ever found but don't know if it will work on wood.
    • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Jun 29, 2020

      I chose to install a doggy door to a 30' fenced dog run so if I were gone for long periods of time the dogs didn't have to "hold it". Both dogs learned to use their door with little training. As they get older this becomes even more important.

  • Terry S Terry S on Apr 01, 2012
    dont ever use chlorox with urine because of the amonia . very toxic
  • Cheryl J Cheryl J on Apr 02, 2012
    Well, we had some little rodents and my husband used a cage to catch them. He said that when they get trapped they get nervous a urinate all over the place.
  • Thomas P Thomas P on Apr 03, 2012
    Cheryl, this will sound wierd but it works. Buy mesingel (spelling?) feminine powder mix with water and apply.
  • Kim I Kim I on Apr 09, 2012
    After you treat it for the odor (You'll get most of it out with the above products) seal it with shellac. Use pigmented shellac if it is already painted inside, or regular shellac if it is natural wood. We use this method to treat sub-floors under carpets that have been urinated on. (Carpet cleaning business) We found you can try to extract and treat the urine from the carpet and pads until you are blue in the the face but the odor still comes back. When we started pulling back the problem areas and treating the wood, the odor was tackled! (sealed in, really) Some times we replace really bad pieces of pad also. I used this method for a friend who used to keep her cats litter box in a cupboard under the sink. She missed the box regularly! My friend was getting ready to move and asked me for help. It was pretty bad smelling, even after using various above products. Needless to say, the shellac did the trick and she got all of her deposit back!
  • Bobby Jean S Bobby Jean S on Apr 09, 2012
    Kim I ~ interesting! I will recommend shellac to friend working on similar problem: a chest of drawers that became home for feral cat and newborn kittens. (Dresser had been in storage shed for some time.) Over the course of two weeks, we tried Lysol, baking soda, vinegar, commercial pet odor remover, bleach and even my favorite Kafko's Oil Eater (which cleans a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g.) .. to no avail.
  • Sheila B Sheila B on Apr 14, 2012
    I have a handmade cherry bedroom set that is only 30 years old and the drawers have a musty smell which I think is fairly normal in Old furninture but mine is not that old. I've put alot of baking soda in each drawer and let it set for weeks and the smell is still there. How can I remedy the problem. I don't want to put clothes back in the drawers until the smell is gone. It is just that "old" smell. suggestions?
  • Kim I Kim I on Apr 15, 2012
    Cleaning Wood Furniture Moldy wood furniture won't smell any better after using any amount of odor removing products if it isn't properly cleaned in advance. I've found Murphy's Oil Soap to be the best commercial product for cleaning wood, especially wood furniture that has taken on a musty smell. Furniture polish won't do anything but temporarily cover up the odor, and you'll end up with furniture that smells like musty oranges, lemons, flowers, or whatever scent you use. For a clean fresh scent, try Murphy's Oil Soap, and follow product label instructions for best results. After thoroughly cleaning and drying, try one or more of the following easy methods to get rid if a musty smell in your wood furniture. Coffee Ground dry coffee is a great odor remover. Truck drivers use it to remove stale odors from inside their rigs, and I've used it to remove musty odors in a cabinet beneath my sink. If the interior of wood furniture smells musty after cleaning, place bowls of fresh ground coffee in the drawers and cabinets. Allow it to absorb odors for at least 24 hours before removing. Charcoal In many cases, ordinary charcoal briquettes are even better at removing musty odors from wood furniture. I like the fact that charcoal briquettes are virtually odorless, and once odors are removed, the furniture won't smell like anything in particular. Place bowls of charcoal briquettes inside musty cabinets and drawers, and allow them to remain undisturbed for at least 24 hours. After removing musty odors, the briquettes don't have to go to waste. If desired, they can be returned to the bag and used once again for odor removal or charcoal grilling. Baking Soda If you want to try something inexpensive that also works well to get rid of foul odors in wood furniture, place bowls of baking soda inside musty cabinets and drawers. Baking soda is a natural odor remover, and it will effectively remove musty smells from all types of wood furniture. You'll find baking soda in large boxes that are meant for cleaning and deodorizing large areas, and you'll be surprised by how cheap it is compared to other odor removal options. Kitty Litter Natural clay kitty litter is also a great odor absorbing product, and it's also inexpensive. Fill bowls with natural clay kitty litter, and place them inside drawers and cabinets. Keep the drawers and cabinets closed, and allow the kitty litter to work for at least 24 hours. If the mold has been properly cleaned from wood furniture, it should no longer have a musty smell after allowing the kitty litter to remain inside for an extended period of time. If it doesn't work, try one of the other methods to get rid of musty smells. One or more of these tried and true ways to get rid of musty odors in wood will eventually work for you.
  • Dorene H Dorene H on May 08, 2012
    nature's miracle you can get in pet stores
  • Cheryl J Cheryl J on May 08, 2012
    I tried Nature's Miracle but it did not work. I used the regular one though. I was going to try the one made for wood floors and see if that one will work.
  • Dorene H Dorene H on May 08, 2012
    i swear by nature's miracle
  • Sheila B Sheila B on May 28, 2012
    I poured baking soda into each drawer over a month ago andthe old smell is still there. I don't want a temporary fix. there has to be something I can do. Maybe I should paint the inside of the drawers?
  • Cheryl - did you get anything to remedy the problem?
  • Dorene H Dorene H on May 28, 2012
    I've used nature's mircle many times always worked .. Best stuff .. I used it on a braided rug a male cat sprayed on it . the smell was awful, it worked
  • Tina Tina on May 29, 2012
    Maybe some vinegar
  • Dorene H Dorene H on Jun 04, 2012
    didn't need to use vinegar after I treated with Nature's Miracle .. thought I would...I was shocked ... Now I use it all the time on smells I just can't get rid
  • Katy S Katy S on Jun 05, 2012
    I used Nature's Miracle for skunk smell... treated twice and it worked like a charm!
  • Irene L Irene L on Jun 06, 2012
    Try used coffee grounds. Change daily until odor is gone.
  • Joy D Joy D on Jun 07, 2012
    I used vinegar or vinegar water to cat urine out of wood shelving...
  • Cheryl J Cheryl J on Jun 08, 2012
    I used the Natures Miracle and it did not help at all. Still have the smell and will one day get around to just sanding in down and restaining. Hopefully that will solve the problem.
    • Snh Snh on Jun 07, 2015
      @Cheryl J Try peroxide. Nature's Miracle never worked for me. Pour it on the same way the urine got there (don't just spray).
  • N C N C on Jun 10, 2012
    I used Oder Mute. Buy it online It works fanatastic
  • Margaret Margaret on Apr 23, 2015
    Try a solution of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon soda, and a few drops of dish soap. Apply and let sit until it dries. I also use sachets and dryer sheets.
  • Margaret Margaret on Apr 23, 2015
    Odor Ban works on almost anything. Its at Sams Club
  • Lindcurt Lindcurt on May 19, 2015
    I use cat litter in old suitcases to absorb the old musty smells. Don't know but it might work to absorb the urine smell. Change it every couple of days. And keep the cat away form it.
  • Gloria Hayes Gloria Hayes on Jun 03, 2015
    Odo Ban is amazing ! I poured it on pure cat diarrhea and it knocked the smell clean out ! About 10 bucks for a gallon jug at Home Depot;makes a couple dozen gallons or more of cleaning strength solution when diluted or use full strength. Safe around pets, food, on skin, etc.
  • Shay Shay on Jun 29, 2020

    Vinegar and lemon juice and steam