Cleaning commode and pet odors

Question

my son lets his bathroom go when it needs cleaning and it builds up until its almost impossible to clean, you almost have to chisel it out. I have 3 indoor dogs,2 smaller type and one that weighs 155 lbs., they sometimes can't make it outside, but mostly the smell of doggy odor, is bad all the time. What can I do to get rid of the odor?

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Pet urine/fece smells are very hard, if not impossible to get out of flooring and furniture. I would try to hire a cleaner to come in after you explain you have pet odors and start all over. Then I would think about a doggy door and a fenced in yard or fence the animals in one room where if they have an accident it cannot cause any real damage. If you have carpet that cannot be cleaned, then you may want to think about ripping it up and putting in laminate flooring which will at least help keep the urine and feces from absorbing into the sub floor.
As for your son not cleaning his bathroom, I would tell him that cleaning the bathroom once a week is a rule. The germs that grow in bathrooms makes me cringe...anyhow, get him bathroom cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, make sure there is a clean toilet bowl brush, and rags or sponges. Have the bathroom cleaned (and charge him for it) and then tell him that spraying bathroom cleaner and wiping out the sink or even other surfaces at least once a week will help him keep the bathroom cleaner and easier to clean on the day he has off from work. (takes less than an hour to clean a normal messy bathroom). Having a clean bathroom is just good hygiene. good luck.

Sherrie · Answer

I clean for a living.  If his bathroom is anything like the rentals I clean this is only cleaning guidelines for bad when nothing else will clean it.  I use it for rentals when they need cleaned and nothing else will do. 
On showers I use The Works.  It will get rid of hard water build up.  If you get this on metal it will arc it or discolor the metal.  I always leave water dripping in the shower or tub when I use it.  It will take hard water build up off.  To get off grease.  And grime when nothing else will do I use a spray in oven cleaner I buy in a three pack at SAMs.  I spray it on a rag clean and rinse.  This is not a aerosol product it is a spray.  I wipe it down and rinse the heck out if it.  I keep a automotive wire brush in my cleaning supply's to use around sinks.   The cleaner I have only found at Sam's and will get the name to you.  I use it on floors when nothing else will do.
If there is urine build up and has saturated the flooring and carpets call a carpet cleaner here we use only companies that follow National Cleaning guidelines and use the projects that are credited by them.  Because a lot of companies say they can remove urine from carpet but their cleaners don't and you still have the same problems.  They use a cleaner that will remove urine stains and smells from carpeting.  If you have a different flooring let me know.  These cleaning tips aren't for regular house hold cleaning.  I go into rentals that haven't been cleaned in several years and the rentals are trashed and don't usually share these cleaning methods because they are only when a good scrubbing won't do and the rentals are that bad.  Let me know if you need anymore advise.

Sherrie · Answer

PS the oven cleaner also discolor metal so keep keep it off metal.  I was very hesitate about giving this cleaning advise because I only use it for the dirtiest places and it sounds like his bathroom falls into that.

Pat Zagami · Answer

The only way to get the smell out for good is, to take up the flooring and paint it with marien varnish on it, that keeps the odor.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Very nice home. Excuse for the dogs. Not for your son. Not up to you to clean his bathroom. Sounds like you need to take on the persona of a Marine Sarge and lay down the rules - like cleaning it once a week for your inspection! I'd look into a dog shelter/run for the pets before tackling the pet urine smell. You may have to pull up carpeting and seal the odour in the subfloor with a few coats of poly or such. Painters also use a special primer to seal in odours before applying top coats. Have an Oreck air purifier which is awesome at removing smoking odours, etc. Apparently, the huge models are used in US subs.

Grady · Answer

What kind of dog do you have that weighs 155 Lbs? I have a Saint Bernard at home that weighs 210 Lbs.

Mary Law · Answer

Don't let The Works get on carpeting. It wil take the color out and you will be very unhappy. You can get Teh Works at Dollar General.

Comet · Answer

Go to your local pet place and see if they carry ODOR MUTE. If they don't go on AMAZON and buy a large package of it.

This is an ENZYME BASED ODOR REMOVER. It is sold in powder form and will need to be mixed with water before use; you can adjust the strength. This will REMOVE the source of the odor IF used as it needs to be; which I will share.

The product will not work as well if the odor has been chemically treated. But it will help in that case. If the odor is fresh it will work if used as directed. When you get the Odor Mute the package will have directions for different types of odors and surfaces. It sounds like you will need the strongest application so mix it up and apply GENEROUSLY. A sprinkle will not do for this! Either use a dipper and pour it on or a sponge and wring it over the spot. The important thing here is to LET IT DRY and NOT interfere with it--you can sponge off if there is standing solution (but better not to) and you can use a fan directed at it. But DO NOT try and sop this up or use heat to dry it. That will kill the enzymes.

If the 'accident' is fresh obviously you are going to want to get as MUCH of the urine or feces up with paper towels etc. IF feces are still there use PLAIN water to get them up---this is not a cleaner and if you use it with cleaners it will NOT work. Saturate the stain area with the Odor Mute and LET THE STUFF DRY. IF there is still a smell when it is FULLY dry--and on carpet this might take awhile--do it again.

You can use this on carpet; flooring (as long as water won't hurt it--if it is WOOD you could try damp mopping with this--check a corner or hidden spot first. You can use on dirt yards! And stalls. You can use this for diaper pails AND laundry that has odors--mildew and pee and poo also. If you can then hang OUTSIDE in the sun--and NOT use the dryer til you know the odor is GONE that will be good; otherwise hang to dry.

IF you can get UNDER the carpet--pry up the baseboard and peel it back--there might be nails at the edges--that would be good and you can treat AND OR replace the underpadding and see if any liquids penetrated to the subfloor which you can then treat.

We do wild animal re-hab and I have elderly pets myself. We have used this on the cage boards--unfinished and un-sealed pine boards--of a large raccoon cage --and this def helped a LOT. Have also used it on CAT urine---this can take SEVERAL treatments AND blocking the area from the offending animal. You can also use it as a litter box soak. And for trash cans. And diapers! Almost anything that water won't affect or that can be wiped down.

For small new areas you can use a smaller batch in a spray bottle as long as it will penetrate thru the spot.

I don't work for or own Odor Mute and have nothing to do with them just have used this for well over 40 YEARS now and think it is a GREAT product.

Sherrie · Answer

Judy when we get a toilet like that I use The Works and a little copper brush.  Or little wire brush.  They come in a set of three one wire, one copper and one nylon and are only a few dollars.  I use them and the works to scrub off the rust stains. I clean several a day that have rust stains.  It has nothing to do with cleanliness.  The toilets get old and it happens.  But it will take it off.  Let me know what happens.

Sherrie · Answer

I use The Works and a little wire brush.  I saturate the area and use the brush to scrub.  I keep repeating this until I get it off.  I almost always get them clean this way.  The brushes I find at Walmart are really cheap.  Copper, wire, and a nylon brush in a package if three a couple of dollars.

Lori Ann Hayes · Answer

I am having great luck with Soft Scrub Bleach on my Grout - cover it in a light film of it so that the whole small area I am working is covered in soft scrub (I wear gloves and just spread with my fingers) wait a few minutes and then just scrub with a stiff brush. IF the Soft Scrub dries just wet your brush a bit. When you can tell the grout is lighter in color, wipe it all clean with a damp rag. Works great!!

Elaine · Answer

You already have some professional advice re cleaning the bathrooms so I won't comment on that subject but am wondering - what do you mean by 'indoor dogs'? I've had 'indoor cats' but never had indoor dogs. Dogs need exercise to keep healthy and I'm wondering why they aren't taken for several walks during the day then they wouldn't mess in the house. They would get exercise and do 'their business' outside ... remember to always take a garbage bag to pick up after your dog 'goes'.

Celine David · Answer

I use Pine-sol to clean the toilet and make sure not to miss the crevices. I do this at least once a week so the urine and dirt won't build up. As for the dogs, if you still get that unpleasant smell from pets after you've vacuumed the carpet and washed your covers, then you need to find the source of the odor. It might be pee spots. You need to clean that area. You can also sprinkle baking soda on floors, carpets, and on surfaces where your pet stays. Also keep the house well-ventilated. Open the windows to fresh air in.

Animals are known to emit odors, no matter how clean they are. Purifiers can help get rid of this scent by filtering pet danders. You can invest in an air purifier to help keep the air in your home clean.

Cleaning commode and pet odors

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Cleaning commode and pet odors

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