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Ways to remove cat urine odor from drywall?

2 years ago

My cat peed on a box that was next to the wall. The pee trickled into the baseboard (planning to replace) but noticed it also seeped into the drywall behind the baseboard.
We’re looking for the most affordable way to deal with this due to financial issues.

We’ve also tried online fixes such as baking soda, enzyme solutions, etc., but it hasn’t helped much and don’t want to risk getting the drywall too wet and the urine spreading.

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Comments (8)

Rehabit
2 years ago
The drywall is behind baseboard cut the drywall out and replace reinstall baseboard. If u cut out below baseboard height u dont need to tape sheetrock They sale 2x2 size sheetrock for repair. Measure your thickness probably 1/2 inch. You want get smell out of sheetrock that has been saturated. Its a paper product when paper gets wet the harder section crumbles. If u need to cut higher above baseboard height then u would need to tape / mud. YouTube videos
Rachel Lee
2 years ago
The only real solution is to cut the drywall and patch.
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The AC/heating is all in the attic/ceiling, so (fortunately) that is one source that can be ruled out... I have shut all the doors to the room and left for a period of time. When I open the door, I smell the odor, so it is in that room. I do not smell it in the air in other rooms of the house. I have not sealed the floors because there is as much literature against as there is for. And the sealants are not guaranteed for an extended period of time (typically 3 - 5 years max). I'm in the Houston area, so it is already summer here. I've intentionaly left the house warm so that the humidity will be high allowing odors to flourish. The smell is not nearly as bad as it was when the carpets were first removed. So, I know I am making headway. It is just so frustrating to smell an odor and not be able to locate the source. Is it possible the odor itself permeated the walls/ceiling even though those areas were not urinated on? My next step is to use a garden sprayer to apply the odor neutralizer (Expel)to all the walls and the ceiling in that room. Those are the only surfaces which have not been treated, yet. (For the slab, I have been scrubbing with MM2 (a bacterial/enzymatic cleaner), vaccuming up the suds/liquid and then reapplying MM2 and allowing it to air dry.)
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Thank you so much for your responses. Someone recommended zinsser shellac seal coat wax free (sanding sealer) before applying the polyurethane. I dont know if it'll work because as you mentioned the urine may have penetrated in between the boards into subfloor but we don't have the time and money to replace anything now. I guess if by next year the smell persists we will remove the hardwood floor and replace it. When the AC is on it doesn't smell, but if the AC is off for a while the odor is there. It is not very strong but enough that it bothers us.
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Even better than Nature's Miracle is Kennel Odor Eliminator by Thornell http://www.amazon.com/Thornell-Kennel-Odor-Eliminator-Gallon/dp/B0002XI7DW My old house POs had cats, lots of them. And no litter box. It's more expensive, but it did in 4 treatments what Nature's Miracle (and others) could not. Now, the one problem you may have (and I did) is that the urine has infiltrated the HW and is into the subfloor. Try TOE first, but if it still smells....then your only option left is to remove the HWF and treat the subfloor. Mine was so bad I removed the entire subfloor because it had sunk into the joists below, but I think I'm a worst case scenario. Good luck. PS....the smell is due to the ammonia salts left behind, which are activated by moisture, hence the stronger smell when the humidity rises. My floor was so bad it changed color (got darker) when it was humid...hopefully yours is not!
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I've had luck with Natures-Miracle for Cats but you can also use some of the enzyme products made for removing odor from kennels. You're going to need to saturate the area so don't just lightly spray it around the porch. I would buy the large containers then use a garden sprayer to apply it. You may have to do this several times......letting it dry in between each treatment. Also, don't forget to treat the walls at least 12 inches up from the floor. Here's info on why you NEED to use an enzyme cleaner.
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party_music50
2 years ago
Since replacing drywall seems to be your only option, I'd try one more thing first.... I recall reading/seeing where someone couldn't get the cat urine smell out of their rug and they were told that only boiling water will kill whatever enzyme/thing causes the horrible smell. I wonder if it would effectively kill the smell if you hit the area with high heat or even steam.... or boiling water. But if I tried it I'd be ready to clean it up quickly!
graywings123
2 years ago
When using the enzyme solutions, I find that you really have to soak the item with the solution to get it to work. Lightly spraying isn't going to do it.
recordaras
2 years ago
Have you tried Odoban? Their instructions specifically call for NOT saturating, but lightly misting and letting dry and repeating if needed… Might be worth a try although I know cat urine is almost impossible to get rid of.
ci_lantro
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Try Zinnser's BIN (pigmented shellac) primer. The one with the red label.

I would use two coats of BIN.
c t
2 years ago
If you're looking at last resorts: two coats of oil-based primer.
annztoo
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I would first invest in a black light to see exactly where the urine is and how large an area you're really dealing with.

The area that is painted may not be that saturated with urine but the area of unsealed/unpainted mud and drywall (below the paint line) is probably where the worst odor is. If that's the case, then trim away the mud and unpainted drywall, treat with enzymes made for cat urine, let it dry thoroughly (put a fan on it) and then coat with oil-based primer.

You may be able to remove a lot of the mud with a wet rag.

To replace the baseboard you'll need to do as Rehabit described and fill in some spots with pieces of drywall.

Is that raised, open area on the corner damage from urine?

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