I'm currently renovating an old house where it seems previous owners allowed their pets to use the antique hardwood floors as a bathroom for years. The smell coming from the floors is absolutely terrible! I'm looking for advice on the best cleaners or chemicals that can help deal with this problem before I apply an odor-blocking primer and put down new carpet. Any suggestions?
2 Answers
I've seen situations like this and it's really tough. No cleaner will really fix the problem if it's been going on for decades. You might just have to accept that it’s likely time for new flooring if you want a fresh start.
Honestly, if the smell has soaked into the wood for that long, you might end up needing to replace the flooring entirely. There's not much that can strip the smell out once it's embedded so deeply. Just washing it won't really cut it, and you'll probably still notice the odor occasionally. Sorry!
Yup, you'll be smelling it for years if you don't replace it. Cat pee is notoriously hard to get rid of.
Totally agree, it might even affect the subfloor or floor joists. Just a heads up!