Should I spray the subfloor with something before installing new flooring, even though I can’t smell the old cat urine?
Hey everyone! So, I’m in the process of swapping out the carpet in my new house for laminate. Turns out, the previous owners had some cat pee incidents on the carpet before I moved in. Yikes! Even though the house didn’t smell like pee, the carpet was super dirty and had to be professionally cleaned (the water was gross!). The urine seeped through to the subfloor in a few places, but surprisingly, I don’t notice any lingering odor. Could it be that the smell has just faded over time?
I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so the idea of leaving it as is feels a bit icky. But then again, once I put down the vapor barrier and waterproof flooring, it’ll be totally sealed off. Should I just leave it be and move forward with the new flooring, or should I take some precautionary measures before laying down the laminate? Would spraying a bleach solution or Killz be a good idea?
What do you guys think? Leave it as is or treat it before installing the new floors? Let me know your thoughts!
Start by priming it with Kilz Premium first.
Kilz
If possible, I suggest sealing them with oil-based Cover Stain.
If the odor is strong, I would recommend applying 2 or 3 coats of kilz. Use a roller instead of spraying.
Primer that is oil-based
In my experience, cat urine odors tend to be most noticeable during the summer season. Consider using Kilz as a precaution. It’s definitely worth it!
Try using oil-based primer! Kilz could help a bit, but oil-based primer will fully seal it in
‘s original Kilz is oil-based.
Hey, , even oil-based primers might not do the trick. You’ll need Zinzer’s alcohol-based primer to properly cover it up. I’ve had experience with fire damage repair for years, and that’s the only thing that effectively eliminates the fire smell.
Opt for Zinseer Bulls Eye shellac based primer over Kilz. It’s a much more effective option.
Make sure to begin with an enzyme treatment to tackle that smell once and for all. Allow it to sit and work its wonders. It usually takes around two weeks to reverse the effects of the ammonia.
I recommend spraying it with an enzyme solution.
It seems like some people just don’t understand what they’re reading! They claim there’s no smell!
I’d still make sure to use kilz to cover it.
Eventually, all odors will go away. Maybe it’s just really old…….
Apply some killz to the area. People have dealt with bigger issues with less effort and everything turned out okay.
Coat the subfloors with a nice thick layer of polyurethane and make sure it dries well. This will help seal in any odors, bacteria, or dirt.
Never mix bleach with cat urine
Thanks, ! Some folks are recommending bleach, but it can be toxic. There have been cases of dogs dying in kennels cleaned with bleach. It’s important to be aware of the dangers.
I always use bleach to spray it, no matter the condition
Using bleach is a bad idea! When it mixes with ammonia, the smell gets even worse. It’s a dangerous mix that has unfortunately led to the death of dogs in kennels that were cleaned with bleach.
Dealing with the smell of cat urine can be tough and costly. That’s why I have a no-cat policy for my rental units. Keep in mind that even if you can’t smell it, your pets still can and may pee on it to mark their territory. Check out my method for eliminating cat urine odor below.
1) Get rid of all the carpet and padding. 2) In really bad cases, you might need to take out the baseboards, door trim, bottom 2 feet of the wall’s drywall, and maybe even the subfloor.
Here we go!
1) Pour vinegar all over the floor, then sprinkle baking soda generously on top. Use a broom to spread the mixture around. The vinegar will react with the cat urine, and the baking soda will help absorb the smell. Once dry, sweep up the residue.
2) Pour hydrogen peroxide all over the floor, then sprinkle baking soda generously on top. Use a broom to spread the mixture around. Once dry, sweep up the residue.
3) Make sure to use an oil-based primer when painting the subfloor.
4) If the odor is still noticeable, refer to my second comment for what to remove from your home next.
Kilz does a great job. I usually apply 2 coats.
Try using Zinser odor-killing paint on the subfloor.
There’s actually a type of scented paint you can use to cover up those kinds of odors, or you could just seal it in!
Consider painting the subfloor for a fresh look
Zinsser’s alcohol-based solution is effective for killing germs
Try cleaning the affected areas with vinegar, allowing them to dry, and then sealing them with paint. That’s the method my flooring installer recommended to me, and I haven’t had any issues since.
If you want to avoid removing and replacing, you may need to use a product like Kilz. Cat urine can be very difficult to get rid of completely.
Never use bleach on urine! Ammonia and bleach create toxic fumes and the smell will be so strong that you’ll have to leave the house for hours. Plus, it will take a long time to get rid of that smell. There have been cases where dogs died after their kennels were cleaned with bleach. If you need to clean, consider painting over the area instead. Wetting it will only make the smell worse.
If you need a flooring installer, let me know if baking soda works
If you can’t detect any odor, I’d suggest leaving it alone. In case you do need to address the issue, try using Rocco and Roxie enzyme cleaner.
We used to have a room in our old house that was clearly marked by the previous owners’ pets – possibly dogs or cats – with their urine. Our own dog then decided to follow suit. I lost count of the number of times I had to clean that carpet, but it was definitely more than 10 in just 3 years. Fortunately, there were no visible stains thanks to my immediate shampooing efforts. Eventually, we decided to switch to hardwood flooring. I was anxious about what we might discover beneath the old carpet and padding, but to my surprise, everything was pristine. Not a single stain in sight. Still, as a precaution, I applied a few coats of BIN sealer on the subfloor before laying down the Oak planks.
Paint
MyPetPeed has been a game changer for us. It’s a spray that works wonders. Definitely worth checking out!
If the temperature increases, you might notice some unwanted smells. We tried industrial peroxide and it worked wonders!
I agree with . We had a similar problem when we moved into a rental once.
If you know where the cat pee is, try using oil based Kilz to cover it up. This will seal the wood and prevent any lingering odors.