Expert: Todd Malin - 10/22/2009

Question
Hi! Our 12 year old female cat (who was fixed years ago) urinated many times in our hallway. It is carpeted. Unfortunately, we did not realize it until it was dry. We have tried Nature's Miracle (letting it soak all the way thru the pad), Stink Free Cat Urine Odor Remover, we rented a steam cleaning machine last week, and the smell is still going strong! The first two products claim to have enzymes but they still did not work even though we followed the directions exactly.  Other than replacing the carpet, is there anything that really works? The smell is making me crazy!

Answer
Michelle,

Cat urine smell can be very difficult to remove.  You have done everything right so far.  The problem is that sometimes the urine can penetrate the carpet to the pad and even the floor underneath.  If you still have a smell after everything you've done, you may have to take the next step.  You may have to peel back the carpet and treat the back of the carpet, the pad and the floor.  If you have a concrete floor underneath the pad, it's easier.  If it's wood, it gets more complicated.  What you want to do is pull the carpet back.  Take a look at the back of the carpet.  If it's spotted (and it probably will be), spray some natures miracle on the back of the rug and take a towel and scrub it in.  The next thing to do is check the pad.  If it smells, the best thing to do is cut out the affected area and replace it.  It's very simple to do this.  Just use duct tape to hold the new piece of pad in.  If it's wood underneath the pad, you may have to sand the affected area and then use a sealer like Kilz to seal the wood.  If it's concrete, just spray some nature's miracle and scrub it with a towel.  Leave everything dry for 24 hours and then put the carpet back.  You might have to have a carpet installer put it back to make sure it's properly stretched.  None of this should cost very much.  If you have any further questions about all of this let me know.  It's not as bad as it sounds.  You just have to take it one step at a time.

Good Luck!
Todd