How do I remove urine smell from my bathroom? Two boys and a husband, somebody must be missing the target. I can't tell if it's in/on the floor, outside of toilet, shower curtain, tub, wall. I use typical cleaners and it doesn't completely go away. Thanks!
Joy from San Antonio, TX
Joy, I know what you mean about the smell and I am interested in what other people suggest to get rid of it. I know that the first thing I did was to get rid of the little contour rug that I had around the toilet. Not so pretty when it acts like a big sponge, soaks up urine, and smells all the time. Also, my husband is over six feet tall, and apparently from his height when he makes contact with the toilet it spatters all over the wall.
When I clean the bathroom I wash that wall with Lysol. One thing I would suggest to anyone would be to run a bead of silicone caulk completely around the bottom of the toilet where it meets the floor; that way, it will stop any urine from getting under there and smelling up the bathroom. I hope you get some suggestions from others about removing the smell, I sure would appreciate hearing some of them. (10/09/2006)
By Paula
Joy, I feel for you. I took away the rug in front of the toilet, along with the seat cover so the toilet is bare. Once something gets urine on it, it's there until washed out which just makes more work. Plus it's easier to clean when it's bare.
I don't have too much luck with this next hint, but I try to remind the guys to wipe the rim before they flush the toilet. I've recently decided though, that I'm just going to rotate bathroom uses so I can wipe the rim and know it's happening.
My last suggestion, is to buy some lemon or orange pine-sol, put some on a paper towel and throw it in the garbage can (don't crumple it up, leave it open for full effect). The scent lasts quite a while. I suppose you could always do this with something decorative in the bathroom, like an object designed for potpourri with holes in the top. The paper towel, or sponge, could be hidden inside yet the holes let the scent escape.
Good luck! If all else fails, make them sit down or give them their own portable one like in the hospital! Just kidding, but worth a thought! (10/10/2006)
By Kim
Whatever is on the floor, it sounds like the urine has gone underneath. For example; tiles? or carpet? The answer might be to rip everything up and start again. (10/10/2006)
Well, it is from the guys. You get splash back on to the walls, toilet, and any heating system that would run along the wall by the toilet. A solution of 4 parts water, and 1 or 2 parts bleach, and the entire area around the toilet should be cleaned. It will have to be done every once in a while, and the guys should do the cleaning as they are the cause. (10/10/2006)
By Dean
Here are two good solutions:
1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. Dawn dish detergent, and 16oz. of peroxide. Mix together and pour on area. Let air dry.
Another good one is 3-4 drops of Dawn. 1/2 cup peroxide and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Mix together. Pour and let solution set on affected area 10-15 minutes. Then soak it up with paper towels. Hope these help. (10/10/2006)
By Janette
If you have boys in the house, well, they "leak" on the floor, but assuming you have checked for everything else, like urine under a mat at the foot of the toilet, urine on the walls, etc., I suggest removing your toilet and changing the wax seal. I recently did this when I laid ceramic tile in my bathroom, and I was surprised how yucky it was up under there.... ewww!
I'm sure you can find an internet site to explain it but it's really not as difficult as you may think. You pretty much just unscrew the bolts at the base and pull the toilet up and off. Clean up under there and scrape out the old wax seal and other unmentionable gunk and replace the old wax seal with a new one. Get one with the built-in flange, and go ahead and replace your bolts if they're old because they get built up a bit with urine and such too. Re-seat the toilet, tighten the screws and you're all done!
I highly recommend that you DO NOT caulk around your tub for this very reason. If you have to remove your toilet it will make it very difficult. (10/10/2006)
By Mary
Try a product called Odoban. We have dogs and we use it to clean up after them, clean their kennels, etc. It is non-toxic. (10/11/2006)
By Candy
Hopefully you do not have carpet in your bathroom. I use peroxide in a spray bottle and spray around the bottom of the toilet where it meets the floor. There is a possibility that you have a small leak and the wood is getting soaked. Push around on the floor close to the base of the stool and see if there are any soft spots. You might try cleaning with lemon kool-aid (diluted, without sugar), it is citric acid and flavor/smell. The acid would counteract the urine. That is one of the things I use for pet accidents. (10/11/2006)
By carla bledsoe
I found out that you have to clean the bolts that hold the seat and lid on. Boys with bad aim get the back rim of the toilet and the pee gets down onto the bolts. Just put some bathroom cleaner onto your rag and wipe the bolts from underneath until the gunk is gone. (04/16/2007)
By trista
Joy, I have two small boys and know all too well the joys of boys and missing the toilet. If you want to solve the problem, all you have to do is very simple.
Clean the floor and surrounding area with a good cleanser. Use toothpaste to whiten the tile surrounding the toilet rim on the floor and then sprinkle baking soda around the toilet base. Wipe the soda so it is close to the base and leave it there for two to three days. The soda will draw up the urine from under the toilet as well as pull any scent left in the floor. All you have to do then is wipe up the soda using a damp cloth after three days and voila. Repeat this as needed, but I found that after you do it the smell does not return for awhile. (10/10/2007)
By Andrea
I can't talk to my husband about this. He gets frustrated and mad. I know the urine is under the toilet where I can't reach it. The best idea sounds like baking soda all around the toilet base. Then clean with vinegar for a chemical reaction that should "eat" away the smell. I've used this in sink drains and it worked there. Worth a try! (12/26/2008)
By frustrated
One question I have for you is do you have a ring of caulking around the toilet? If you do, and you have a tile or laminate floor that urine can't get underneath the toilet, then it has to be on the wall or behind the bolts under the back of toilet. Hope this helps. I would use a diluted bleach to kill odor all around also. (01/11/2009)
By bruce
I had the same problem after moving into a previously owned home. I'm not sure what the owners did to mask the smell when we visited because I didn't notice it either time we looked at the house but it was present as we were moving in.
I scrubbed and scrubbed, not just the toilet inside and out, but the floor, the walls, the cabinets (inside and out) and even the picture frame above the toilet, which the previous owners had left and liked! I sprayed Lysol, air fresheners, burned candles, used bleach, oxi-clean, etc. It would seem to go away for a few hours, then come back.
Finally, as suggested on another site, I bought an enzymatic pet urine odor neutralizer. I got it at PetSmart and it was called Nature's something, but I think any enzymatic one will do.
I didn't really expect it to work, but it was the only thing I'd read about short of painting the walls and replacing the floor. I figured I'd try it, and when it didn't work, I'd pay to have the work done.
I went crazy spraying the stuff, just as I did cleaning, spraying everywhere. It has now been 4 1/2 weeks and no smell. Previously, it was back within 4 1/2 hours if it went away at all. I haven't even used the spray again. I just do my normal cleaning routine. I hope this works for others. (02/19/2010)
By lindij
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