Common Causes
- You should be able to rent extracting and wet vac machines pretty cheaply from your local hardware store.
- Carefully follow any instructions that accompany the machines.
- Don't use any additional chemicals or additives with these machines. ...
- Don't use a steam cleaner to clean urine odors from your carpets. ...
Related Conditions
The most common reasons include pets, pests, mould, plumbing problems, and electrical malfunctions. A urine smell can be as simple as your neighbour’s cat dropping a puddle in the pantry or a serious problem like overheating circuits. Here is how you can tell the difference.
How to get rid of urine smell in Your House?
Very strong-smelling urine could be a sign of a kidney infection when a UTI has reached your kidneys. In many circumstances, you will also have cloudy urine with odor. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that smelly urine in men and in women is common with kidney infections.
Why does my room smell like urine?
Why your urine smells
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Dehydration
- Chronic kidney disease
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Food, supplements, and medication causes
- Medical causes
- Non-specific change in urine
What can smelly urine be a sign of?
What causes strong smell in urine?
Does mold smell like urine?
Mold, especially black mold, produces a smell that very closely resembles cat pee. If you find black mold in your home, seek out a professional remediation service, as black mold can be very dangerous.
How do I get rid of urine smell in my house?
Try mixing about a cup of peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and just a couple drops of dish detergent. Spray the area, allow it to sit for about 20 minutes, and rub the area until the odor is eliminated.
Does gas leak smell like urine?
Freon. Freon is a common chemical refrigerant that's likely found in your air conditioner or other cooling systems. A freon gas leak smells like a combination of sweets, ammonia, paint, or cat urine.
What is responsible for the smell of urine?
When urine is highly concentrated, it contains more ammonia and less water. This can cause it to have a strong smell. Urine tends to be more concentrated when a person is dehydrated. This is often the case first thing in the morning or when a person does not drink enough water throughout the day.
What causes an ammonia smell in your house?
Animal waste, fertilizers, and home cleaners are the most common sources of ammonia. Decaying plants or animals, coal or wood fires, and marshes all release small amounts of ammonia into the air.
Why do my air vents smell like urine?
If there's an odor coming from your A/C that smells like rotten garbage or urine, you could have a dead animal in your air ducts. Pests can sneak in through different pipes, and if they've taken a wrong turn into an HVAC system or got stuck in the vents, you might need to remove them from the ductwork.
What does a carbon monoxide leak smell like?
Carbon monoxide gas is colourless and does not smell, so you cannot tell if it is around you. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: headache.
What does black mold smell like?
It's often described as musty and earthy, and may even smell like rotting vegetables or plants. You might notice a musty smell, but not be able to see any mold growing. In this case, you should look for areas that might be exposed to water.
What gas smells like pee?
Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. It has a strong odor that smells like urine or sweat. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body.
What does it mean when you smell ammonia?
Ammonia Smell The reason you smell ammonia is because the protein breakdown product urea is being produced faster than it can be excreted by your kidneys, and is subsequently leached into your sweat as ammonia.
How do you get rid of ammonia smell?
If you are tired of smelling ammonia in your sweat, try changing your bath or shower products. An antibacterial washing product can help with removing bacteria from your skin, the most effective way to eliminate body odor.
How long does urine smell last?
The bacterial odor fighting chemical will continue waging war with the urine smell on top and under your carpet for up to two weeks, so you need not fret if odor lingers after your cleaning. This is normal, and it will probably go away.
Will urine smell eventually go away?
As you've likely noticed, the smell of urine can linger long after the mess has been cleaned up. While it might seem like nothing gets rid of it, it's actually pretty easy to get rid of urine smell. You just need to get something that will break down uric acid—that's what causes the odor.
What do nursing homes use to get rid of urine smell?
For patient rooms, we recommend OdoX. Odo-X is an ultra portable odor neutralizer that uses a powerful, high speed fan to circulate odor neutralizing microcells to eliminate high concentrations of strong odors. Great for assisted living facilities.
Does human urine smell go away?
There's usually a pretty basic explanation for urine that smells a bit different. It's just the way your body functions, says Dr. Bajic. In most cases, that funk should disappear within a day or so.
What is the most powerful odor eliminator?
Hydroxyl generators truly eliminate odors, rather than just masking them. These machines break down organic materials in the air that leave behind odors.
Why does urine smell?
Dutta explains. "So when you're dehydrated, your urine has less water in relation to waste products, which can make you have smelly urine ," she says.
Why does my urine smell different after taking vitamins?
Dr. Dutta says many people notice their urine smells different after taking vitamins—same way some people detect a different urine odor after eating certain foods. But there's nothing to worry about if you conclude a vitamin is making your pee rank. "Vitamins tend to be a little bit in excess of what your body truly needs, so you'll often end up peeing some of that out," she says.
Why does coffee make you pee?
Coffee is also a diuretic, meaning it makes you have to pee a lot, flushing your body of extra fluid and sodium. Diuretics can cause dehydration, so on top of the smell from those coffee metabolites, your pee may also have a stench because it's more concentrated than usual.
How to tell if you're dehydrated?
You can check the color of your urine to confirm whether you're dehydrated. If it's amber- or honey-colored, or even a dark orange, you probably need to up your water intake. But if it's a pale straw or transparent yellow color, you're well hydrated, which means your urine could be smelly for another reason.
How do kidney stones form?
Kidney stones develop when salt and other minerals found in urine stick together and form into hard stone-like deposits. They can be as small as sand-like grains or as large as full-on chunks of gravel. "Kidney stones can collect bacteria and lead to infection or sometimes bleeding," Dr. Dutta says.
What foods make you pee?
Other foods, like Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, curry, salmon, and alcohol, can have a similar effect. Dr. Dutta suggests drinking plenty of water when eating foods that you know make your pee; it'll dilute your urine so the stench isn't so noticeable.
Can asparagus make your urine smell?
Asparagus is notorious for making urine smelly. But if this veggie doesn't give your pee a funky odor, that's normal, too.Dr. Dutta says everyone digests food differently, and some can get away with eating asparagus without any change in their urine.
Why does urine smell like water?
Urine that contains a lot of water and few waste products has little to no odor. If urine becomes highly concentrated — a high level of waste products with little water — your urine may have a strong ammonia odor.
What is the scent of disease?
Shirasu M, et al. The scent of disease: Volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. The Journal of Biochemistry. 2011;150:257.
Why does urine smell like water?from mayoclinic.org
Urine that contains a lot of water and few waste products has little to no odor. If urine becomes highly concentrated — a high level of waste products with little water — your urine may have a strong ammonia odor.
Why does my urine smell different after taking vitamins?from health.com
Dr. Dutta says many people notice their urine smells different after taking vitamins—same way some people detect a different urine odor after eating certain foods. But there's nothing to worry about if you conclude a vitamin is making your pee rank. "Vitamins tend to be a little bit in excess of what your body truly needs, so you'll often end up peeing some of that out," she says.
Why does coffee make you pee?from health.com
Coffee is also a diuretic, meaning it makes you have to pee a lot, flushing your body of extra fluid and sodium. Diuretics can cause dehydration, so on top of the smell from those coffee metabolites, your pee may also have a stench because it's more concentrated than usual.
What does it mean when you have a UTI?from healthline.com
A strong urge to urinate, needing to urinate frequently, and a burning sensation upon urination are the most common symptoms of a UTI. Bacteria in your urine cause urinary tract infections. If your doctor determines you have a UTI, they’ll give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
What is urine analysis?from healthline.com
Urine analysis. A sample of your urine is tested for signs of certain types of bacteria as well as other elements. Cystoscopy. A thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted into your bladder to look for any urinary disease. Scans or imaging. Imaging isn’t used very often with urine odor.
What does it mean when your urine is yellow?from healthline.com
Dehydration. Dehydration occurs when you don’t drink enough fluids. If you’re dehydrated, you may notice that your urine is a dark yellow or orange color and smells like ammonia. Most people only experience minor dehydration and don’t require medical treatment.
How to tell if you're dehydrated?from health.com
You can check the color of your urine to confirm whether you're dehydrated. If it's amber- or honey-colored, or even a dark orange, you probably need to up your water intake. But if it's a pale straw or transparent yellow color, you're well hydrated, which means your urine could be smelly for another reason.
How do I get rid of urine smell in my house?
Try mixing about a cup of peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and just a couple drops of dish detergent. Spray the area, allow it to sit for about 20 minutes, and rub the area until the odor is eliminated.
Does mold smell like urine?
That distinctive odor can be an indication of a mold problem. Certain types of mold have a smell similar to cat urine, including dangerous toxic black mold, which should be remediated by a professional. Another source of cat urine odor is ornamental boxwood, a common landscaping shrub.
Why does my house suddenly smell like cat pee?
Multiple things can cause your house to smell like cat urine, even if you don't have a cat. Investigate if there is mold, leaking Freon, sewer gases, smelly plants, spoiled food, or even stains from previous pet owners.
Why does the air smell like pee?
Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee. A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading inside your air conditioner or ductwork.
Why does my heater smell like pee?
A strong odor of urine coming from your HVAC system is often a red flag that some portion of it has now become a mouse house. Mice urinate and defecate frequently in their lairs, and this smell comes out of your vents when the air conditioner or furnace turns on.
Why does my mini split smell like urine?
In some cases, your mini-split smells like urine instead. This is a result of mycotoxins created by the bacterial growth. If you live with someone with allergies or respiratory problems, these mycotoxins can aggravate symptoms.
How do you get rid of cat urine smell if you don't know where it is?
In addition to your detergent, add a quarter cup of a white vinegar to your washer's bleach dispenser. Use the natural power of baking soda to help neutralize cat urine odor in soiled bedding and clothes. Add a half-cup directly to the drum with your clothes, or use a detergent that has baking soda in it.
Why does my house smell like rubber?
Some people refer to this as a urine or burning rubber smell. This could be something electrical in the home overheating and melting its insulating plastic or rubber—which could lead to a fire. The most likely culprit is an appliance, such as a dishwasher, washing machine or an air conditioner.
How to get rid of a smelly toilet?
If that does not solve the problem—or if you see that the water is not draining properly—the odor probably is coming from material clogged in the drain line. Put on rubber gloves, and use a flexible 16-to-18-inch drain-cleaning brush to clear out any gunk from the drain. Next, let the hot water run for a few minutes (or flush the toilet) to confirm that it is now draining properly. Then shut off the water and pour one cup of bleach into the drain. Let the bleach sit for 30 to 60 minutes, then run the hot water (or flush the toilet) again. If the odor persists, you may need to rent or purchase a plumber’s auger or snake to dislodge the clog.
How to find the strongest smell in a room?
Use your nose to find where the smell is strongest, and search everywhere you can in that area. Consider buying and using a small snaking digital inspection camera to peek into walls, behind cabinets and appliances and into other tight spots. Ridgid Hand-Held inspection cameras are a good choice, starting at less than $150.
Why does my gas smell like rotten eggs?
A rotten-egg smell might be a potentially dangerous natural gas leak. Get everyone out of the house—leaving the door and windows open so that some gas can escape—and call your gas company immediately to report the problem and request further instructions. Natural gas itself is odorless, but a sulfurlike rotten-egg smell is added so that leaks will be detected.
How to get rid of musty smell in a room?
Apply an antimicrobial spray to carpets, curtains and fabric-covered furniture in any room that has high humidity and/or a musty odor. Meanwhile, search these rooms for water leaks. Look behind refrigerators and under sinks for wet spots. Visit the room during the next hard rain to look for visible leaks.
What to do if you smell smoke coming from your HVAC?
Warning: Turn off your heating system, and call in an HVAC repair pro if you see smoke coming from vents and/or the burning smell occurs at any time other than the heating system’s first few uses of the season.
How to get rid of a chemical smell from new furniture?
When possible, remove new pressed-wood furniture and carpeting from its packaging and let it air out in your garage for at least an hour, and preferably overnight, before bringing it into your home. If that isn’t feasible, open all the windows in the room and run fans to circulate the air for at least an hour and as long as a full day. That method also works when you are painting interior walls.
The Nose Knows
A home can harbor all sorts of lingering and unpleasant aromas: think cat urine, stale cigar smoke, last Sunday’s fried fish, and stench from the bathroom. The range and nastiness of these smells may explain why more than 249 million Americans reported using air freshener sprays and room deodorizers in 2020, according to U.S.
Rotten Eggs
About half of the homes in the United States use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, or drying clothes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. An undiscovered gas leak could cause a fire or explosion.
A Fishy Smell
If something smells fishy in your home, it might not be the lingering odor from last night's tilapia—in fact, you may want to call an electrician ASAP. That fishy smell is typically a sign that an electrical component is overheating or burning.
Sewage or "Bathroom" Odor
Don’t blame the bean dip! If you have excessive sewage smells emanating from your bathroom, you may want to call the plumber. That smell may mean that your plumbing system or vent pipe is clogged, or that you have a broken sewer pipe.
Cat Urine
Even people without feline friends may smell cat urine, especially after it rains. That distinctive odor can be an indication of a mold problem. Certain types of mold have a smell similar to cat urine, including dangerous toxic black mold, which should be remediated by a professional.
Wet Dog Smell
Nothing smells quite the same as a dirty, wet dog, but squirrels, raccoons, and rats give off a similar odor. So, if you don’t own a pooch but keep getting a whiff of a wet dog, you may have rodents in residence. Many wild animals may bite or have rabies, and through their infected feces they can transmit worms and diseases to humans or pets.
Decomposition
Rotting food has a distinctive sickly-sweet smell that tells our animal brains to stay far, far away. If you notice a rotten smell in your home, it could be that an old potato has fallen into the back of a cabinet. However, a mouse, rat, or other animal may have perished inside your home's walls, ductwork, attic, crawl space, or chimney.
Why does urine smell bad?
According to Everyday Health, people managing incontinence tend to drink less liquid in hopes of reducing troublesome leakage but urine can become highly concentrated and have a bad o dor. And, if there is a pet in the home such as a puppy or senior dog or cat, accidents on carpets and other surfaces may be an issue.
How to keep urine smell out of house?
Here are some tips for keeping the smell of urine out of the home: 1. Practice Good Hygiene. Hygiene is extremely important! Practicing good personal hygiene can be vital in preventing infections, coming into contact with unnecessary bodily fluids and controlling odors.
How to get rid of urine stain on dog?
Try an Enzymatic Cleaner. If it’s a particularly stubborn urine stain, consider using an enzymatic cleaner. Urine from mammals, whether human or pet, contains uric acid crystals. Enzymatic cleaners bind with and destroy the uric acid.
How to get rid of a urine smell?
Mix Baking Soda, Peroxide and Dish Detergent. Make a solution of baking soda, peroxide and any dish detergent. The combination of the three is often powerful enough to drive away even the strongest of urine smells. Mix together 8 fluid ounces of peroxide, 3 tablespoons baking soda and a few drops of dish detergent.
How to keep your home clean?
Hygiene is extremely important! Practicing good personal hygiene can be vital in preventing infections, coming into contact with unnecessary bodily fluids and controlling odors. According to The Ultimate Caregiving Expert, here are tips to maintain an odor-free home: 1 Wash hands with soap and water 2 Use gloves when appropriate 3 Use hand sanitizers 4 Cover mouths and noses while sneezing and coughing 5 Take appropriate measures to keep areas pest- and insect-free
How to clean up urine?
Wipe the area until no urine remains. Even old newspapers can be used to soak up urine. Make sure the area is completely dry. If a towel is used, place it in a plastic garbage bag immediately after cleaning up and throw it away if it cannot be washed and dried without smelling. Heaven Scent Extra Large Disposal Bags offer a larger opening, easy-to-tie handles and an opaque color for discreet disposal of bigger messes, as well as a fresh powder scent to mask odors.
Can incontinence cause odors?
Incontinence can add additional stress in terms of odors and leaks. Whether cleaning up after a cat or dog, a young child, a loved one who is managing incontinence or yourself, it can be difficult to remove urine stains and odors. According to Everyday Health, people managing incontinence tend to drink less liquid in hopes ...
Why does my HVAC smell?
Air filters are a frequent culprit of strange HVAC smells. (Photo by Summer Galyan)
What is the smell of rotten egg drywall?
If the problem persists, you may be suffering from a relatively new issue. Many homeowners in the south and southeastern parts of the United States have reported similar symptoms as yours. Some of these homeowners, whose homes were built after 2000 using imported Chinese drywall, have reported that the drywall emits fumes, which produce a sulfur “rotten egg” odor. The drywall also is believed to corrode coils and wiring throughout the homes. Call your builder to determine if the drywall used in your home was imported, or hire a qualified home inspector or a certified industrial hygienist to check it out.
Why Does Your Toilet Smell of Urine?
If you detect unpleasant urine smells in your bathroom, the most obvious culprit is the toilet itself. However, the smell might not be coming from the bowl, so there are some other areas to check and clean too.
Other cleaning products to try
Above, we’ve mostly recommended using a white vinegar spray to clean your bathroom, but there are some other options you can turn to. Here are some other products you can try:
Final tip
As a final tip, if you can smell urine in your bathroom but can’t locate the source, urine stains show up in UV light, so by turning off the lights and shining a UV light in your bathroom, you will be able to see urine stains that were previously invisible.
A deep clean should resolve the problem
As we have seen, urine smells and other unpleasant odors may come from a range of different places in your bathroom. However, by cleaning the areas we’ve mentioned using the techniques we’ve discussed, a good deep clean of your bathroom should resolve the problem.