Some people's kids...

[wombat2u2004]

How do you get concrete to smell that bad?

Concrete soaks up fluids. So whatever the fluid was (urine), is now dry and inside the concrete, so the smell will always be there.
The only way I know to get rid of the smell is to seal the floor. Most floor sealers are very watery....and you can apply it with a soft broom. It'll soak in and neutralise anything that was soaked in before.

[mruffruff]

Exterminators (Pest Control people) use a product called Bac-A-Zap. It kills the smell of dead animals and anything else instantly. Use it on any and all spots, wall or floor. Soak the area well. Let it dry. Then coat with a sealer. I prefer Zinser 123 over Kilz.

[Medusa]

Probably the carpet was peed on by the dogs and the people decided after that to put the dogs in the garage but the damage had already been done. More than likely they slept w/the little girl and they probably peed on the bed as well, which is why it soaked all the way through. Believe me, after cleaning houses for a living, I'm not surprised by anything that I read or hear. I could tell you horror stories (but I won't). This is mild compared to some of the things I've seen. As for removing stains and odor, Cataholic and Wombat gave you some good advice so I have nothing further to add except to say that I'm sorry that you have to go through all this just to make your home livable. Can you imagine what these kids are going to be like as adults? A scary thought.

[kitten645]

I'm not a kid person at all. I love my neices and nephews and they are very well behaved. However, the problem isn't the kids, it's the parents 100%. The problem isn't the dogs, it's the owners 100%. You have to have a license to drive a car. There should be some sort of parenting skills necessary to have a kid. Any fool can have a kid. It takes alot of work to be a parent.
Good luck on your destinking. The price you pay (or don't) for a foreclosure.

[moosmom]

Just spoke with two women I work with in rescue. Both SWEAR by Anti Icky-Poo!! I read the container and it swears it gets rid of urine in concrete!!!! You can get it online. I know you may need a gallon, but it might be worth a shot!

[jennielynn1970]

Exterminators (Pest Control people) use a product called Bac-A-Zap. It kills the smell of dead animals and anything else instantly. Use it on any and all spots, wall or floor. Soak the area well. Let it dry. Then coat with a sealer. I prefer Zinser 123 over Kilz.

That's what I use too. It kills anything that is biological. It works like a charm, but it a little on the $$ side. But definitely worth it.

[ramanth]

The house I bought, the previous owners locked the dogs in one of the bedrooms and the cats in the master bathroom. The whole house reeked of urine.

In both rooms, I ripped up the carpet, scrubbed the floor boards with bleach, and then applied two coats of Kilz primer. The Kilz has an odor, but once it dried, the urine smell was completely gone.

I highly recommend Kilz. I bought the original oil based version.

http://www.masterchem.com/masterchem...008a05d103RCRD

I totally understand your frustration. My walls weren't drawn on, but they were filthy. A good coat of primer and new paint will take care of that.

I had the carpets professionally cleaned as well. There are still stains (and a glob of dried wax that will never come out), but furniture covers most of it.

Congrats on the new place!!

[moosmom]

Hey Kimmy,

A secret to removing dried on wax...heat up your iron on "non-steam" put a piece of paper towel over the wax and press the irong on it. Keep doing it wth a clean piece of paper towel till it all comes up.

I did that when I moved out of MI. Works great!!!

[Medusa]

You beat me to it, Donna, except that I was going to say to use waxpaper instead of a paper towel. It really does work. I burn candles every day and, although I'm exceptionally careful especially b/c of the cats, once in a while drippage occurs.

[ramanth]

My entertainment center currently covers the wax. But that's good to know!

Amy, glad the Kilz worked for you. I still have to put some kind of flooring in the guest room. I can't decide between wood floors or carpet.

Mom said I should just paint a mural over the white. lol!