Unsealed Kitchen concrete floor and wall stinks of mouse urine - PLEASE HELP

Flatknuckles

We got the keys to our house a week ago. 1960's ex council house in Dublin. On Friday night we were over the moon. Drank champagne and got drunk on dreams of the future. On Saturday, I got a smell from the kitchen behind the cabinets. Smelt like urine. Pulled the washing machine out and found filth. Pulled the cabinets out and the full reality of the situation was revealed. Loads of mouse droppings and overwhelming smell of urine.

Sweet suffering jesus. Bought a hazmat suit, gloves, good mask. Removed as much of that as i could. Sprayed everything with a 50/50 bleach water solution before moving it. Smell still there. I've used enzyme cleaner but the smell is still there. A full bottle of flash antibac lemon stuff used. About a pound of baking soda has been left on it for days. No effect. Along with loads of expensive enzyme cleaner which just seems to have made things worse but it could be part of the process. I've been hunting the internet for solutions but it's time I discuss this!

I met the neighbour yesterday. Turns out the previous occupants had a different view to mice to us in Ireland. They were feeding the mice and their children were playing with them. Unbelievable. Anyway, rentokill had been out a few times before our possession of the house and poison was put down. basic attempts were made to block the access for the mice. They didn't bother investigating under the sink area shown in the photo above. The outside area shown below will need have work done to repair and seal any areas that the mice could enter. they did a piecemeal attempt at repair.

In terms of the holes in the wall and cracks along the floor edge, I've put expanding foam in as a short term measure and I have just learned about the joys of SIka cement. I'll be filling all holes with this stuff asap so that there is no way in for the furry friends.

My question is how the hell do I get the smell gone?!!!! I have read about ozone being used, vinegar, bleach, wash, wet vac up repeat until the smell is gone. then use a strong cement sealer to lock in the smell. But in the same article, there is mention of having to diamond grind to the concrete.

Can any of you help sort through the mess in my head and kitchen? Herself is traumatised. This was supposed to be a special time for us and instead it's turned into a bit of a nightmare. I want to get this sorted as quickly as possible. Happy to hire specialists that deal with this sort of stuff but rentokill seem to be more about the killing and not the cleaning. I'll leave you with a photo of the space now i've cleaned it up a bit. but it still stinks of mouse urine and all the various chemicals i've used.

And yes, i know the plumbing is a horror and the electricity cabling is even worse. I've an electrician over later and the plumber that'll be doing some larger works is over later too. the bottle with orange stuff in it that is holding a cable off the floor has a label on it that say orchid food. I'd say it's just a bottle of piss. It's now in the bin. FML. I paid how much for this?

Thanks for any help or suggestions on getting rid of the smell!

put_the_kettle_on

I've lived with dogs and cats all my life so have experienced many " accidents " and I've found that bleach based cleaners are useless. The best thing I've found is a strong solution in hot water of biological washing powder. Maybe slosh some around and leave it to soak for a while before mopping it off ?

Flatknuckles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119658288#Comment_119658288

Thanks put the kettle on. That is a good idea. I've tried everything else! Thing is, this is months and months of mouse urine - possibly years - not an isolated bit of wee wee accident.

Flatknuckles

Does anyone know of any specialist industrial cleaners?

lucalux

First off I'm sorry you had such a surprise, and congrats on your new home. You'll have this sorted and be able to look back and laugh at it soon hopefully!

Just wondering, you've tried bleach, benzalkonium chloride (the anti bac stuff I presume is that), you've tried baking soda, but antiseptic disinfectant of Chloroxylenol (Dettol) is one you haven't tried.

If I were you I would buy a few cans of oven cleaner (caustic soda) and douse the place under the sink just to break down grease/oils etc that have built up there over the years. Leave as long as a day, scrub and wipe up.

The disinfectant might actually penetrate into the concrete better if there's no oils and muck sitting on top of it.

Get a few good scrubbing brushes and agitate everything you put on there as you will help drive some of the cleaners into the porous surface of the concrete as well maybe. Probably needs patience, and time, possibly reapplications.

I'd do the walls underneath the cabinets too, looks like a bit of black mould.

Not to be a downer, but have you removed other kickboards in the kitchen/moved other appliances? Might be worth checking out the rest of that area beneath and do anything that needs doing at the one time.

Hopefully someone will have something tried and true they know works, and help you out with their experience on here before long!

wiz569

Have you tried a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water? We use it for cat urine smells.

KAGY

No help, but just want to warn you about mixing cleaners, bleach and any acid even vinegar will release poisonous Chlorine gas.

Not sure about the story when one has dried for a few days before applying the other.

Best of luck in the new home

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058264661/unsealed-kitchen-concrete-floor-and-wall-stinks-of-mouse-urine-please-help

Bleach, bleach and more bleach. Not just the cheap stuff. Must be domestos.

Welcome to owning an older home. It only gets worse mate. Older homes are a nightmare.

Flatknuckles

Worse! NO!

Thanks for the tips. Good one about the chlorine gas. Jayzus, that does sound dangerous.

Been asking around as you do in a situation like this. I might have a damp problem as well as a historical mouse problem. The damp will keep reactivating the urine smell. The state of the plumbing etc on that wall, the damp proof course could be compromised. Plus, there should be a trap on the plumbing and smells could be coming in that way too.

Mad a big decision earlier with herself and we are going to strip out EVERYTHING and get to the bottom of this and then put in a new kitchen. It'll be easier to actually scrub stuff properly. Good idea about removing all the grease first to allow penetration of the bleach. What's different about domestos to other bleach?

minibear

We got a young border collie puppy last summer and had plenty of 'accidents' while toilet training. He was brought in as a companion for our 11 year old border collie whose sister had died. We had them as babies too. I have always used bleach as just about the best thing I could find to help with cleaning up but there was always just a hint of something lingering under the bleach smell. My sister recommended trying a particular Flash floor cleaner. It was hard to find. It's a blue/green liquid. Only one of the local tesco branches stock it. It's the one with a dog on the front. I presume it must have pet or dog in the name but I can't remember. Anyway it was fantastic for eliminating the smells.

Flatknuckles

Well, after all that, it's hard to know what the smell is/was. Extraordinary smell of grease and dirt too. I'm in the process of ripping out the kitchen. The plan is scrub the floor as much as possible. Then seal. Then put self leveling concete down and seal again. It's going to take a while to get everything done. But, i'm getting more confident it'll be ok as the days go on.

shoegirl

Surprised Rentokill hadn't done a better job. They usually get in drain specialists to have a look at the drains as well as contractors to sort the cracks and gaps. The smell of grease sounds suspiciously like the drain needs cleaning - its this smell that attracts rodents & once they get the whiff from external sewers they'll come to investigate. Get your drains checked and clearned - the first time is expensive, but they often also change out the drain covers and put in anti rodent one way devices.

I had a problem like this also, but the smell turned out to be the smell of greasy drain and once that was cleaned and cleared, the other issues went away and the stink vanished. Rentokill contractors cemented in the gaps around the pipework & other gaps which were originally caused by a jungle of weeds growing around the pavements outside which eventually got everywhere.

Good luck with it anyway.

HeatherSan

Hi, thanks for the tips on this problem!