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How to remove pet odors and stains in wood subfloor?

user-981606 | Posted in General Questions on

Hi,
I would like to know what is a good approach to removing pet odors and stains in the wood subfloor. thanks

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Louie,
    I can't think of any reason why stains matter on a subfloor. The flooring will cover the stains.

    If you Google "pet odor remover," you will find dozens of cleaning products offered by manufacturers.

  2. user-981606 | | #2

    thanks martin, Its great to be able to ask and get a straight forward response. Have a good one!

  3. user-1087436 | | #3

    Louie,
    A friend of ours, the late Jane Powell, a bungalow restoration expert in Oakland, CA, and author of many books on bungalows, advocated shellac or varnish as a means of containing the odors. As a cat owner and restorer of many old houses, she had a lot of experience at this.

  4. user-1140531 | | #4

    The problem I have noticed with odor removers is that you never know if they will do what they claim to do. If I had this issue with say just a localized area of the subfloor having been heavily affected, I would replace it. It would all depend on the size and degree of the problem. Possibly there are odor removers that have been widely used and proven to be 100% effective. If so, it might be fine to just go ahead and solve the problem with a proven product.

  5. BrianJohnston | | #5

    After cleaning the sub-floor, if the odor still persists I recommend using non toxic, fast drying, water based finish. The residential grade version of these products can easily be purchased by homeowners without the need for a contractors license. I've been refinishing and installing hardwood floors for 17 years and that's my preferred method. Best of luck! :)

  6. user-981606 | | #6

    Great feedback, many thanks to you all!

  7. wjrobinson | | #7

    BIN is used too.

  8. mrbreadpuddin | | #8

    I have used BIN which is shellac based and it works, but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and rip out the subfloor.

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