How To Permanently Stop Urine Smell In Concrete
Some years back my company was hired to clean and seal a large church’s concrete bathroom floors. They were remodeling the bathrooms and had pulled up some old VCT laminate tiles. Underneath the tiles was old concrete that had been soaking up urine for years. The concrete stunk to high heaven, especially when it got wet. We cleaned the concrete with enzyme cleaners over and over again but it still stunk. We had to figure out how to permanently stop urine smell in concrete ASAP. If we couldn’t, we would have to walk away from this job with our tales between our legs.
Recently I had been turned onto this deep penetrating sealer which helped dry out concrete while it cured. So I called the CEO (which was my close friend’s father) and asked him about this situation. He explained how their sealer would push out any moisture, eliminating the water the bad bacteria used to live. In addition, it neutralized the bacteria, and waterproofed the substrate. This locked in the dead bacteria and locked out any new bacteria from entering the concrete. Was this the miracle product for our job?
Our New Solution
So we sealed the old concrete with the Creto DPS and let it cure for a couple of days. When we came back the pastor was amazed that the urine smell had dissipated. This was great news! We then top coated the floor which left it with a nice satin sheen. You don’t even know how ecstatic we were… beers after work today!
Since then I’ve used countless surface sealers but one thing I haven’t changed is treating the concrete with Creto DPS before putting down surface sealers. It works so well for this specific application I had to share this info with the world.
Below is my system for cleaning and sealing concrete specifically when urine or other organic materials have been introduced to the substrate. Follow these instructions on how to permanently stop urine smell in concrete and you’ll be amazed with the results… like I was!
Here’s The Process:
- Remove any paint, adhesives, or sealant from the concrete. (Floor stripping tutorial and information here)
- Open up the pores. This can be done by pressure washing, sanding, diamond grinding, or cleaning the floor with an acidic cleaner like Revive.
- Clean the floor with enzyme cleaner. This will help remove the urine smell from the top of the concrete. Fro example, cleaners like Xtacular work even better since they have bacteria that eats up the bad bacteria for a couple weeks after you’re done cleaning.
- Apply the Creto DPS. Watch our video below on how to apply Creto DPS for best results. It’s super easy! Allow the sealer to cure for 24-72 hours depending on the temperature.
- Apply a non-breathable surface sealer if needed. Now you’re good to go!
To sum it up, this is the best and most effective way to permanently stop urine smell in concrete… hands down!
More Info On How To Permanently Stop Urine Smell In Concrete
How do you stop urine smell in concrete when it’s an extremely porous substrate that absorbs most liquids? Sealing your concrete can help prevent this from happening. For instance, most penetrating sealants break down over time. Likewise, topical / surface sealants eventually break down and wear off, leaving exposed areas. Public or private bathrooms, kennels, stables, etc. can all have urine penetrate into their concrete floors which makes the areas unsanitary and stink badly.
Personally, I think for a finished concrete look using the Creto DPS along with a non-breathable sealer like Sweet Concrete Coating is the best way to go. Another option which requires less maintenance is polished concrete. We recently released Odor Shield penetrating sealer which is similar to Creto DPS. Specifically, this sealer can be used during the polishing process to increase the density and shine of polished concrete. It holds back any preexisting odors and doesn’t allow new bacteria to migrate back into the concrete.
Does Cleaning Work?
Daily cleaning can disinfect the surface of the floors but the bacteria hides deep inside the substrate causing awful smells to continue. However, Odor Shield permanently stops the penetration of urine and other organic compounds into the substrate. For example, unlike other penetrating sealers, Odor Shield penetrates deep into the substrate, crystallizing throughout the concrete. This process will permanently stop any moisture or bacteria from penetrating into the concrete. As Odor Shield cures it pushes out, or locks in other substances like ammonia and bacteria. Consequently, it will work great on old concrete that has already been desecrated.
That said, odor causing bacteria can still build up on the surface of the concrete. To remove this bacteria I use Odor Kleanz enzyme / beneficial bacteria cleaner. This stuff eats up all of the bad bacterial for up to a week after cleaning which is great! That means floors don’t have to be cleaned as often as using an ordinary enzyme cleaner.
Is a Surface Sealer Needed?
First off, Creto DPS can be used as a stand alone sealer. That said, using a non-breathable surface sealer like Zero Seal or Sweet Concrete Coating will add a barrier of protection. It will also make cleaning the floors so much easier.
You can apply one coat before installing laminate flooring or carpet. To clarify, apply two coats for a finished concrete look. Personally, I like to use Zero Seal because it can be applied to any type of concrete. Diamond grinding is required before you apply Sweet Concrete Coating. For commercial bathrooms I’ll use the Sweet Concrete Coating and add a 100 grit polypropylene to give the coating more slip resistance. This coating practically lasts forever and makes daily cleaning a cinch. The high chemical resistance of this coating makes it perfect for bathroom, kennel, and veterinary applications.
Easy enough, right?
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Here’s more info on the dangers of feces and urine contamination.
