So I’ve been sopping it up with paper towels and then spraying with Windex and sopping that up with paper towels. No urine odor left behind, but DD sez Windex is bad for my maple floors (which are coated with a plasticky urethane-y substance so not bare or waxed).
The other thing I thought of was diluted bleach.
When I search for cleaning up urine, it seems they assume it’s animal urine or been there a long time, whereas I find it immediately or close to. Not soaked into the floor. Well, maybe soaked into the grout in the bathrooms & laundry room.
Advice? Should I try LBYM or the home maintenance board?
IIRC, DD also sez you & hubby should fly up to visit her. I don’t think she comprehends the scope of what you’re dealing with. Really, she’s worried about your floors?
…diluted bleach…
If any drips get onto clothes, carpet, upholstery, then those will be ruined. I would steer clear of bleach, even diluted.
If Windex works and is not visibly damaging the wood, no problem sticking with that.
Although, if you do want to ditch the Windex, then products for animal urine would be the logical next thing to try.
Remembering when our old old beloved dog began having bathroom accidents in the apartment we had then, which had wood floors and a large area rug in the living room. I learned the cleaning and anti-stain, anti-odor properties of club soda. Use it simply to mop up on hard surfaces. On a rug, leave it to soak for a little while, then scrub and let dry. Perhaps this would be something to try. I would also try a spray cleaner from 7th Generation. Their products clean well without being destructive to surfaces and the environment.
When I moved into a rental with stained grout in the bathroom floor tile, I had it steam cleaned, and that got rid of the odor. (Still had to whiten the grout so it would look better. Then sealed it.)
When I prepped my dad’s house for sale, I had the bathroom floor tiles steam cleaned and re-grouted. That got rid of the odor and discoloration. They then looked brand new. (I took the toilets out, one at a time obviously, while this was done, so that the floor under the toilets was also cleaned and re-grouted.)
So if your cleaning promptly isn’t adequate for the grout, don’t worry about it. You can have it steam cleaned every 6 months or so, or whenever needed.
Thx all. We have no stains or odors as I wipe up the pee immediately, and it isn’t strong smelling or dark or anything. SO I don’t think those specialty products are what I need. I just want a regular cleaning product that won;t harm the floor so I can be sure I got every drop of urine up. Seems like a base (like ammonia) would be good “against” an acid like urine (but I only got a B in chemistry-)
HUBSTER’S LOW-ISH POTASSIUM MEALS TODAY (I ha en;t shopped yet so can only offer the lowest K I have on hand)
BR–organic corn meal mush w/ground flax & toasted sunflower seeds, maple syrup and cream. Coffee. Prune juice.
mid-morning–tea
LU–leftover mac & cheese w/ham (DS & GF made a couple days ago), baby romaine & persian cucumber w/olive oil & vinegar. Sparkling water with an ounce or so of oj.
SNACK–4 oz cherry Greek yogurt
DN-- (emergency rations) frozen Bell & Evans organic fried chicken tenders w/ frozen org veg medley (peas, carrots, corn) w/lemon squeezed over all. Ya know, it was alright, if too carby for me. Better than institutional food.
Berries & walnuts for dessert.
Seems like a base (like ammonia) would be good “against” an acid like urine (but I only got a B in chemistry-)
Ammonia can be very destructive. And it’s also very irritating for people with respiratory alergies, asthma, etc. I would avoid it.
The suggestion of Murphy’s is excellent for wood floors. You could try it on tile to make sure it doesn’t make anything more slippery. If so, then I’d use either the Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers. They do a good job, and won’t damage the surfaces you’re cleaning. I particularly like Mrs. Meyers. And Murphy’s. Murphy’s is great for stain removal on clothes too. Wet the stain and put some Murphy’s on full strength and let it sit for a while.
When I search for cleaning up urine, it seems they assume it’s animal urine or been there a long time, whereas I find it immediately or close to. Not soaked into the floor. Well, maybe soaked into the grout in the bathrooms & laundry room.
Advice? Should I try LBYM or the home maintenance board?"
Couldn’t hurt. Here are a few sites that may help - but you might also call a cleaning service to talk about what might work in your situation.
URINE is sterile because it contains no living organisms, unless the person that produces is unlucky enough to have a urinary tract or bladder infection. There are less bacteria in urine than in tap water, for example.
URINE is sterile because it contains no living organisms, unless the person that produces is unlucky enough to have a urinary tract or bladder infection. There are less bacteria in urine than in tap water, for example.
OT - gives (at least me) a new take on the Stillsuits from Dune
Just a quick note that Consumers Reports has a section on cleaning floors in the current
issue - came yesterday in the mail. While the article does not specifically discuss bodily
fluids, the discussions do cover some compatibility issues of flooring and cleaning
products.
Plus it’s smell is not exactly my fave.