Eradicating Urine Smell From Root Cellar?

Question

My parents live in a century home that has a root cellar (dirt floor & all) instead of a basement. Recently, their cats have begun to urinate in the basement. (The cats are healthy and have never used a litter box, so please don't post answers regarding that) My question is how do we eradicate the urine smell in the root cellar? It's nearly impossible to locate the area where the cats are urinating, and if/when we do, how do we go about cleaning it so it doesn't reek? It's beginning to make the entire house smell bad.

Answer 1

Spray some vinegar down there....you can try to dilute it with water. Vinegar works very well on pet odours...and its inexpensive....the strong vinegar smell will absorb the urine odor and disappear.

Answer 2

ICK - that is hard to get rid of - However, if they get a few bags of Lime and spread it around on the dirt floor it will absorb the odor.

Once that is done - try to keep the cats out of the cellar - or they will just keep doing it.

Even though you said you did not want help about the cats using the litter box - they can be trained - even if they have never used one - get a litter box - fill it with litter - take them to the litter box - rub their paws into the litter and they will start using it.

Answer 3

Take a few gallons of vinegar down there,it will work and deter the cats from voiding down there.Get rid of some of the cats.Too many will stink up any place.

Answer 4

I think mouthwash would be preferable, though biologically speaking it is probably more dangerous than pickle juice. Have you drunk a great deal of mouthwash or other mint-flavoured alcohol lately? Go see your doctor if this continues.

Answer 5

Since it's a dirt floor could you perhaps cement it in..?
If not try ground up charcoal/baking soda and then fill it in with new dirt...