I have some bad odors in my clothes

[rurallib]

We had a cat get a type of diarrhea last summer. She quit using the litter box and would go in unseen places.
We had to have her put to sleep. But her problem has left me with problems.

First, where she went on our wood floors, we have spots that seem to be black. I am assuming that is mold. I have tried to scrub, scrub, scrub with a mold killer and with various household cleaners. While I have removed much of it, it all just doesn't seem to clear up. When the weather warms, I will be getting odors again. I want so badly to get it clean so I can refinish the floor. I doubt I can sand it out without ruining the floor.

Second, I have a about 10 clothing items that seem to have the smell in them. Seems only I can smell it but it is driving me nuts.
I have tried washing in the mold killer, Febreeze, various laundry soaps and white vinegar. I can toss the clothes if I must when the weather warms.

I have yet to try any citrus products such as orange. I saw someone say peppermint oil can absorb smells.

Fortunately, the washing machine seems to be free of odor.

Thank you for any help. I will check back occasionally to see what you got.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. You need a cleaner with enzymes. Seriously.

they are advertised all over the web, you can look them up and find out about them.
They have enzymes that destroy the odor bacteria.
I had to use one to clean old carpet over old plywood, in a porch that had been home to 7 cats.
Finally ended up tearing up the carpet, bathing the sub-flooring with the cleaner.
It worked.
don't remember the name of it, it was advertised as pet odor remover.
Enzymes seem to be the key.

[rurallib]

2. I have used BIZ and let them soak over a day

Honestly this is an odor unlike anything i have ever seen. And me with a sensitive nose.
Thanks, i will take a look.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. This thread has many recommnedations, one stands out.

Urine off.

Might be worth a glance.

http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-7780.html

[rurallib]

4. Thanks a bunch, I will check it out.

although it is not exactly urine stains.
Looks like pet stores may carry it.

[emilyg]

5. For my cat stinks I launder with

Purex Ultra with Renuzit. Works for me.

[NV Whino]

6. I have used Arm and Hammer detergent

Also have thrown in pure baking soda in wash cycle. It works on most things.

As for the floor, it it's soaked into the wood grain, the black may not come out.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. As to the wood floor, you are stuck with it. Sorry about that.

I know. I have those marks too. I use a rug where I can get away with it, and call it character where I can't hide it. I have solid hardwood, and I was told that it can't be sanded out because of how far down urine soaks into the wood. If you have the newer wood flooring, it definitely is soaked through it since it is such thin pieces. I hate to bear bad news and hope someone else can repute this.

When all else fails for odors in clothes, I will swish and soak them in hydrogen peroxide. I have no idea if it works on everything, but it helps for many odors. (Also is the best way to remove blood stains easily.)

[trud]

8. Nature's Miracle

designed for exactly that. Let them really soak in it. You may need to repeat. Most all pet stores carry it.

As for the floors, as far as I know, you are out of luck. But possibly you have enough matching wood in closets and can swap it with the black areas.

[cate94]

9. I agree with trying the enzyme cleaners

but if the wood is stained you really can't get the stain out without using wood bleach, which is very hard to work with and I don't really recommend. You could sand and then stain the whole floor dark, however, don't add full strength stain at the problem area itself - try instead to blend it in... Resealing it will completely end the problem with the smell. A good flooring company could probably patch in new wood at the problem areas, if staining the floor dark isn't an option for you.

[Paper Roses]

10. When my daughters dog was sprayed by a skunk, the product

suggested to her was to wash the dog with Peroxide. Well, that worked for the dog. Did I mention that my daughter was on the other end of the leash?

She was able to shower off, and wash her clothes but her new sneakers stunk to high heaven.

They were new, fairly expensive sneaks and after a ton of washings that did nothing, I got her a big 5 gallon bucket and a tub of Oxyclean.

Dissolved about a cup in hot water, threw is sneaks. Weighted them down with a glass plate so they were completely covered and waited about a week.

Came out of that 'brew' smelling like new.
This may not work for everything, I think most of these products do little but it was good for 'skunk'. May help you.

[trud]

11. Oxyclean?

Does that remove visible stains well? Is it perfumed? I have 2-3 things that are quite stained, and I tried some other stain remover whose name escapes me. It sort of worked on the stains, after 3-4 soakings, but it was so highly perfumed that after 4-5 subsequent washings stuff still smells like perfume.

I never have figured out how to get my gardening sneakers to look decent. Even letting them soak in diluted bleach is not sufficient.

[Lars39]

12. Bac-azap is what a pest control guy told us to use to get rid of skunk smell:

http://www.pestproducts.com/bac-azap.htm

Said it would work on any bacterial caused smell.

[LiberalEsto]

13. Here's what I do with pet stains on clothes and bedding

1. Spray with Nature's Miracle and let that soak in and dry for a few hours.

2. Set the washing machine to the soak cycle with warm water and put in the items along with a hefty scoopful of Oxyclean.

3. When the machine finishes soaking and rinsing, and moves into the wash cycle, put in more Oxyclean and a scoop of Trader Joe's laundry detergent (I'm sure just about any kind will work fine, but gthis is one of the few I'm not allergic to).

If this doesn't get rid of the problem completely, try the soak cycle/wash cycle a second time.

I've used this successfully to get rid of cat pee and dog vomit on clothes and sheets.