How to Seal Pet Odor on Floors

Pet urine is difficult to clean, and is rarely ever removed entirely from floors. The pet's age, diet, health and gender can determine the harshness of urine staining, as well as the strength of odors left behind. Cat urine is typically harder to clean than dog urine, so products for cats work well for both. But once urine, which is Comprised of proteins, saturates subflooring or cement, stains and odors can be permanent unless the floor is properly sealed.

Locate the urine soaked areas with a black light, which can be purchased at home supply stores or some pet stores. Turn off all lights in the room and block out any sunlight before you turn on the black light. Affected areas will glow, including old stains that may no longer emit an odor.

Strip hardwood flooring of varnish or polyurethane before you clean the surface.

Clean the area with hot, soapy water to remove surface urine; allow it to dry. If the floor is concrete, wash it a second time with undiluted or mildly diluted bleach, and allow it to dry.

Apply a pet urine enzyme cleaner to break down the urine proteins. These come in sprays, foams or liquids, and can be purchased at pet stores, home supply stores, and even online. Various products include Nature's Miracle, Safe Solutions Enzyme Cleaner, or Urine Gone! Stain & Odor Remover. Saturate the affected area with the enzyme cleaner and keep it wet for several days. Allow it to air dry before inspecting with the black light to ensure the stains have dissipated.

Choose a sealer that is appropriate for the type of flooring you wish to cover. Concrete will require a special sealer made specifically for concrete, such as Concrete Remedy or Thompsons Concrete Care Sealer. Most surfaces, including brick, plaster, masonry, drywall, plaster, paneling, painted metal, glossy surfaces and even metal work can be covered in Kilz, which can be purchased in various sizes from home improvement stores.

Pour the sealer into a paint tray or bucket. Apply the sealer with either a brush or a roller for small areas, or a mop to seal entire floors. Use the product generously, but avoid leaving puddles on the surface of the floor. Allow it to dry.

Inspect the floor for odors before determining if it needs a second coat. This should be rare.