How to Get Rid of Urine Odor in the Tile Around a Toilet

Drips and dribbles can collect on the tile flooring around a toilet and create a problem if not taken care of quickly. When urine collects on the seat, exterior and base of a toilet, it will eventually emit an unpleasant odor. Cleaning up urine promptly and thoroughly is the best way to keep those acrid odors from ruining the space.

Mopping or dry-dusting the tile floor on a regular basis will keep urine, as well as dirt and body oils, from finding their way into the crevices of the tile floor. For hardened urine stains, a mix of baking soda , mild dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide can remove the stain as well as any bacteria that linger on the floor.

Mix 8 ounces of the hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of dish detergent. Spray down the area and let it sit on the stains for around 15 minutes. Scrub the solution into the stained area before rinsing well and buffing dry.

A simpler solution involves spraying undiluted vinegar directly on the stains. Let the vinegar sit on the stains for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing the area. Rinse and dry.

If you still get an unfortunate whiff of urine after using the usual cleaners to spruce up your bathroom, then try using stronger cleaners and more stringent methods. NorthShore Care suggests using a black light to locate stains.

Turn off the light in the bathroom or use the black light at night to find the illuminated areas where urine has collected. Mark the areas with chalk or other easily removable material so you can easily find the areas in the light and remove the urine.

Apply cleaners to the marked urine spots. A long-handled scrub brush dipped in baking soda or commercial cleaner can get into nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach. Use a cotton swab or old toothbrush to access otherwise inaccessible small areas and tight spots.

A whiff of acrid urine odor lingering after you've thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the toilet fixture, floor and surrounding walls may mean that the odor and bacteria have seeped into the grout of the tile flooring or walls. To remove urine odor from grout, Good Housekeeping suggests using a grout cleanser, followed up with an odor-busting paste of baking soda mixed with a little water, which you should apply, let dry and wipe away.

A commercial cleaner, such as UrineOut Powder, can remove stubborn stains from porous grout, according to Planet Urine. Rub the UrineOut Powder cleaning sponges over the affected area, working it into the narrow strips of grout. Let the cleaning agents dry over the area and absorb the old urine. Then simply vacuum up the remains.

If the grout is not sealed and you find yourself spot-checking for yellow puddles and cleaning up urine on a regular basis, then you may want to clean and reseal the grout. The water repellent will keep the tile looking fresh and is resistant to errant spills of liquids and the accidental urine stain.