How to Get Rid of the Smell of Human Urine

Incontinence is a common problem among the elderly

The sad fact is that, with incontinence a common problem among the elderly, stale wee is a smell that can become all too familiar when you’re caring for an aging loved one at home, or running a care home.

And when that telltale stench hits your nostrils, it’s impossible to ignore. It can leave a home or care home smelling as though it’s been badly neglected. It’s stressful for you and other care providers, and a little embarrassing for the person themselves.

So, what can you do to get rid of the smell of human urine?

Why is pee such a hard smell to get rid of?

The smell of wee is hard to banish because it contains stinky waste compounds including ammonia and uric acid. And when urine dries on a soft surface, those very same compounds dry into the carpet, curtains, mattresses, upholstery – even the wallpaper! – resulting in a revolting smell that lingers on and on.

Even when you’ve changed bed linen and shampooed the carpets, tiny microscopic particles can still remain floating about in the air, especially when the room is small, hot or not sufficiently ventilated.

You might try tackling the problem with bleach, scrubbing away for the umpteenth time this week – but that puts fabrics at risk and creates unhealthy fumes that smell almost as bad. 

⚠️ Air fresheners and scented candles won’t do anything more than mask the smell, and their fragrance can mingle with it to make it even worse.

Luckily, there IS a way to remove the distressing smell of urine from the air – it’s called the Smell Away®.

The Smell Away® air purifier is specifically built to get rid of stubborn smells, neutralising odours by trapping them in a charcoal filter and keeping them safely stored away out of range of your nose. 👃 It works on all kinds of horrid smells – including, you’ll be pleased to hear, pee.

How Smell Away® removes the smell of urine

Smell Away® is a specialist air purifier designed to trap bad smells like urine. Here’s how it works:

• Long-lasting active charcoal filter – unlike HEPA filters, which only trap particles like pollen and pollutants, charcoal filters absorb odours at the molecular level, which includes those smelly urine compounds like ammonia and uric acid – and the Smell Away® filter will only need changing once every one or two years (compared to every three to six months for many air purifiers)
• Effortless to use – no faff involved in using Smell Away® – just plug it in, switch it on and let it get to work for as long as it’s needed, with no maintenance required beyond very occasional filter replacement
• Quiet and low-energy – this unintrusive device has a low noise level and runs at minimum energy consumption, so it won’t disrupt the peace OR your bank statements

And there’s a bonus: if you also happen to be allergic to dust, pollen or pet hair, the Smell Away® will get rid of those, too.

And volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by many common household substances, including cleaning products and air fresheners (which you might already have been using to try and banish the pee smell). The result: cleaner, purer, healthier air, with no nasty smells to impact your quality of life.

Where to use Smell Away® to get rid of wee smells

You can use Smell Away® anywhere around your home (or care home), so if someone’s had an ‘accident’ you can simply move this easily portable device where it’s needed and let it quietly do its thing – whether that’s at the scene of a bedroom bed-wetting incident, by the loo (smelly toilet remedy alert) or in the hallway where someone didn’t quite make it to the bathroom in time.

If you’re using Smell Away® in a care home, it makes sense to invest in several and place them in areas where smells are most noticeable, such as outside bedrooms or bathrooms, or in communal areas. Your residents, care workers and visitors alike will thank you for it!

For best results, use Smell Away® alongside good cleaning practices

Smell Away® is a powerful way to tackle airborne smells, and you’ll notice the difference fast. For even better results, combine it with getting smart on cleaning to keep things fresh-smelling and hygienic, such as:

• Clean quickly after accidents – this stops smelly urine compounds drying in
• Try enzyme-based cleaners – these help break down those organic compounds
• Do laundry regularly – cleaning fabrics frequently – including bedding, clothing and upholstery – stops them becoming a lingering source of stale urine smells

Good ventilation is always beneficial where possible, as maintaining good airflow through the room keeps fresh air coming in to replace the smelly air. But if that’s not an option, don’t worry – Smell Away® is ideal for closed rooms, including when it’s too cold to open the window, maintaining a fresh atmosphere without external ventilation.

We're so confident you'll be satisfied with your Smell Away® that you can return it within 30 days of purchase, even if you've used it, for any reason.

See our full returns and refunds policy.

Give the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser a try - you won't be disappointed.