MetaChat REGISTER   ||   LOGIN   ||   IMAGES ARE OFF   ||   RECENT COMMENTS




artphoto by splunge
artphoto by TheophileEscargot
artphoto by Kronos_to_Earth
artphoto by ethylene

Home

About

Search

Archives

Mecha Wiki

Metachat Eye

Emcee

IRC Channels

IRC FAQ


 RSS


Comment Feed:

RSS

14 April 2009

And Now for Something Completely Different: A question about how to deal with the lingering odor of dog (rather than cat) urine. [More:]
So our adorable little rescue dog Duncan continues to settle in pretty well. He still marks now and then, though, which isn't usually a problem because he tends to do his thing on surfaces that are easy to clean.

HOWEVER! He recently peed on the portable radiator we use in the bathroom. I wiped it down with the same Nature's Miracle solution we've been using everywhere else, and assumed that all would be fine. Until... I turned the radiator on the next morning, got in the shower, and was greeted after a few minutes by the wafting scent of WARM, GENTLY SIMMERING DOG PEE.

So I cleaned the radiator again, figuring I must have just missed a spot. But today: same thing! So I cleaned it a third time, but I'm worried that it's just going to keep happening. What gives? It's not like the radiator is exactly porous. Any ideas or suggestions?
Turn it on outside and wait for all the pee inside it to burn off? That's all I got, unfortunately, and I'm operating on the theory that some pee went into the radiator somehow, which could be crazy. But still, maybe if you just keep it running where you can't smell it it will go away? Dog pee, while not as immediately pervasive as the cat kind, can still be damn bad, as I know to my sorrow.
posted by mygothlaundry 14 April | 13:35
If your portable radiator is like the ones I know, there are basically a bunch of seams where metal overlaps metal along the edges, and the pee probably got inside that way.

I like MGL's suggestion of running it outside for a day or two. I don't think you really would want to use more cleaner on it, because it's just going to get inside too, and at some point you could start to monkey with the electronics in a not very good way.
posted by mudpuppie 14 April | 13:47
there are basically a bunch of seams where metal overlaps metal along the edges, and the pee probably got inside that way.

Ah, that totally makes sense! I bet you're right.

Turning it on outside and seeing if we can get it to burn off is a good idea -- I'll run an extension cord onto the porch tonight and see if that does the trick.
posted by scody 14 April | 14:15
Drench it with white vinegar, rinse with water, run it outside.
posted by theora55 14 April | 14:27
You might have to disassemble it somewhat, but pretty much everything can be washed if you come to it properly. Pull it apart so that any water runs out, wash it out and leave it until it's really, really, dry, then see what happens.

Um, unplug it first ;-)
posted by dg 14 April | 15:22
Piggybacking on dg's suggestion. . .if you disassemble, soak suspect parts in isopropyl alcohol (you'll have to buy a lot) then let completely dry. That is what is suggested for computer parts that have been spilled on. . .
posted by danf 14 April | 15:38
unfortunately, it's got a big WARNING: DO NOT DISSASSEMBLE: NO SERVICEABLE PARTS, DUMMY! warning on the front, so I think I'm going to steer clear of that option...
posted by scody 14 April | 15:46
I think they don't want you to disassemble it in hopes of finding the loose wire that's made it stop heating, or to replace the heating element, or something like that.

They should probably amend the notice to say WARNING: DO NOT DISASSEMBLE IF YOU ARE TRYING TO FIX THE HEAT OUTPUT OF THIS THING! BUT IF YOUR DOG PEED ON IT, AND YOU NEED TO CLEAN IT, GO AHEAD! BUT IF YOU'RE WORRIED THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, DON'T!
posted by mudpuppie 14 April | 16:20
heh!
posted by scody 14 April | 16:39
NO DISASSEMBLE!
posted by deborah 14 April | 18:16
I wouldn't be scared of that sticker. In fact, I would see it as a personal challenge and would be tempted to pull it apart just out of spite.

Seriously though, there is nothing to be afraid of by pulling the cover off something like that - if you're worried about not being able to get it back together, take some photos as you go and separate any screws etc into little piles so you know which ones go where.

Really, what's the worst that can happen? Well, apart from being electrocuted to death or burning your house down.
posted by dg 14 April | 19:56
Apart from that... I could waste an evening being frustrated by a task I find inherently unenjoyable, especially when I have a ton of other things I need to do before going to San Francisco in two days. (Honestly, I'm just missing the "it's fun to take things apart and fix them" gene. Though strangely, I sort of enjoy assembling shelves from Ikea. So maybe I got half of the gene.)
posted by scody 14 April | 21:28
You didn't get half, so much as you only got the patented Ikea flat-topped hex screw, but the patented Ikea allen wrench was MISSING FROM THE PACKAGING AGAIN, GODDAMMIT!
posted by mudpuppie 14 April | 22:02
I must be on the other end of some crazy worm hole of allen wrenches, because I swear, half the time when I get something from Ikea... it comes WITH EXTRA WRENCHES! Seriously, I have a drawer full... I should send you some.

Speaking of wrenches and other tools (as opposed to Whipped Cream and Other Delights), a closer examination of said radiator reveals that the wheels are easily detachable, but the screws for the body of the radiator itself are very tiny and placed in the most inaccessible section possible, no doubt requiring a special screwdriver that my boyfriend probably owns, but which is most likely in the tool box in his truck, which itself is currently parked in front of his writing partner's house about 5 miles away, where they're working all night to finish up their screenplay before their option expires in a few weeks. So even if I wanted to take apart the dang thing after all, I couldn't.

Which is why it's now on the front porch, heating away and hopefully burning off the last of the PoochPee (tm) as the Pooch Himself snores away obliviously at my feet.
posted by scody 14 April | 22:18
Heh, I have quite a collection of Ikea allen keys, too. Kind of ironic, given that I never use them, preferring the cut-off version that fits in my cordless drill. I'm way too impatient to wind all those screws in by hand.
posted by dg 15 April | 15:33
Happy birthday || So THIS is what was going on at the Capitol Records building this morning!

HOME  ||   REGISTER  ||   LOGIN