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Discussion on Yucky Situation-Need Help
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 2:18 pm:
Hi All,
No nice way to put this so here goes: My Cordura Saddle with cloth fenders has been used as a urinal by mice at the boarding barn. First it was the seat (suede), now it's the cloth. It was covered with a cover, on a metal stand, (100 degree heat in the tack rm) but an object placed too close enabled them to "jump" on the saddle climb under the cover and now the mess. I've tried soda, suede cleaner to no avail. Any ideas on how to get rid of the odor? The fenders at this point are actually wet. Thanks for any help.
I wasn't sure where to post this as it sure isn't "entertainment".
Shirl
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 2:40 pm:
Well, at least it's a cordura saddle and I think you'll have better luck getting the smell out. Here we have products at the pet store for getting out the smell of urine when housebreaking puppies. The one I like best is called Nature's Miracle. It has an enzyme action and really does eliminate the odor. I've even used it on my dogs when they've been "skunked". It may take more than one application. Good luck, Julie
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 3:01 pm:
Thanks Julie.
And all I can say is DUH. I already have that in the house as we used it when one of my son's older dogs had a "leaky" problem at one time, and it works. So, I'm off to soak the soaked. :o)
Thanks again, and I'll let you know if it works.
Shirl
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Member:
karent
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 3:29 pm:
Shirley,
I don't mean to scare you, maybe I'm too cautious. I hope you were wearing a respirator or were at least outside when cleaning your saddle. The lady who owned our local tack shop just died a couple months ago of hantavirus, cleaning out a storage shed, she was wearing a respirator and only had it off for 5-10 minutes.
Anything that puts you in contact with fresh rodent urine, DrOppings, saliva or nesting materials can place you at risk for infection.
Bleach, lysol or direct sunlight will kill the virus. Personally, I don't know of anything offhand that will take away the odor. If it were my saddle, I would probably throw it away.
Please be careful, Shirl....
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 3:55 pm:
Shirley, have you called the manufacturer of the saddle? They may have some suggestions on how to clean it without damage. With every barn having mice, barn cats and other critters, it couldn't possibly be the first time a saddle was "messed" with by some pest.
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 4:45 pm:
Karen,
Oh my God! Well, I put the solution on the saddle on my open air porch, then washed my hands thoroughly. Hopefully I'll be alive to tell if the stuff works or not! It has to dry per the directions before you know if it works.
I know about the virus also, but you know how it goes when you're in the attack mode with the mice. Thanks though for the warning.
Fran, I thought of calling the manufacturer, but wanted to try Julie's suggestion first, since I had the stuff on hand.
Thanks all,
Shirl
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Member:
shanson
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Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 7:54 pm:
Since it's Cordura, can you scrub the heck out of it with soap and water, then air it out for a while?
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Member:
dsibley
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 7:28 am:
We had a rental house where the resident kitty developed severe diabetes and urinated all around the edge of the basement carpet. We pulled the carpet and pad, scraped up the old linoleum tile but the concrete had even been wet from it. The smell was awful until someone told us to use coffee grounds! You sprinkle those on and let them sit for several days, turning them every once in a while. Amazing results!
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 9:52 am:
Yes, Yes!! Try coffee grounds!!! I remember reading somewheres that when they want the odors out of tankers to switch what they will be hauling, they used coffee grounds. I dump them in the dumpster when it gets bad...I always seem to be buying different coffee and then don't like it. The flavored ones that is. (Me and coffee don't get along too well anyhow)
I know die hard coffee drinkers will want to drink the coffee and use used grounds but fresh is what you want.
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Member:
boomer
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 3:59 pm:
I'd toss it.
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 5:04 pm:
Thanks Angie and Dieliz,
Pat, If I can save it I must. On a limited income, retired, don't ride much and the saddle is like new, but believe me I've thought of it.
Angie and Dieliz I have already put the Nature's Miracle on it as suggested by Julie. It has to completely dry before you know if the oder is gone or not, so it will be a little while, as we're having rain, rain and more rain here in Tucson. However; if it still has a detectable oder, on go the coffee grounds. How interesting that is - thanks much.
Shirl
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 8:12 pm:
Another Question regarding mice. My son just asked me to ask the Group if y'all thought moth balls would keep mice from the saddle stand? Thoughts?
Thanks,
Shirl
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Member:
tasia
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 9:05 pm:
I had a problem with mice building nests in my tractor engine every fall. They would chew the wires in the engine and it would cost me a small fortune to repair. I started putting moth crystals on the engine, and I haven't had a mouse problem since. Now I use moth crystals anywhere I don't want mice-my tractor engine, my riding lawn mower engine and in my storage shed. I don't see why it wouldn't work with the saddle stand.
Diane
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Member:
muffi
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 1:37 am:
I just started using that on my car and truck - we paid 140 Bucks to replace a fan that the rats built a nest in . Pack Rats.
I hear the Naptha or moth balls works. I tossed a hand full in a cut off pair of panty hose and tied them in to two separate places. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 8:13 am:
When we had our air conditioning unit replaced, the contractor recommended moth balls to prevent mice from nesting in and around the unit. It works very well.
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Member:
morg1
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 9:06 am:
We have an old house, and every winter we get a few mice. We put whole cloves (like the ones you stick in ham) in our drawers in the kitchen to keep the mice away. It seems to work really well (I haven't found mouse DrOppings in my drawers since I started doing this), and it smells nicer than moth balls. When the smell of the cloves wears off then they don't seem to work anymore, but they get us through the whole winter season. If you put the cloves in the pantyhose (like Muffi suggested) or something like it and hang it over the saddle horn it might work for you.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 10:46 am:
You all obviously need more cats! When we moved here mice were all over the place, inside the house and barn, in the garage, etc. There were two old cats living in the barn who were probably too old to hunt. We moved here with 5 cats, some of whom have since died; but new cats keep arriving. After the first year we had no more mice anywhere. Now we also have no more gophers. Our cats are now clearing out the neighbor's fields as there is little left to hunt in our fields. Get some cats!
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 11:23 am:
Sara, YEAH! cats! Our mouse problem was so bad turned lights on in A.M. and the barn floor moved ! Of course the furperson who saved us was pg now have 5 move to save the world from rodents, also snakes, cloves seem to work on skunks and kept them out of chicken pen! Never tried coffee will be interesting to see! Cindy
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 11:38 am:
My three cats are nightshift, the dobermann just killed his first mouse last week during the day He was taught well the cats started bringing hem dead mice then living and recently upgraded him to a mole or two and a bat.
Jos
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Member:
boomer
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 12:16 pm:
Cloves sound much better than moth balls have you tried that cat and dog odor stuff they sell at pet stores? or vinegar? or toothpaste? I'm just thinking of anything that is used for other smells, it's worth a shot.
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Member:
muffi
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 12:38 pm:
I LOVE CATS - but that is why I don't use them in the barn. Coyotes Yea - Cats are just eventual Coyote food here. they are lean mean and tricky.
we had a catch and relaease program in affect on the barn - caught 3 Mice already (2 pregger ones or perhaps well fed?) we take them about 5 miles down the road and hope they find a different barn to populate.
it's more the Pack Rats and the Cars that have issues here 
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 1:15 pm:
Pack Rats! We had HUGE ones in Truckee! They are funny; you never know what you'll find in their nests...missing ear rings, a pair of pliers, bottle caps, etc. Trouble is they really SMELL. And, of course, they love grain. Ours were about the size of a muskrat.
I'm afraid all our dogs go after is the cat food while the cats are out chasing things. Oh, yeah, the dogs go after ATV's and the garbage truck, too!
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007 - 1:24 pm:
Hi All,
Appreciate all your suggestions, and I do love the Cloves idea as I too hate the smell of moth balls. As for cats, well - the barn owner has cats she keeps inside, as the barn area is a coyote corridor. Aside from that this woman is over board on no-kill and I mean EVERYTHING that flies, crawls, slithers, etc. Over board. Yuck.
Pat, I have been trying the Nature's Miracle from a pet store that Julie suggested. You pour it on, and after it dries, the odor is supposed to be gone. It's drying nicely on my porch, but will wait a while before I give it the "sniff" test. When I take the saddle back out to the barn, the cloves will go with it - ah lovely smell. If that don't work, it will be moth balls.
Again thanks for all your help. This site continues to amaze and please with all the assistance we get for anything and everything.
Cheers,
Shirl
PS And I'll let you know what happens. Will keep saddle home till it's cool enough to ride again.
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Member:
dsibley
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 9, 2007 - 7:34 am:
My female border collie, Frank, catches moles and takes them to the barn kitties. Talk about lazy cats!! They do their part, though. I have found half of just about every rodent species on the face of the earth! Yeah, kitties!
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