How to Get Rid of Unpleasant Odors From Under Your Deck

To fully enjoy outdoor living, you’ll need to make sure your deck is not only lovely and comfortable, but clean-smelling as well. So, if you’ve recently noticed an unpleasant odor coming from under the deck, you might want to deal with it promptly. Here are some handy tips.  

1. Identify the Cause of the Stench

You’ll probably be able to take care of the issue yourself before tearing up the deck or calling a professional. How you deal with the unpleasant odor will depend on what’s actually causing it. The most common reasons may include:

• Animals. It’s not uncommon for small animals, such as squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, and mice, to find their way under your deck to nest or find food. If alive, they leave behind droppings that cause a bad smell — that’s bad enough. What’s worse is when the creature actually dies under your deck.
• Mold and mildew. The shady and damp space under the deck is the perfect breeding ground of mold and mildew. You’ll know their presence by their stale and musty odor.
• Pets. Have you noticed your pets entering or exiting the space under your deck from time to time? The urine or excrement from your canine or feline friends may be the reason for that terrible odor. 

2. Eliminate the Cause

Taking care of this particular issue may not be as complicated as roof maintenance, but you should still take the necessary precautions. Whether the reason for the smell is decomposing material or animal droppings, you have to wear a face mask, work gloves and protective eyewear. Find where the offensive material is, put it inside a plastic bag, and then tie it shut. You can use a garden trowel or long-handled grabbing tool if you’re squeamish about handling the material with your gloved hands.

3. Clean Up After

Just because you’ve removed the offensive material doesn’t mean the odor will disappear instantly. The smell, after all, may have seeped into the deck boards already. The treatment option will depend on the cause of the odor. For cat urine, there are over-the-counter pet odor eliminators or neutralizers you can use. Baking soda can be swept around with a broom to fill the gaps between the boards and get rid of dog urine. As for mold and mildew, you can clean the deck using a bleach and water solution.

Give Us a Call Today

If you discover a decking problem that’s more serious than an offensive odor, call a professional like Pressure Point Roofing, Inc. Aside from delivering professional roof repair, we can also handle your decking needs. Our communication lines are always open! Call us now at (541) 772-1945, or fill out this contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve Medford, OR, and other areas in Jackson County.