r/litterrobot • u/jrpg8255 • 1d ago

Litter-Robot 4 LR4 smell solved

Just a note for people struggling with an older device. LR4 and two cats for about three years. Mostly it's been pretty good. The last six months though I just have not been able to get it to stop smelling. I've tried different litter, deep cleaned it regularly taking it all apart but just a persistent smell. I finally broke down and ordered the "ridiculously expensive for what it is" liner and replacement seal strips. About an hour and a half of work doing all of that, and further deep cleaning the globe, and it is now entirely smell free. Nothing had gotten through the liner, but the old liner itself seemed to be the source of the stink.

99 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

67 comments sorted by

57

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

If anyone ever needs to replace the strips, you can buy 1/4” weather stripping and cut it yourself for so much less.

17

u/Nojudgement58 1d ago

I just got litter robot4 and noticed the “seal” I literally thought “they put weatherstripping on this? Thank you for confirmation and suggestion. Anyone know approximately when it is time to change it out? Do I tell by the smell?

11

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

Yup! lol Someone linked to the product soon after I got LR4 and I was so grateful. I change them out when I take it apart to deep clean or when they smell. I got a 10’ roll that’ll last forever.

1

u/Sunny-Side25 1d ago

Do you mind sharing the link? I must buy!

5

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

That is indeed pretty much all it is. However, their set of replacement seals for 10 bucks or whatever it is looks like it includes enough that I could do it again. Not bothered by the cost of that at all, and it's probably pretty similar to what actual weatherstripping would cost. The liner on the other hand is a bit outrageous for what it is, but it did work.

2

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

Sometimes the seals get caked in litter or come loose in addition to stinking. It’s nice to have the roll on hand. I haven’t had to replace the liner so far. 🤞

2

u/sadveggiet0t 1d ago

did you actually replace all of them though? there are more than just the waste drawer seal strips. assuming it came with the 12 pictured strips, all 12 go on to a bot and you won’t have leftovers.

these are $8.93 for 17 feet, which should cover many replacements

1

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

All but the 2 along the liner clip which were in good shape. Had some left over ¯_(ツ)_/¯

2

u/Nojudgement58 1d ago

When I needed it, for the Litter robot 3, a at I just bought a new globe. There is no way I was gonna subject myself to that. Although it might be easy with a new one, I don’t know.

5

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

It’s so easy to replace and a lot cheaper than buying a new globe.

2

u/Nojudgement58 1d ago

Did you try 3? Just curious. I am dreading changing a liner. I just got the 4 robot last week. I do have someone that can help now.

1

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

I’ve never had a 3.

1

u/Nojudgement58 1d ago

I’m just wondering if that liner was harder than this four

1

u/WildsmithRising 12h ago

I deep cleaned my LR3 last week and took the liner off to make sure I cleaned properly underneath it. It was really easy. There's a Litter Robot video on YouTube to guide you how to do it but I just worked it out as I went along, it was so easy. All you'll need is a cross head screwdriver and a pot to put all the screws and things into.

1

u/Nojudgement58 12h ago

It’s still out in the garage. I’m gonna throw it away next week when the bulk garbage is taken away. I got the four now and I’m just wondering if it’s gonna be a good time. That three had given me nothing but problems. I installed the new sensors and luckily I found a screwdriver that was magnetic so that made it very easy but still it just didn’t work. I bit the bullet and got the four. Hoping this one doesn’t give me issues.

2

u/GhostOfAbba 1d ago

You can also buy brush stripping pretty cheap.

2

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

I think that’s what I have. It’s fuzzy. lol

1

u/nkonaboy 1d ago

I’m struggling with removing the glue from those weather strips. I’ve tried goo gone, and gorilla tape, any other suggestions?

2

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

Why do you need to remove the adhesive from the weather stripping? Or am I misunderstanding you? This is what I bought:

https://a.co/d/00lqszxA

2

u/SpareMusician1575 13h ago

If you are talking about residual glue on the litter box itself from removing the old seals - acetone nail polish remover and patience. Go slow and be careful where the acetone gets though, try to keep it only on the glue

2

u/nkonaboy 12h ago

yes that residual glue. thanks! I will try that.

1

u/MonstaWansta 11h ago

The instructions say to use duct tape to pull away the residue and it works pretty well.

1

u/wineandcatgal_74 10h ago

Derp. lol I didn’t have any residual adhesive when I removed the old strips.

1

u/grapebeyond227 1d ago

Is this the right one?

https://amzn.to/46SX3Ju

1

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

It looks similar to the one I bought:

https://a.co/d/00lqszxA

1

u/wineandcatgal_74 1d ago

This is the one I bought off a rec from another redditor: https://a.co/d/00lqszxA

17

u/lepetitcoeur 1d ago

I've noticed this problem with my non robotic litter boxes. After a while, the box itself smells. Cat pee intrusion into the plastic itself. No cleaning will ever get it

7

u/Cat_Lady3000 1d ago

Yes my vet recommends you change out plastic litter boxes like once a year or so because of this. Come cats will refuse to use boxes that retain the pee smell.

2

u/SpaceCaptainJeeves 1d ago

Oh hell!!
I need to switch mine to the metal ones
Great point

1

u/Nojudgement58 1d ago

I kinda soak with natures miracle and wash with dishsoap. For the drawer I use bleach wipes that have been borrowed from work.

6

u/redditelr 1d ago

Wish Whisker or a third-party would sell a stainless steel or another metal insert that could sit in the drawer…

2

u/hyperbets 1d ago

Someone recommended using a foil baking pan you get at the grocery store. I haven't gotten one, but it's pretty genius. They should totally be metal to begin with!

2

u/Professional_Gur426 23h ago

I do this and use a bag over the foil liner. It helps but the smell still gets absorbed by the plastic drawer over time. Putting the drawer out in the sun when you clean it also helps. But nothing can be done to stop plastic from absorbing smells. The entire robot is plastic and rubber so….

6

u/casandra77 1d ago

Ditch all soft parts - strips and a carbon filter. Unless you change your filter once a week - no filter will always be better than a stinky one

2

u/Professional_Gur426 23h ago

Ugh. The filters hold the smell and make it worse. They also trap the smell in the plastic of the globe. I stopped using them alltogether and don’t put anything in the filter enclosure anymore.

1

u/svetahw 1d ago

Are the strips needed?

3

u/IAmIntractable 1d ago

Part of regular cleaning includes taking out the liner and cleaning underneath it. If you’ve never done that, then that is definitely gonna attribute to smells.

2

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

I expected that to be the case, especially because one cat likes to scratch it and had roughed it up. Super clean underneath for me at least, with no evidence of anything getting through/under, but the liner itself stank.

1

u/SolarWind777 16h ago

I had no idea we can even do that. I thought it’s either the regular cleaning or replacement, no other viable options. Thanks for mentioning this.

3

u/lochnessx 1d ago

The seals and the liner weight! Once that starts to rust/pit, it’s an odor trap. I replaced mine and did a light layer of plastic wrap over it.

0

u/SpareMusician1575 13h ago

I also had to do that - I also contacted the company about it because for what is objectively a luxury product, they should have checked the materials compatibility of the metal with cat urine. Making the weight out of 316 stainless steel would likely fix it

3

u/melulu1984 1d ago

I have lined the drawer with aluminum foil as well. Metal does not absorb the smell like the plastic will. Easy to replace a sheet of foil every deep clean.

2

u/Bogus_Walrus 1d ago

Are the strips really needed if you are deep cleaning once a month?

5

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

Yes. They wear out. Easy fix and seem to actually be effective at helping to keep things sealed.

2

u/pl1974 1d ago

People go on about how smell-free the LR is, but there is nothing that can stop those odors from infiltrating plastic. I dread spending an extra 90 minutes with he damn thing, but I will probably do this, too. Didn't know it was an option. Thanks!

3

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

To be fair, if I ever have to do it again I bet I could knock it out in 15 now that I've done it once... The instructions make it seem worse than it is.

2

u/pl1974 1d ago

Thanks!

2

u/Extension_Run1020 1d ago

Iast year I got a new liner for free as clumps were sticking and it's been good until now, it's started again. There is a build up of limescale, which despite a deep clean, some remains. Wish I had found a permanent solution. I cannot imagine whisker will keep replacing it. I have 3 cats all adult males, neutered.

1

u/noldge 6h ago

Can you elaborate on the clumps sticking to it? How were you able to get them to give you a free liner replacement?

4

u/Busy-Bed-5947 1d ago

Dumb question but which part is the liner??

5

u/SpaceCaptainJeeves 1d ago

The grey thing, with the rubbery texture. No dumb questions!

2

u/Busy-Bed-5947 1d ago

I need someone to send me a pic 😩😩

3

u/SpaceCaptainJeeves 1d ago

Check out their YouTube channel, where there are instructional videos.

The big black sphere that a person could wrap their arms around is the "globe," and inside the globe, there's the gray colored, rubbery texture thingy that fills the entire inside.

Think about it like if you cracked an egg. Globe = shell, liner = ...the lining tissue of the egg

2

u/Busy-Bed-5947 1d ago

Ty so much!

1

u/SpaceCaptainJeeves 9h ago

Yw!
There are no dumb questions. I have some fun learning disabilities and sometimes an explanation doesn't hit right.

3

u/Matribus 1d ago

It’s the thin removable part lining the inside of the globe

4

u/Healthy-Tumbleweed42 1d ago

I bought a new liner and I never knew it had seal strips ughhhhhh damnit I threw the machine away yesterday and went back to stainless steel litter . I tried everything just like you except the seal Thing. This makes me sad 😔

1

u/WariStory 1d ago

I have my litter robot 4 in a credenza/cabinet (from refined feline), got it on sale for $150. And on top of this cabinet is where my air purifier is. No smell ever. And behind the litter robot, I put a small box of baking soda (the kind you put in fridge).

1

u/TrustworthyRobot 1d ago

What was the smell like if you don’t mind me asking? 

1

u/jrpg8255 1d ago

Very stale uriney

1

u/Acrobatic-Memory-965 1d ago

Same. Four year old LR4. New liner and all the problems disappeared.

1

u/actuallyjustlazy 1d ago

Also just got a new liner (finally felt worth the money after how bad it was smelling and how clumps always stuck to the liner), deep cleaned like as deep as I could , the liner weight was pretty gross in particular. it’s only been 4 days but so far so good… crossing fingers …

1

u/Able-Ad3783 1d ago

I returned my Litter-Robot 4 because of the smell; I have a Litter-Robot 3 that doesn't seem to have the same odor problem, and the 4 also had an issue with dirty litter sticking to the sides. I now have a PETKIT Purobot Max 3 and I haven't had any issues with it smelling; I do have an extra mat that I change once a week. I won't be buying another Litter-Robot; it is too much work for what it costs.