Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Arrived at plane and plane had been half cleaned with crumbs on the floor and trash in the seat back pockets of multiple seats. The fwd lav was inop for use and the aft of the plane had a very intense urine/ammonia smell to it. Starting from row 25 to the aft lavs; smell was unbearable. Pilots called MX to plane to see where smell was coming from; which he was unable to locate the source of the smell. A cleaner was called to come clean the plane. Cleaner brought a cleaner spray bottle and paper towels and went into the aft lav aircraft right and sprayed then left. Aircraft still smelled really bad; so the Captain operating the flight gave us the option to make the call as to whether we would go or not. We chose to spray a little more and bare through it. At takeoff when the engines revved up; the smell started to circulate through the air vents and got very strong; at times making me very nauseous and lightheaded. Strong urine smell in the aft cabin from about row 25 to the back lavs. Smelled like urine/ammonia. Wasn't sure where the smell was coming from exactly (carpet; one of the pax seats or lav). At takeoff and during flight; smell got so strong that I began to feel nauseous and lightheaded. Prior to our flight; the plane sat on the ground for at least 2 hours. Planes should be thoroughly cleaned prior to cleaners leaving the plane i.e. carpets vacuumed; trash removed from seat back pockets; full trash bags removed from galley floor and no smell in cabin due to cleanliness.
Flight Attendant reported 'very intense urine/ammonia' odor in the passenger cabin causing her to feel nauseous and lightheaded. Maintenance and aircraft cleaners were summoned.