How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Smell

Every dog owner will inevitably find themselves cleaning up and removing urine from a crate, carpet, or hard flooring. What can be done if that smell just won’t go away? We’ve found a few ways to neutralize and get rid of that smell for good.

Why Is Dog Urine So Strong Smelling, and Why Do Dogs Pee on Objects?

Dogs have been using their urine as a means of communication for millennia. Dog urine contains pheromones, which give it a strong smell. Their urine also contains scents and chemicals that communicate a whole host of information to other dogs. A dog’s urine can communicate all of the following information and more to other dogs and animals:

• The boundaries of their territory
• How they were feeling at the time they urinated
• Their age
• Their mating availability
• Overall health

This information, combined with the fact that your dog’s brain is specifically adapted to process it, is why they are so interested in making their own scent marks and smelling the scent marks of other dogs.

Why You Need to Remove Dog Pee Smell Right Away

Not cleaning or eliminating the smell of dog urine is a bad idea for two reasons. First, the longer dog pee sits, the stronger-smelling it will get. The bacteria in dog urine create ammonia. As bacteria multiply, so will that foul odor.

Second, if your dog urinates in a specific area and it’s left there, the smell will be more difficult to remove, and this will cause your dog to return to that area and urinate time and again.

The Best Ways to Remove Urine Smell

The methods for removing the smell of dog pee will differ for recent and previous accidents, as well as for the type of surface you are removing the smell from.

For Fresh Spots

Whether your dog has just urinated on a soft or hard surface, follow these steps:

1. Use a paper towel or absorbent rag to soak up the urine.
2. Soak a second towel with straight hydrogen peroxide, or a cleaning product that contains it.
3. Wait 15 minutes, and then use a third towel to soak up the moisture.
4. Treat the area with an enzymatic cleaner, leaving it to sit for 15 minutes before blotting completely dry.

*Note: hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching and brightening agent. If you are removing urine from a colored surface, test in an inconspicuous area first. If in doubt, a wet/dry or steam cleaner can help remove urine and neutralize odors.

For Old/Dry Spots

An older urine spot will usually have an odor and stain. For these types of areas, either of the following solutions may be effective:

You can apply an enzymatic cleaner to the spot, leave it to sit for the recommended time, and remove with a dry cloth, repeating as necessary.

You can also mix cleaning vinegar and cool water and spray it onto the spot, leaving it to sit overnight. Then use a sponge or cloth dipped in warm water to remove.

Soft Surfaces

A wet/dry pet carpet cleaner can accomplish two things at once, removing excess moisture from fresh spots and any upholstery or carpet stains from dry spots.

If the odor remains, sprinkle baking soda over the area and leave overnight before vacuuming the next day. Dog beds, rugs, and other washable items with urine stains and odor should be pre-treated with stain remover, and then washed in hot water with a cup of peroxide.

Hard Surfaces

Vinegar and warm water can be all that’s needed to remove the smell of dog urine from hardwood and other hard flooring. Simply mix equal parts and apply. Then scrub gently in a circular motion, rinse with warm water, and completely dry with a towel.

Items to Consider

You may need to repeat the above methods several times before the scent and stain are completely eliminated. Although frequent urination may be normal for your dog, regular vet visits will rule out any underlying conditions and ensure they stay healthy.

Is There Any Dog Pee Removal Method That Works the First Time, Forever?

There are many methods for destroying odor-causing bacteria and removing pee stains from surfaces. There is another natural way to get rid of the smell of dog urine odor in your home: chlorine dioxide, or Cl02.

Once released into the air, Cl02 gas will destroy odors at the molecular level. While its name may sound threatening, once chlorine dioxide gas comes into contact with oxygen, it degrades rapidly into harmless saline solution.

Has Chlorine Dioxide Always Been Used to Eliminate Odors?

Yes and no; historically, chlorine dioxide was only used in industrial settings. So, for example, if a warehouse or factory needed to be cleaned of unwanted odor, it would be released into the entire area at once.

Until now, the only available way to use it for odor removal was to release large amounts simultaneously because there wasn’t a way to control its release.

However, you can now release chlorine dioxide when and where it’s needed: with Pet Odor Eliminators from Biocide Systems. These products are small enough to fit into your hand. Once you activate them, they have enough power to eliminate dog urine smell from any room, the first time, and for good.

If you’re ready to rid your home of dog urine smell, chlorine dioxide is your one-stop solution. Visit our website to view our lines of pet odor eliminators and learn more about them.