Dog Urine Cleaning and Odor Removal

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Overview

Many dog owners - especially those with puppies, older dogs, or incontinent dogs - may have to deal with the occasional "leaks" in the house. If you have a young puppy, the best way to prevent that from happening is of course to give them proper housetraining so they won't pee as and when they want.

However, if you have an incontinent dog or a senior dog, "accidents" can happen from time to time, and it is not the fault of the dog.

When accidents happen, it is essential to quickly and effectively clean up the urine and get rid of that doggy urine smell in the house.

Unfortunately, it's not easy if not done properly. If you do not use the "right stuff", the odor will linger and will even intensify on humid days.

Why Does Dog Urine Smell?

Dog urine is a made up of ammonia, nitrogen, uric acid, bacteria, and hormones.

Uric acid contains crystals that are left behind even after the urine has dried.

When there is moisture in the air due to, say, high humidity, these crystals are reactivated and that's why we can smell dog urine even long after we think we have cleaned it up.

Since our dog's sense of smell is several hundred times more powerful than ours, it is important to clean dog urine and remove all odor completely; otherwise our dog will return to the place to do his business repeatedly.

How to Clean Dog Urine

Here is an easy way to completely clean dog urine and remove the smell:

• Using paper towels or a rag, absorb as much of the urine as possible.
• Pour water over the area, and dry it again using paper towels - Stop only when the towels are not soaking up yellowish stains.
• Spray or pour a natural cleaner over the area and let it "sit" for a while (depending on the cleaner you use - see below).
• Dry the area thoroughly.

Natural Dog Urine Cleaners

Cleaning dog urine doesn't mean that you have to use heavy duty chemical cleaners. Some simple substances that most people have in their homes are actually effective natural cleaners.

White Vinegar

White Vinegar is a good and effective natural dog urine cleaner. After finishing Steps 1 and 2 described above, soak the area completely with undiluted white vinegar.

Let it soak in well and sit for several minutes before blotting the area dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is effective in absorbing odor. After finishing Steps 1 and 2 described above, pour enough baking soda to cover the affected area and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Add one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts water. After finishing Steps 1 and 2 described above, pour the mixture on the area and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before blotting the area dry.