How to Clean Dog Urine

Guide Note

Whether it's a puppy that's not yet housebroken, an elderly dog with control issues or just a pet left inside too long, if you own a dog, you'll eventually have to clean up an accident. This guide to How to Clean Dog Urine will have your home sparkling and fresh again in no time!

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Cleaning Hardwood Floors
• Cleaning Carpets
• Preventing Future Accidents
• References

Cleaning Dog Urine Tips

1. Address stains while fresh.
2. Dilute with water.
3. Blot dry; don't rub.
4. Apply an enzyme cleanser.
5. Use other cleanser after the enzyme cleanser.

• by Susan MacDowell

Introduction

(Photo by Yvette2)

• Dogs may be man's best friend, but dog urine can be a household nightmare! When tackling a dog urine stain, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. You want to get to a mess quickly, before it can soak in and dry.¹
2. In addition to cleaning, you need to deodorize thoroughly so that your dog can't detect it. Dogs have a much more acute sense of smell than humans, so what's clean to you may still signal to them that a spot is okay to urinate on.²
3. Don't use ammonia, or a product containing ammonia, to clean the mess. Ammonia smells like urine to dogs.¹
4. Although some people suggest using a vinegar and water solution, The Humane Society maintains that vinegar also encourages re-marking.²
5. Liquids seeps down and outwards, so make sure to clean several inches around the visible stain to make sure you thoroughly deodorize.

What You'll Need

1. Water or Club Soda
2. Absorbent rags or paper towels to soak up the urine, and apply the cleanser
3. An enzyme based cleanser, specifically designed to remove animal urine³
4. Commercial stain remover

Cleaning Hardwood Floors

(Creative Commons photo by Jason Meredith)

• Although the process of cleaning urine on hardwood is more straightforward than that of cleaning carpet, it's still important to get to the accident quickly. If left too long, dog urine can soak into hardwood, seeping into cracks, staining the wood and creating a lingering odor.⁴

1. Get a dry cloth and thoroughly wipe up any remaining liquid.
2. Wet a clean cloth with the cleanser, until it is saturated, but not dripping.
3. Go over the stained area with the damp cloth, then wipe dry.
4. If the wood is stained badly, you might have to sand it and re-varnish. If your dog continues to urinate on your hardwood floor, you could eventually be faced with replacing your floor.⁵
5. The instructions given here are general guidelines. Be sure to read the directions on the specific cleanser you've selected.

Cleaning Carpets

(Creative Commons photo by Jackie)

• Dog urine can saturate your carpet fibers and cause mold, so it's important to be thorough when you clean it up. Because liquids seep down, you may want to pull up the carpet pad, if possible.

1. If the urine is still wet, begin at step 2. If the urine is dry, begin at step 5.
2. Blot the stain with a dry cloth. Hold the cloth down on the stain for 30 seconds or so, to let it soak in. Blot, don't rub.⁶ Rubbing can damage carpet fibers.
3. Work from the outside in.⁷
4. Replace cloths as needed and re-apply, until you are no longer soaking up puddles.
5. Rinse the area with water or club soda to dilute the urine.
6. After you've soaked up all you can, place a thick layer of towels on the carpet and weight it down with heavy books.⁸
7. Change the towels every few hours until they are no longer soaking up water.
   • Watch the towels to make sure that there's no trace of yellow.⁸ If the liquid is still yellow, you haven't diluted the urine adequately.
8. Apply the enzymatic cleanser, following package directions.
9. If there is still a stain, try another commercial pet stain remover. However, make sure you've used the enzymatic cleaner first.⁹ The enzymes won't work if you've used another cleaner first, as there won't be any organic material left for them to digest.
10. If this doesn't remove the stain, it may be time to call a professional.¹⁰

Carpet Patch Test

• Commercial cleaners usually advise that you test the cleaner on the carpet in a small area before using it. To do this, you apply the cleanser to a small area in an inconspicuous place, and then wait 24 hours to make sure the carpet is not discolored. A good tip is to do this after you buy the cleanser, as when you need to use it, you don't want to have to test it and wait before addressing the stain.¹¹

Preventing Future Accidents

(Creative Commons photo by Larry Tomlinson)

• There are a few things you can do to minimize future accidents.

1. If you catch the dog in the act, some mild punishment (such as spraying it lightly with a water mister or squirt gun) can be somewhat effective. However, punishment is totally ineffective unless you do it at the exact moment that the dog is urinating.¹² Any later, and the dog won't understand why it's being punished. Never hit your dog.
2. To help discourage your dog from thinking of the spot as a place to urinate, you could try feeding it there or moving its bed to the area, as most dogs will resist soiling their den.¹³
3. You can cover the area with plastic, gate it off or use an indoor electric fence.¹⁴
4. If your dog is urinating more or less than usual or is consistently urinating in inappropriate places, consult your vet.

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References for How To Clean Dog Urine

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Mrs. Clean: Tips for Removing Pet Odor and Urine Stains
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Humane Society of the United States: Removing Pet Stains and Odors
3. ↑ DogChannel.com: Positive Housetraining for Your Puppy
4. ↑ DIY Network: Bruce Johnson Interview: Pet-Stains
5. ↑ DoItYourself.com: Cure Found for Urine Stained Floors
6. ↑ Pets.ca: Cat Urinated on Floor/Carpet
7. ↑ DoodyCalls: Cleaning Dog Waste and Urine for Carpet & Upholstery
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} eHow.com: How to Clean Up Dog Urine
9. ↑ Disney Family.com: Pet Stains and Odors
10. ↑ RealSimple.com: Find a Carpet Cleaner
11. ↑ Stainmaster Carpets: Stain Removal Guide
12. ↑ Pets.ca: Dog and Cat Pet Tips
13. ↑ Dog Training Guide.com: Potty Training: Puppy and Dog
14. ↑ Petsafe Warehouse: Indoor Wireless Fence

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