5 Best Tricks for Getting Rid of That Dog Pee Smell

If you have a puppy, an elderly dog, or a dog still mastering its potty training skills, you’ve dealt with pee in the house. Depending on what surface they go on, and how long it sits before you find it, that stubborn dog pee smell can really stick around! But it doesn’t have to.

We’ve rounded up all the best tips and product suggestions to get the dog pee smell out of your house for good.

Blot up all the liquid

Before you even think about products for removing dog pee smell, you have to remove the pee itself. For fresh messes, it’s simply a matter of soaking up all the liquid.

On carpet, cover the area with paper towels or an absorbent cloth and use your hands or feet to gently press. This will help draw out and soak up as much liquid as possible. You may need to use several paper towels, and repeal the process until the area is almost completely dry.

On hardwood or laminate floors, use paper towels, an absorbent cloth, or a mop to sop up the pee. I love these reusable, super-absorbent cleaning cloths. Just throw them in the washing machine after use.

Find the dried urine

You can’t get the smell of dog pee out of the carpet if you don’t know where it is! If your house smells like dog urine but you can’t see the source, try a UV flashlight.

UV light illuminates any substance containing phosphors (including dog pee), making it easy for you to locate and treat set-in urine stains. Just turn off the overhead lights, turn on your UV flashlight, and get searching.

Use enzyme cleaners

Enzymes are proteins that help break up urine molecules and dissolve odors. Enzyme cleansers work, but they can take some time. You’ll spray or blot the area with cleaner, then let it sit for a while before blotting it up and scrubbing the spot. You may need to repeat this process.

Here are a few of our favorite enzyme cleaners for dog pee:

Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Remover Gallon

Nature’s Miracle is one of the most popular pet cleaning products out there. The advanced formula attacks set-in pet stains remove pet pheromones and destroys odors on contact to prevent re-soiling. Best of all, you can use it on any surface.

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

Professional strength doesn’t have to mean harsh smells or toxins! This enzyme cleaner is chlorine-free and safe to use around pets and kids.

BUBBA’S Super Strength Commercial Enzyme Cleaner

Bubba’s calls their enzyme cleaner “the pet stain and odor TERMINATOR” because it destroys stubborn urine smells for good. It eats away urine bacteria to prevent re-marking. You can spot-treat with Bubba’s, or add it to a load of laundry to wash dog bets and blankets stained with pee.

Use a carpet cleaner (NOT a steam cleaner)

For set-in pet stains on carpeting or rugs, simple spray cleaners may not suffice. You can rent a carpet cleaner from your local grocery or hardware store, or hire professional carpet cleaners to come to attack the stains.

If pet accidents are a regular part of your life, invest in an at-home carpet cleaning machine like the Bissell Spotbot. The sooner you clean up the urine, the easier it will be to get that stubborn dog pee smell out.

Prevent future accidents

After you’ve successfully removed the dog pee smell from your home, the last thing you want is to have to start all over again. Dogs may return to the scene of the pee crime if they can still smell their own personal scent, so be sure to clean thoroughly. You can also make the area unavailable by placing furniture or a rug over the spot.

It’s also important to consider your dog’s motivations for peeing inside. Sometimes, inappropriate elimination is a sign of a medical issue. It can also indicate anxiety or emotional distress. If your dog is peeing indoors, start with a vet visit to rule out physical causes.

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This post is presented by Rover. Rover is the nation’s largest online network of 5-star pet care providers. Go to Rover.com or download the mobile app to find and book dog boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, doggy daycare, or dog walking services!