5 Products to Eliminate Dog Urine Odor Naturally
We love our dogs! It brings joy to our lives to have a dog at home, but, we can often experience problems with them urinating all over the house, and even your bed. While we’re teaching them not to do this at home, we also need to know how to eliminate dog urine odor. Find out how here!
If your dog urinates in the house, the whole house can be filled with that unpleasant odor. That’s why we want to teach you how to eliminate the dog urine odor naturally, without using products that are harmful to both animals and humans.
Natural products that remove dog urine odor
We can find most of the products we need to eliminate the smell of dog urine in our pantries. Even though they aren’t chemical products, you always have to make sure that you don’t discolor any surface and that it isn’t harmful to your pet.
To do this, we recommend that, before you start, you try the product out on a small surface of the area or item you’re going to clean. We advise you to remove the urine as soon as possible, as it will be easier to remove the stain and the odor won’t be so strong. Some of the most commonly used products for this task are the following:
1. Baking soda
Baking soda is your best ally to remove your dog’s urine odor. You can use it alone or mixed with other products, as a basic characteristic of baking soda is that it helps to neutralize organic odors, such as urine.
In case you use baking soda on its own, it’s best to pour a good amount in the area where the odor is. You should let it act for several hours, and so you could leave it overnight and then vacuum the next day.
2. Vinegar
Vinegar is another natural product that will help you to remove the bad smell, but if you also mix it with baking soda, the results will be even better. All you have to do is mix two cups of white vinegar, two cups of warm water, and four tablespoons of baking soda. The best thing to do is to put the mixture in a spray bottle, spray where the urine is, and then clean.
3. Lemon
Did you think lemon was only good for cooking? Well, it can also be used to clean and remove bad odors. It has great properties and one of them is that it eliminates germs from any surface.
The process is very simple. You have to mix two cups of water, half a cup of lemon juice, and another half cup of baking soda. Mix well and apply it to the place where the urine is. It’s preferable to put the mixture in a spray bottle, as this will be more practical.
4. Sodium borate
Sodium borate, also known as borax, can be found in any supermarket. You only have to place this product in the place where the urine is and rub it with a dry cloth. Then you have to leave it on for an hour, and later you have to vacuum the entire surface.
5. Hydrogen peroxide with soap
Hydrogen peroxide is an aseptic agent that most people usually have in their first aid kit. Thanks to its properties, it can be used to eliminate the smell of dog urine. To do this, just combine a cup of this product with a tablespoon of soap (liquid or powder). Apply it with a sprayer and let it act for a few minutes. Then, remove with a cloth and repeat if necessary.
Eliminate the smell of dog urine on the carpet
If you have a carpet at home, then it’s very important that you teach your dog to do its business outside. However, if they do urinate on the carpet, then it’s very easy to remove the smell.
First of all, you have to pour water on the urine and, with a sponge, press the stain so that it absorbs all the liquid, but don’t rub it because that will make the urine penetrate more. Then you have to finish removing all the liquid with a cloth.
When you finish the process, spray the place with an air freshener. You’ll see how great it turns out! But remember that this way of cleaning the carpet only applies when your dog has just urinated. If the urine is already dry, it’s best to use the vinegar with the baking soda to clean it.
If you want to prevent your dog from urinating on the carpet, we suggest you mix a solution of equal parts water and vinegar, and spray it on the area of the carpet where your dog usually urinates. You’ll see how they won’t do it anymore.
Other strategies to reduce urine odor
Although the best way to eliminate dog urine odor is by cleaning, there are some strategies that may help the process. The following tips will help you reduce the presence of this unpleasant odor:
Take care of his health and nutrition
It’s important to remember that dog urine odor can vary in smell depending on the dog’s nutrition or general health. For this reason, if you want to ensure you don’t have these odor problems, then make sure you watch these two aspects. Visit your veterinarian at least twice a year to make sure your pet doesn’t have any health problems.
Clean more than just the surfaces of your home
Sometimes, the smell of dog urine inside the house is due to the fact that there are several objects impregnated with this liquid. Usually, this happens because the pet gets small drops or traces on its paws and body, and takes the smell all over the house.
With this in mind, if you want to eliminate the smell of urine, it’s best to perform a deep cleaning that includes washing all the dog’s objects. In this way, you’ll ensure that no trace of the odor remains.
Clean the urine well
Dogs have a very perceptive sense of smell that’s able to detect even the slightest trace of urine scent. Moreover, as soon as they detect it, they feel the need to urinate again to mark their territory and reinforce the smell. Therefore, you should try to clean the area well even if you no longer detect the odor.
Sterilize your pet
Dog urine also contains certain pheromones that become stronger during their breeding season. For this reason, during the mating season, males tend to make more markings due to olfactory stimulation. This situation is significantly reduced with sterilization. This is why it’s considered a good way to reduce urination and, therefore, the smell of urine.
Although the above tips are able to help most people, in certain cases the smell of dog urine may not disappear. If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is to contact a professional cleaning company to help you fix it. Remember that unpleasant aromas can also affect your family’s health, so don’t hesitate to remedy it as soon as possible.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fernández, A. (2016) Guía básica para la esterilización canina y felina. Recuperado el 24 de marzo de 2022, disponible en: https://www.colvet.es/sites/default/files/2016-02/Gui%CC%81a%20ba%CC%81sica%20para%20la%20esterilizacio%CC%81n_0.pdf
- The City of San Antonio. (2003). Removing Pet Stains and Odors. Pets for Life. Behavior Series. Recuperada el 25 de septiembre de 2022, disponible en: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/AnimalCare/pets-care/Removing-Stains-Odors.pdf
This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.