Whole House Smells Like Dog Urine [Quick & Easy Hacks]

Every pet owner has known this predicament: your dog doesn’t make it outside, and ends up peeing in the house. Even after cleaning it up, the smell seems to linger for what feels like forever. It’s unpleasant to us and our families, and it makes us hesitant to invite visitors over in fear that the smell isn’t all the way out. So what can you do?

Well, that answer depends on a lot of factors. What kind of floors do you have? What have you used before? Maybe you’re worried about other lasting effects, such as the effect on your health. Maybe you’re looking for more preventative measures, so you can skip the clean up. No matter what information you’re looking for– search no farther. All of this will be covered in this article.

What does dog pee smell like?

First, we have to go over the basics. Let’s make sure you’ve identified the right smell. This is important, because you don’t want to be treating the wrong smell. Dog urine typically smells similarly to the odor of human urine, but right after the accident it may not be very strong. However, overtime, the smell will become increasingly worse if it is not cleaned properly. It becomes quite easy to identify this smell the longer you have a dog and can recognize the familiar odor.

Why does my house smell of urine?

How long does dog pee smell last?

If treated immediately, the smell of dog urine may last up to a day or two at most. If left untreated, however, the smell will take up to five years to go away on its own. If treated early enough, the smell should not be strong enough yet to truly be a problem. However, if it is left untreated or treated incorrectly, the smell will likely become intolerable.

How do I get the smell of dog pee out of my house?

There are many approaches to getting rid of that odor in your home. You must first consider a few factors, because what you do will be dependent on your answers.

How long has there been a smell? How strong is the smell? Do you have wooden or carpeted floors, and if both, where is the odor the strongest? Is there a stain you want out as well?

Once you have answered these questions, please refer to the more specific sections below that will be sure to meet your specific needs.

Various floor types affected by dog urine

Of course, no matter what type of floor you have there will ultimately be an unpleasant odor accompanied with your dog’s urine. The smell will most likely be the same no matter what floor you have, but the treatment for both smell and stain will differ.

How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of a Rug

Before anything, you have to make sure you’ve cleaned up the actual urine. To do this effectively, you’ll need paper towels, newspaper, and cold water. You will start by placing a thick layer of paper towels on the spot the dog peed on, then covering that with newspaper.

Apply pressure for a few minutes, standing on it if possible. After a few minutes, remove the towels and paper and pour cold water on the spot. Then, use more towels to clean up the water. The towels smelling is a GOOD thing! It means you are getting as much of the urine and odor out of the carpet as possible.

If you do not have baking soda on hand, never fear. There are plenty of other methods. Read below for more information on tools and techniques.

How To Remove The Smell Of Urine From Wooden Floorboards

For the first method, you will need white vinegar and water. Create a solution of the two, using a ratio of one-to-one. Then use the sponge to rub the solution into the stain. Let this sit for five to ten minutes before wiping it up.If this is not effective enough, you may also try pouring baking soda onto the stain and letting it sit for several nights before vacuuming.

Removing Pet Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors

If the stain is already present, there is a solution. Use vinegar, warm water, and grapefruit oil to create a solution. Scrub the floor, and focus on the more prominent spots. As you scrub, both the odor and stain should decrease.

What if the dog urine soaked into the hardwood floor?

If you were really unable to get to the accident in time, or maybe you’ve moved into a new home and are looking to rid the floor of old stains and odor, this section is for you. If the urine has soaked into the hardwood floor, a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide should help. Use a towel or rag to clean this spot, then let it sit for a few hours. This solution should remove stain and odor from your floors, and is both effective and inexpensive.

How to get rid of urine smell in bathroom

Maybe your pet made it to the bathroom, just not the right one. If your dog peed on your tile bathroom floor, make sure to clean it up as soon as possible. If you are able to get to the urine quickly, use towels to blot the spot to soak up as much of it as possible. Then, use stain remover on the area. Once the odor and stain have gone away, clean the residue with a small amount of water and paper towels.

Allow the spot to air dry after. If not effective the first time, try this process again. It may take up for four times to completely remove the stain and odor, depending on how long it has been there.

How to remove urine smell from clothes

Did your pet pee on you, or is the smell lingering on your clothes from the smell of your home?  Assuming normal washes are not helping, you can remove the smell easily from the fabric of your clothes by utilizing hydrogen peroxide. Mix 10 ounces of 3% Hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and 2 drops of dishwashing detergent in a bowl. Mix until the baking soda has dissolved.

Pour this mixture into a spray bottle. Be sure to test it before you spray it on your actual clothes. Use some sort of fabric you wouldn’t mind ruining, and test the solution on it. If after a few minutes, the fabric does not change color, you are good to go.

Spray the solution on the urine stain, and let it sit for an hour. Continue this process until the stain and odor are both gone. Once this has been accomplished, make sure to wipe the shirt down with a damp towel or rag.

Tips for Selling or Renting out a Dog Stinky Home

If you are planning on selling or renting your house, but you are worried about pet odors, there are several tactics you can try.

Firstly, air out your house! Open doors and windows. The more air that circulates, the less present the unpleasant scents will become.

Scrub your floors. Use vinegar, floor cleaner, or bleach. Do this thoroughly. Make sure you are not only focusing on floors, however. Wash your drapes and/or upholstery. Dry clean all fabric window coverings to eliminate pet odors.

If washing walls has not worked, it might be time to replace them! Add a fresh coat of paint, replace drywall, or seal the walls. This will take more time and commitment, but you want to make your home as appealing to your buyers as possible.

You can also set candles and other refreshers around your home, especially when buyers are over. This won’t eliminate the smell long term, but it will help with buyers. Just don’t overdo it!

Finally, if you are renting or selling your home you may want to reconsider temporarily relocating your pets until the home is sold. This way, there are no new odors contributing, and you are able to better focus on ridding the home of the already present ones. If this cannot be done, try to contain the pet to a certain room or part of the house to avoid contamination as much as possible.

How to prepare a House for Short term rental like airBnb Where Dogs Live

If you are looking to prepare your home for a short term rental and not a full sale, there are a few things you should consider doing as well. You will want to make sure the home is as clean as possible, consider placing products such as plug in room refreshers around the home for a temporary pleasant aroma.

Why will your nose adjust to the smell, but your visitors will notice the smell (if they are not dog parents)?

This is important. Often, if your home smells like dog urine, it will be troublesome at first, but your nose will adjust to the smell. This makes living in your home easier for you, but visitors won’t find it so pleasant. This can also make making sure the scent is truly gone from your house a harder task. So why does it happen?

You can illuminate pet smells (even the ones you don’t notice) by keeping your pets groomed and cleaned, vacuuming all surfaces, and using a blacklight to find any urine stains that you may not be aware of. By doing this, you will hopefully eliminate any traces of pet odor from your home.

When you’re done, bring a visitor in to test! Make sure they are not a pet owner, and therefore will be able to pick up on the scents easily.

Side Effects of Dog Urine

Is the smell of dog urine in a house bad for you?

If you are worried about your health because of the dog urine in your house, this is valid. Over time, urine can cause allergy like symptoms, strong odors, structural damage, and mold growth to your home.

If someone in the home has a respiratory health condition, such as asthma, the ammonia from the pet urine that is left behind after the water evaporates can pose a threat. The bacteria that grows along with urine stains can also cause sneezing, coughing, and other allergy like symptoms. If someone in your home has a health issue involving their immune system, this can be detrimental to their health.

Similarly, if gone uncleaned, mold can grow under carpet that has been urinated on. Depending on the type, the mold may cause respiratory issues for those living in the home.

All pet odors pose a risk

It isn’t just dog urine that poses a risk. Cat urine is less of a threat than dog urine because the ammonia is much more concentrated, but can still pose a threat to anyone with respiratory or immune system health problems.

Smells such as dog feces, dog hair, and other pet odors can also be harmful to your lungs and home. Be sure to clean your home as much as possible, not just from urine, but vacuuming and cleansing fabrics around your house.

It is also crucial to keep your pet itself clean. The cleaner it is, the cleaner your house will be.

What symptoms can pet accidents cause?

To summarize the different symptoms that may arise from pet odors:

• Lung irritation (burning)
• Watery eyes
• Skin irritation
• Respiratory health risks
• Immune System health risks
• Bacterial infection
• Allergic reactions

What neutralizes dog urine?

Dish Soap

To remove stains of pet urine, dish soap is absolutely an option. This is convenient, because you most likely have this on hand anyway. Mix a quarter teaspoon of dish soap detergent with one cup of warm water. Then, put the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it to the stain. You can also use dish soap to clean the urine when your pet first has their accident, just use water and a paper towel as well.

Vinegar, Baking Soda & Peroxide

All of these techniques have been mentioned in detail in the above sections. These substances will neutralize pet odors. Using them all together will make the removal even more effective. First, make sure your area is dry and you have blotted up as much moisture as you can.

Then, mix water and white vinegar (1:1) , and put it in a spray bottle. After spraying a generous amount on the spot, blot the area with a cloth. The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia. Once dry, sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the area.

Finally, mix the 3% hydrogen peroxide with the dishwasher detergent and pour it over the baking soda. Allow the area to dry completely, then vacuum the baking soda from your carpet. The baking soda will absorb moisture and urine from your carpet.

Use a Black Light to Find Stains

Once you’ve found the stains, use an enzyme based cleaner to get rid of them. Once you’ve cleaned, you can test the carpets and furniture with the blacklight once more to make sure that the stains are really gone.

Corn Starch

Using corn starch is another method of removing the urine smell from your home. For this, you just need to sprinkle the corn starch on the urinated spot and add a few drops of water. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before wiping away the cornstarch and blotting away the remaining moisture of the water. The corn starch works because it absorbs oils and moisture. It is especially useful when used after cleaning with vinegar.

Essential Oils

If you’re looking for a more natural solution for pet odors, break out your essential oils. For this cleaner, you’ll need to mix a quarter cup of vodka, a cup of water, and 15 drops of lavender essential oil. Mix this in a spray bottle, then lightly spray your pet’s bedding or most often occupied areas. Let it dry completely before allowing your pet to touch these areas again. This should significantly reduce any bad odors!

Lemon Juice

Carpet Cleaner Rental

If these other methods just aren’t working, you might want to consider renting a carpet cleaner. These are relatively easy to find. You can rent one from your local Home Depot, or other home improvement stores. This cleaner will provide a deep-clean to your rugs and carpets. There is a variety of different cleaners to choose from, all ranging in intensity and price. The hours for rental usually range between 4 and 24 hours.

Use The Power Of The Sun

A good tip for improving the odor in your house is by using sunlight! This is an easy and natural remedy. After you thoroughly clean carpets, blankets, and cushions– move them outside on a sunny day and let them dry! This should help get rid of the odor and leave these items smelling fresh.

What is the best enzyme cleaner for dog urine?

One of the best enzyme cleaners for dog urine is Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator. You can buy this product or search from others like it through Amazon or your local grocery store.

Remove Odors With an Air Purifier

Another method to rid your home of pet odors is to use an air purifier. This is both easy and effective, but make sure that your air purifier has an activation carbon filter. This will make the air purifier effective against cat and dog smells.

Shampoo and Wet Vac Your Carpets

Shampooing and wet vacing your carpets is another tactic to take if you’re battling pet odors. You can first shampoo your carpets You can do this manually with carpet cleaner, or with a vacuum-like machine that will help you. Then, you can use a wet-vac to pick up any remaining dirt and moisture from your carpet. This should leave your carpets and rugs smelling fresh and clean.

Pick up a Few Odor Fighting Candles

What Not to Use to Clean Up Dog Urine Odors

Now that we’ve discussed every possible method of cleaning dog urine, let’s briefly go over what won’t be effective.

• Avoid using steam cleaners on carpet or rug, as this can permanently set the stain
• In fact, avoid any kind of heat as this will just make the smell worse
• Also try to avoid overly strong smelling chemicals such as ammonia, as this might attract your pet to the spot again

Why Did Your Dog Pee on the Carpet?

There are a few reasons your pet could be having accidents on your carpet. One may be that you simply need to take them outside more frequently, that they cannot hold it for as long as they are in the house for. A simpler solution would be to install a dog door (here is our list of best dog doors. If you want an even easier, hands free automate solution, try these best electronic dog doors)

Excessive accidents could also be a result of some health issue. Make sure you are taking your pet to regular veterinarian appointments.

Dogs also pee to mark their territory. This is their first instinct, so you have to be sure to focus on teaching them to go outside as early as possible. Make sure they have easy access to the outdoors, that you are taking them on regular walks, and that you reward them for going outside.

How to Stop Dog from Peeing on Carpet

Once you have gone to the trouble to get your house clean, you want to prevent your dog from peeing in it again. There are a few ways of doing this. You want to identify any of your pet’s “favorite spots” and make them unattractive to them. Make sure they cannot smell their own scent in that area.

You can also use  a mixture of vinegar and oranges anywhere your dog typically goes. This smell is unpleasant to dogs and will deter them from peeing there. This also works with mixtures of vinegar and baking soda.

You should also get your pet checked out by a vet if they are having excessive accidents. It could be a health issue.

Once the health issue is ruled out, focus on training them and making sure places in your house are not attractive to them.

DIY Urine Deterrent Spray To Prevent Dogs From Peeing On The Carpet

Cayenne Pepper Spray

The final kind of spray you can use to deter your pets from peeing in your house is a cayenne pepper spray. All you need is cayenne pepper and 8 oz of water. Then spray in any place you don’t want your dog to go. This is very effective, as your dog will be able to easily smell the pepper and will retreat immediately.

With the variety of techniques presented, there shouldn’t be any trouble eliminating the odor in your house.

Now that you have the knowledge about why your dog is peeing in the house, what risks it poses, how to clean it, and how to prevent further accidents, you have all the tools you need for a cleaner and a fresher smelling home.