​​Whole House Smells Like Dog Urine [DIY Fix]

Sometimes even well-trained dogs may have an occasional accident. Unfortunately, they usually use human toilets to drink water, not to pee in. Even for a dog lover, living in a house that smells like dog urine might be challenging. Cleaning chemicals may not help.

We’ll look at how we can deal with a house that smells like dog urine.

What NOT to Clean Up Dog Pee With

The first thing to remember is that you should not clean up dog pee with ammonia-based cleaning chemicals. The strong smell of the chemical will only make the odor worse. Plus, the dog will smell it and go there again. Avoid using bleach since it is not safe to breathe in.

Vinegar successfully cuts through the odor of dog pee. Mix it with equal parts of water. However, baking soda & hydrogen peroxide are even more effective. Try mixing a solution of 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent in a spray bottle for ultimate results.

Start by blotting up as much of the moisture as you can from any fabric surface. Then sprinkle baking soda on top of the area you want to clean. Make sure not to rub in really hard since this may push some of it too far down into your carpet or rug fibers.

Prevent Dog Peeing in the House

The best way to deal with the smell of ammonia-ridden dog pee in the house is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Dog Owners In Apartments

If you live in an apartment, always take your dog out for a walk. If you don’t have a fenced-in yard, then go to that nice large park nearby and let the dog run around for an hour.

Be sure to also play with him or her when you get home, however, do not stop taking the dog outside during potty time – especially after meals.

Dealing With Handicapped or Injured Dogs

What if you have an elderly or handicapped pet that just isn’t able to go out anymore? Consider getting a diaper harness so that they can continue their life inside of the house without accidents.

Diapers also work well but they tend not to be as comfy & convenient for pets over time since they tend to wiggle around more than diapers do compared to a simple harness.

Bad Weather

If the weather is too bad to go out or no one is home to walk the dog, consider using pee pads. This is also a good option if you live in an apartment. These indoor disposable floor pads act as a backup for when you can’t walk the dog/let it out.

Control Odor from Urine

Use Vinegar or Essential Oils

If you do find a spot that your dog peed on, use a vinegar/water solution or essential oils to help remove the odor.

You might want to try using lemon juice which is completely natural and still works as well as baking soda & hydrogen peroxide. Lavender, lemongrass, or tea tree oil are also natural ingredients that work wonderfully well to get rid of bad odors.

Consider combining distilled white vinegar with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. This solution is safe to use around pets since the oils won’t harm them in any way nor will it irritate their skin or cause other problems if they accidentally come into contact with it.

Vinegar is an excellent product because it breaks down the molecules which are responsible for producing odor – making it so much easier to clean up!

Use An Air Filter

If possible, try to get a high-end air purifying system installed in your house. Air filters are a good idea even though they don’t completely get rid of all odors. For optimal air freshness, unclog the air filters of your air conditioning system more frequently.

How To Deal With Dog Urine on Furniture

Here are some steps to follow if you have dog urine on furniture:

• Blotting up the stain with a white towel/rag
• Pour some vinegar on the spot
• Allow the vinegar to soak in for about 10 minutes
• Sprinkle baking soda all over the area where the dog peed
• Let the baking soda sit for 10 minutes (or longer)

After that, vacuum up all of the baking soda using an attachment that sucks stuff up instead of blowing it around. Once you’ve got most of it out, go over the area again with some vinegar and let that sit for another 5 or 10 minutes before vacuuming up whatever is left behind. 

Finally, spray down the spot with your cleaner of choice & let things dry overnight. This will completely remove any trace of urine smell from your furniture.

If the above method does not work, you may want to consider professional cleaning services to get those stains and smells out of your furniture.

How To Clean Dog Urine On Different Types of Floors

Dog Urine on Hardwood Floors

Before cleaning, test any solutions in an inconspicuous place first.

You can do this by trying out some plain water to see if it does more harm than good for your floors. If the water trick works, then proceed to use a solution of vinegar & baking soda or just straight-up soap & water.

If you try vinegar, leave the stuff on there for about 5 minutes before wiping it up with a sponge or paper towel – a cloth will get too wet and cause problems.

If you try soap & water, make sure that it is diluted enough not to damage your floor finish but thick enough that it isn’t dripping off of everything.

Dog Urine on Carpets

Use towels to sop up as much urine as possible. Once you have removed what you can start using your solution of choice (soap & water, vinegar & baking soda. essential oils,.etc) on it. Then use a carpet cleaner in the final step – consider buying or renting one if your dog frequently causes a mess.

FYI- Make sure to never use hot water on your carpets since this tends to ruin them over time.

Dog Urine on Tile Floors

Remove excess urine before using a solution mentioned previously. Be sure not to leave too much dampness behind as it will cause the tiles to be slippery. Then mop the floor as normal with a good floor cleaner.

In conclusion, to save your house from the pungent smell of dog urine, use the ingredients and methods mentioned previously. Try to prevent accidents with proper dog training and backup options. Invest in a carpet cleaner or call for professional cleaning services if needed.