How to Stop the Smell of Dog Urine Naturally

A dog is man's best friend, except when the dog isn't acting like a friend. Dog accidents can be one of the most frustrating parts of pet ownership. Whether the accidents are in the house, in the car or even on furniture, the accompanying smell can linger. The smell in the yard can be overpowering too, especially if the yard is small and fenced. With today's emphasis on working toward a greener planet, dog owners everywhere are looking for ways to stop the smell of urine naturally.

Things You'll Need

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Black light device
  • Dehumidifier
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Instructions

  1. Action Plan

    • 1

      Find the offensive spots. Using your nose to sniff out the locations is the logical way to start. If you have been away for a long time, though, there may be several spots, and you may be unable to find them all by using your sense of smell. Pet stores sell hand-held devices for this very purpose. These handy instruments have a black light that causes urine spots to glow when the lights are turned out. Once the urine spots are located, they can be treated.

    • 2

      Baking soda is an effective way to remove pet odors from carpets, according to Cheryl Mendelson, housekeeping expert and author of "Home Comforts, the Art and Science of Keeping House." Mendelson recommends covering the area with baking soda, waiting 15 minutes and then vacuuming up the baking soda. She emphasizes that sufficient baking soda needs to be used and left on for a long enough time.

    • 3

      Lower humidity. Mendelson says that smells are sometimes stronger when the air is wetter, so she suggests keeping the humidity as low as possible with an air conditioner or a dehumidifier.

    • 4

      Apply vinegar to porous surfaces. If your pet is urinating on clothing, bedding, pillows or furniture cushions, laundry detergent and a spin through the washing machine won't be enough. Apple cider vinegar works well at getting urine smells out of fabrics. Add a quarter cup of the apple cider vinegar to the washing machine with the laundry detergent. If your dog is wetting consistently on a hard surface such as wood, tile or linoleum, the smell may linger just as long as on fabric. Treat these surfaces with white vinegar. Mix three parts warm water with one part white vinegar and scrub the area. If a small yard reeks of dog urine, saturate with water and the smell will subside.