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How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Brick: 4 Practical Options

brick floor

Bricks are an excellent exterior choice for many reasons. Their porous design makes them super resistant to different kinds of weather, but unfortunately, it also makes it easy for them to absorb odors and enzymes from things like dog urine.

So, what do you do if your bricks have the unpleasant odor of dog urine? With any of these cleaning methods, you can get rid of that smell with ease. So, don’t stress and keep reading, and you’ll have your bricks smelling like new in no time!

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What You Need

The last thing that you want is to get halfway through a job only to realize that you’re missing something. That’s why we highlighted all the tools that you’ll need right here.

Keep in mind that this list does not include any cleaning chemicals. You’ll need the specific cleaning solution from whichever method you’re using.

  • Scrub brush
  • Spray bottle
  • Hose
  • Rubber gloves
  • Old towel/rag

Prepare the Surface

Before you get started spraying the bricks with anything, you need to prepare the bricks. This might sound like a daunting task, but we promise you that it’s not. Start by cleaning up any urine that’s still on the surface of the bricks.

This only works if the dog just peed on the bricks, but if they have, this is going to be the most effective method of keeping the urine from seeping in. Next, spray down the affected area with water to try to remove as much of the urine as possible.

If you see a stain, spray that area with extra water. Once you’ve thoroughly soaked the bricks, use an old towel or rag to dry them off. Once the bricks are completely dry, it’s time to move on to one of the following methods.

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The 4 Ways to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Brick

There’s no wrong choice here, but it’s important to note that each method has its own pros and cons. We go through what you’ll need to do for each method and highlight the perks and drawbacks that it has compared to the other options!

1. Vinegar and Water

Vinegar
Image Credit: evita-ochel, Pixabay
Effectiveness Level Medium
Cost Low
Difficulty Level Easy

This is a super-effective method, and it only uses things that you likely already have. Create a 50/50 water-to-vinegar mixture, then spray it on the affected area.

Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then use water to wash off the mixture as much as possible. Vinegar acts as a great odor remover, and it will likely eliminate the smell for you after just one application. But if you still notice a smell afterward, a second or third application should completely eliminate the problem.

However, there is one drawback of using this method: It doesn’t act as an enzyme remover. So, while you might no longer notice the smell, other animals probably will.

This makes your brick surface a prime area for repeat urination, and you’ll likely be right back where you started if dogs or other animals frequent the area.


2. Baking Soda and Vinegar

Effectiveness Level High
Cost Low
Difficulty Level Easy

If vinegar and water aren’t getting rid of the smell on their own, consider adding baking soda to the mix. Start by dousing the entire area with baking soda, and letting it sit for at least 1 hour. Keep in mind that you want to thoroughly coat the area with baking soda — you can’t use too much!

After an hour, spray down the entire area with the 50/50 vinegar and water mix, and let it sit for about 5 minutes before cleaning it all up. Ensure that the vinegar thoroughly soaks through the baking powder so it can penetrate the brick.

After it sits, wash off both the vinegar and baking soda with water to finish the process. You can also choose to vacuum up the baking soda with a shop vac if you have one.


3. Commercial Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme Cleaners
Image Credit: Peakpx
Effectiveness Level High
Cost Medium
Difficulty Level Easy

If your bricks are in an area where pets or other animals frequent, we recommend using a commercial enzyme cleaner to help reduce the likelihood of repeat urination. Commercial enzyme cleaners will typically both clean and remove the enzymes, so there’s no reason to use the vinegar method if you’re doing this.

Follow the directions on the back of the specific enzyme cleaner that you purchased for the best possible results.

Hepper-Advanced-Bio-Enzyme-Pet-Stain-Odor-Eliminator-Spray

Are you looking for an enzyme cleaner that can keep your house clean and your pet happy? We recommend the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, which permanently gets rid of the most stubborn stains and smells. There’s even a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can try this cleaner risk-free! Click here to order your first bottle.

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4. Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Effectiveness Level Very High
Cost High
Difficulty Level Medium

If you simply can’t remove the urine smell with vinegar, baking soda, or a commercial enzyme cleaner, trisodium phosphate (TSP) will do the trick. TSP is a commercial cleaning product that is super effective and strong.

We highly recommend wearing both rubber gloves and safety goggles when working with TSP because of its industrial strength. Mix ½ cup of TSP with 1 gallon of hot water, and then pour the mixture over the affected bricks. Scrub the mixture into the bricks for maximum effectiveness.

Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash it off completely and dry it. Keep in mind that since TSP is so strong, you will need to take extra precautions to keep it away from plants, children, and pets. If you, your pet, or a child ingests TSP, call poison control right away.

Related Read: Best Brick & Masonry Sealer – Reviews & Top Picks

divider 1 Final Thoughts

Dog urine is a terrible smell, but it’s not one that you need to accept in your bricks. If you’re not sure which method will work best for you, start by keeping it simple. Chances are that you already have vinegar and baking soda, so give that a shot!

If it doesn’t work or if it keeps happening, you can invest in an enzyme cleaner or a more powerful option like TSP. Regardless of the method, the sooner that you clean up the mess, the sooner that you can get rid of that disgusting dog pee smell!


Featurd Image Credit: mariastone, Pixabay

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