How To Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Concrete: 5 Practical Methods

We all love our dogs and try to be the best dog owners we can be. They are lovely, fun, and great to be around, but they can cause some problems around our households. One common problem is dogs peeing in the garage and on the concrete areas of our homes. When that happens, the surfaces soak in the pee and create an unpleasant smell that just gets worse if not treated.

That’s why you should always try to clean up the mess and get the smell out as quickly as possible. It will not be an easy task, but it’s well worth it once your concrete areas and the garage start smelling nice again.

Today, we’ll look at how to get dog pee smell out of concrete & garages and provide you with 5 practical options that will help.

Why does pee smell stay on the concrete?

Concrete is porous, so dog urine gets easily stuck in the tiny holes in the concrete. It soaks the urine in, so you will still smell the unpleasant pee odor coming out no matter how much you mop the surface.  It’s crucial to know how to prevent and treat this issue when it occurs. It might be a tricky task, but a couple of cleaning techniques will help you resolve this issue efficiently. Continue reading to find out more about them.

Before you begin

Before you begin with one of the treatments, you need to determine where the smell is coming from. Urine can be hard to locate just by smell, so you can use a UV light to locate the pee sources. If you do not have one, you could treat the whole concrete area, but that might be time-consuming.

Once you find the spot you need to treat, clean it before the procedure. Sweep the area and wash it with soap and lukewarm water. Rinse it off with hot water and allow it to dry before starting the treatment. The best products for cleaning dog pee smells from concrete are commonly positive ion-based or enzyme-based. We’ll look at both, plus some other techniques you can try out. These are the most efficient methods for removing the dog pee smell out of concrete & garages.

The Top 5 Methods to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Concrete

1. Vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda mixture is a home remedy for stains and unpleasant smells. It usually works very well and since most of us have these ingredients at home, it won’t cost much to try this method out.

First, you should sprinkle the baking soda on the area where the smell is coming from. Once that is done, pour the vinegar on the baking soda. Since vinegar is acidic it will react with baking soda and remove the odor. This technique might not work for older stains, though, so you may need to try some of the other methods below.

2. Enzymatic cleaner

Pet enzymatic cleaners are specially made to remove pet urine from concrete and other surfaces. You should prepare the mixture according to the instructions on the packaging, make sure you follow them carefully, and avoid adding too much water as it can weaken the mix. You’ll need a decent amount of the enzymatic cleaner as it evaporates fast.

Once you’ve mixed it, pour it over the affected area and scrub the mixture in with a deck brush. Keep it wet for 10–15 minutes so that the concrete can soak in the solution. A tip for better results is to cover the area to avoid evaporating. There’s no need for rinsing once this is done, but you might need to repeat the treatment if the odor is very strong.

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3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is an acid that is used to remove bad odors. It sanitizes and disinfects the area treated, so it could be a solution to your dog pee smell problem. To perform this treatment, you’ll need to mix two teaspoons of baking soda with two drops of liquid soap. Mix that up and add two cups of hydrogen peroxide. Stir everything until you get a cohesive mix and pour it over the affected area. Make sure that it’s completely covered. The mixture will soak into the concrete and eliminate traces of urine, but this technique should be repeated every 24 hours for a couple of days to get the best results.

4. Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is commonly used to clean stubborn garage and concrete stains. It can get rid of urine and all the bacterial content gathered in the area. If you choose this method, be sure to wear protective goggles and clothing as it can cause skin damage. You should do small spaces at a time because it evaporates quickly.

For this method, mix ½ cup of TSP per gallon of hot water. Apply the mixture to the area that the odor is coming from. Scrub the spot and leave the mixture on for at least 5–10 minutes. While the reaction between TSP and urine is occurring, you might sense a powerful odor due to the chemicals doing their job. Last but not least, pour hot water over the area to rinse it off and remove the mixture using a wet vac. Rinse two more times and allow the spot to dry overnight.

5. Ion-based solution

The ion-based solution is another great option for getting rid of the dog urine smells out of concrete & garages. This method is one of the simplest and most efficient methods for removing foul odor.  Before applying it to the area affected, make sure you wet the area. Pour the ion-based solution on the offending spot and allow it to dry. Once that’s done, the smell should be gone, but you may need to repeat this method a couple of times if the first attempt didn’t get rid of the smell.

Prevention

Prevention is the key to success when it comes to dog pee smell. You should use a concrete sealer to neutralize the area and stop any new urine molecules from reaching the concrete base. Also, the sealer will make the area waterproof, preventing new stains from occurring while eliminating bad smells. Whenever possible, clean the dog’s pee the moment the dog has urinated on the area. Lukewarm water and some soap should be enough to clean a fresh urine stain.

How long does dog pee smell last on concrete?

Concrete soaks the urine up, and once it’s connected to the concrete base, it can be hard to remove the stench. If not treated, the dog pee smell will be forever present on concrete surfaces. You can use some of the methods we mentioned to get rid of the smell, but most importantly, practice prevention so that the scent doesn’t occur in the first place. Your dog will still be a happy pet, while you will have a nice smelling home free from unpleasant smells.

Will bleach get rid of dog urine smell on concrete?

We advise never to use bleach to eliminate dog urine smell on concrete. It might help you resolve the problem, but it has a lot of disadvantages. Dog urine contains ammonia that can be harmful once mixed with bleach. When bleach gets in contact with ammonia, it releases toxic fumes. That’s why it’s not recommended for cleaning dog pee from concrete, garages, or pretty much any surface covered in urine. Try some of the other available options as they can be just as efficient and won’t harm your health. If you still want to proceed with bleach regardless, make sure you air out the space and stay away until it has completely evaporated. Keep your pets and family away from the toxic fumes too.

Conclusion

Getting rid of the dog pee smell out of concrete & garages can be tricky. Still, there are great techniques available that will help you resolve the problem. Some of them will need repeating and determination, but you will certainly resolve the issue with one of the mentioned techniques. Try them out and change the method if the first one didn’t work. The key is to be persistent because the smell removal can take some time.

Featured Image Credit: Kwan Kajornsiri, Shutterstock