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We all love our pets. However, they are not overly fussy about where they do their business unless they are impeccably trained. This can lead to unpleasant dog smells and urine stains on concrete or patios.
The closest area for the dog to pee is right outside the back door, usually on the patio! This can soon lead to our patios turning green and smell, rather unpleasantly, of dog urine.
Dog pee and other animal urine can be removed and neutralised, quickly and easily. This is done firstly, by understanding what causes the smell of dog urine and secondly, the correct cleaner to use when cleaning up animal pee.
Why does my patio still smell of dog urine?
Whether your patio is made from concrete or stone, it will be porous. The liquid will be soaked up by the stone and create a rather nice environment for the bacteria to grow – not what you want! It is this bacteria that causes the smell which needs to be treated.
What can I use to remove dog urine from my patio?
The simple answer is Pet Enzyme Cleaners. These brilliant cleaners use “good” bacteria to break down waste. As dog urine dries, it creates uric acid crystals which cause the smell and these crystals cannot be broken down by water alone.
There are many enzyme cleaners on the market, each containing different enzymes that make them effective against different waste. For example, there are enzyme cleaners for clearing up dog and cat pee smells and there are general household enzyme cleaners that attack fats and grease.
Some owners’ first thoughts can often be household detergents, that will not break down the uric acid and PLEASE don’t use household bleach! The runoff into the ground can be very damaging to plants, ponds and lawns.
Sealing the area
Once the area has been totally cleaned and the enzyme cleaner has been left to work on the bacteria. Seal the concrete or patio with a liquid sealer. This will help to prevent any future ingress of urine into the concrete or patio surface. They are easy to apply with a soft broom and will help reduce the effects of dog urine on your concrete or patio.
How To Clean Dog Urine From Concrete, Patios and Pavers
- Give the area a light sweep, removing leaves and other debris.
- Using clean fresh water, rinse the area.
- Mix the enzyme cleaning solution as directed and apply using a deck brush to work into the surface.
- Although not always necessary, you can cover the area with a plastic sheet. Leave the area alone and allow the enzyme cleaner to work. Don’t be tempted to rinse the patio.
- To prevent future ingress of dog pee, use a patio/concrete sealing solution
Removing dog and cat urine stains from carpets
If your pet doesn’t manage to make it outside and your carpet takes a hit, don’t worry, there are enzyme cleaners for this too. These upholstery enzyme cleaners can come in the form of powders which you can sprinkle on the wet area and leave for ten minutes, absorbing any dampness. Then simply vacuum up the powder.
If the accident has dried on the bedding or carpet, simply re-wet the area with a glass of water and then apply the powder and vacuum up after ten minutes.
In the Perfect Garden, we have come across many different ways to combat the evidence of dog pee on patios and lawns. From cleaning artificial grass to neutralising bright green grass patches left by female dogs. You can read that article here.
