Author: Jennifer Williams

You have a backyard where you enjoy spending time with your friends, family, and pets. Animals love those times because they are outdoors, and you are around. The problem is that the same backyard is the area where your pets relieve themselves. Most animals choose a specific area, and that often leads to an unpleasant urine smell.

The good news is that you can get rid of pet urine odors. It’s much easier if you have artificial turf in your backyard. However, you can also remove the smell from concrete, glass, and other surfaces. This guide describes different methods you can try to deal with odors while ensuring there’s no risk for your pet!

What Causes Dog Urine Odor in Your Backyard

Your dog is a senior that has been using the backyard ever since it was a puppy. There was no problem with urine odors until recently, which makes you wonder about the reasons behind it.

Here is a quick overview of why you are suddenly noticing a distinctive dog urine odor:

• Your dog’s medical condition. If your pooch has an urinary tract infection, it can cause an unpleasant odor. Your pet could also be taking medications that affect the urine’s pH, which is why it has a stronger smell.
• The animal frequently urinates in a certain area. Your dog probably has a favorite urination spot. That’s where the odor can be the strongest.
• There’s a porous surface in your yard. Concrete is the most problematic because it absorbs moisture. That can lead to an unpleasant smell but also changes in surface color in some areas.

How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Odor in Your Backyard

If you head into your yard and smell pet urine, it’s action time. The experts recommend different approaches, but all should provide the desired outcome. Here is how you can tackle the unpleasant odor problem!

Install Artificial Turf

Let’s start with a long-term solution, and that includes installing an artificial surface in your yard. If you choose a fake turf patch, it will be easier to maintain and handle potential odors.

Artificial grass has a permeable surface. Once installed properly, it lets the liquid pass to the layers beneath the visible one. However, regular maintenance is imperative. If you let the liquid collect in the lower layers, it can lead to unpleasant smells. Use water to hose off the area regularly, and apply homemade or specialized cleaners if necessary.

Use Baking Soda on Concrete and Grass

The great thing about baking soda is that it won’t destroy your backyard surfaces. Whether it’s grass or concrete, you can let it sit in problematic spots. If you put baking soda on the concrete, scrub it with a bit of water to ensure it suds. After letting it sit for a while, use a hose and rinse it off with water.

Extra tip: You can also mix four cups of water and a teaspoon of baking soda in a spray bottle. Apply the solution to the urine source spot and wait for it to work.

Enzymatic Cleaning Products

Enzymatic cleaners are potent options for dealing with pet urine smells. They have special ingredients that interact with urine bacteria to break them down. By doing that, it also removes unpleasant smells and stains. The price of these solutions varies, but they are versatile, and you can also use them for indoor cleaning.

Use a Vinegar Solution

This simple homemade solution requires having white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Either option will work as long as you mix a teaspoon of it with four cups of water. It’s best to use a spray bottle for easy application to the desired spots. If it didn’t do the trick, try putting some concentrated vinegar on the urine source spot. After letting it sit for a while, use water to rinse the area.

Try a Citrus Solution

If you don’t have vinegar around, lemon juice can be the perfect substitute. Grab a spray bottle and mix four bottles of water with some lemon juice. A teaspoon should be enough unless you think the problem is serious. That calls for a stronger solution, which you apply to the urine source spot and let it sit. After a while, rinse it with water and see if it delivered the desired results.

Turn Your Soil

The smell might be a combination of urine and feces. If you let those sit for a long time, they can pile up and cause a strong smell. A simple solution can be to turn the soil. You flip it the same way as compost and let nature do its job. The waste products and bacteria will neutralize into the earth, and the odor will disappear.