Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Lifestyle

How to Find Hidden Dog Pee: Expert Tips & How to Clean It

Patricia Dickson
By Patricia DicksonUpdated on June 17, 2026
Share
Dog pee underpad

Dogs are indeed man’s best friend and are some of the most loving animals on earth.

However, accidents do happen, and if they happen too often, you’ll end up with a urine smell that won’t go away in your home. Not only will it be hard to get rid of the smell, but sometimes it’s almost impossible to find the source of the smell.

If you’ve ever found yourself running from room to room, lifting the couches, looking under the kitchen table, and scratching your head because you can’t find the hidden dog pee, then you’re an experienced pet parent and know what we’re talking about!

Luckily, there are ways to find that hidden dog pee, and get rid of the smell. We’ll talk about this and more below.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

How to Find & Cleaning Hidden Dog Pee

The first thing you want to do is go on a search for the hidden dog pee in your home. Dogs usually roam wherever they want in most homes, so there could be a lot of ground to cover.

It’s best to invest in a black light to see if you can find hidden dog pee that your furry pal has been leaving behind. This way, you’ll easily be able to find hidden urine that’s dried that you cannot see with the naked eye. Check possible places where your male pooch may have marked his territory by spraying, or private spots where females may have peed, such as under tables or beds.

Once you’ve found the source of the smell, it’ll be easier to get the odor out and make your home smell fresh and clean once again. Investing in the right products before you need them is also key. We recommend an enzyme cleaner.

Our Favorite Cleaner

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite all-purpose cleaner for pet messes. It permanently lifts the very worst stains and odors, making clean-up and accident prevention a breeze. Hepper offers a 100% guarantee, which is a great bonus! Learn more about it here.

Rating Image Product Details
Best Enzymatic Cleaner
Winner
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator Spray Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • All-purpose
  • Pet-safe
  • Multi-surface safe
  • At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!

    divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

    The 8 Steps for Getting Rid of the Smell

    Once you’ve found the dog pee Fido has been hiding from you, there are a few steps you can follow to help you get rid of the odor. We’ll list those steps for you below.

    1. Open the Windows

    When it comes to getting rid of that dog smell and the smell urine leaves behind, your first step should be to open the windows in your home to the fresh air outside.

    Of course, you’re not going to want to do this if the weather is super-nasty outside, but if it’s a nice day, fling open those windows and doors and let the fresh air pour in and circulate.

    Image Credit: Monkey Business Images, Shutterstock

    2. Remove All Visible Dog Urine

    It’s important to make sure that you remove all visible dog urine from your home. It’s best to immediately clean up any messes you see your dog make, as the longer you let the urine sit, the worse it’s going to stain, and the smell will soon set in.


    3. Vacuum or Mop

    Once you’ve blotted up and removed all the visible dog urine, vacuum or mop the entire area to remove any messes and feces you might have missed. Feces will leave a horrible smell in your home as well.

    It’s best to vacuum or sweep and mop completely before moving to the next step in the process.

    Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

    4.  Use an Enzymatic Cleaner

    Once you’ve followed the steps above, use an enzymatic cleaner and spray the affected areas thoroughly. They are a perfect choice for taking out the smells and stains of dog urine in your home since they are designed to breakdown the compounds in urine that cause smells and stains to repeat after a period of time.


    5. Perform a Spot Test

    The first thing you need to do is find an out-of-the-way spot on your carpet or furnishings and spot test it first. You never know when a cleaner will react badly with your type of fabric or carpeting, and you don’t want a big bleached-out spot to contend with.

    Spray a bit of the cleaner, wait a bit, and then move on to the next steps on the list if it works with no problem.

    Image Credit: y_seki, Shutterstock

    6. Spray and Leave

    Spray the product on the affected area and let it sit for the time it specifies on the bottle. Once it sits, rinse the area with a damp cloth, then pat it dry.


    7. Blot, Don’t Rub

    The one thing you need to know about getting dog stains and odors out of your furnishings and carpets is that you should blot the area, not rub it.

    Scrubbing a stain does nothing but spread it to the rest of the area. So, blot gently—don’t scrub or rub.

    Image Credit: Syda Productions, Shutterstock

    8. Let Dry and Vacuum

    Let the area you treated dry thoroughly, then vacuum it afterward. Repeat these steps as many times and as often as needed until the stains are gone, and your home once again smells clean and fresh.

    If pee accidents are frequent and you’re unsure of what’s causing them or how to prevent them, a consult with your vet could help!

    divider dog faces oct 2024

    Conclusion

    When it comes to having pets, most pet parents already know they can be a lot of work, and that includes the accidents they have on occasion.

    These tips will hopefully help you find any hidden urine, clean it properly, and keep your home free of hidden dog pee, the stains, and the smell it brings.


    Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

    The Dogster Newsletter

    Expert dog care, straight to your inbox

    News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog.

    No spam — unsubscribe anytime.

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

    Click a star to rate. You can leave written feedback afterwards. (We read all feedback.)

    Patricia Dickson
    Authored by

    Patricia Dickson

    Leave a Reply

    You're very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let's have a positive and constructive conversation.

    How to Find Dog Urine Without a Blacklight: 8 Helpful Tips

    How to Find Dog Urine Without a Blacklight: 8 Helpful Tips

    A dog that pees in the house can be a handful to manage, to say the least. One of the trickiest issues can be finding where your dog has peed. Sometimes, it’s…

    Nicole Cosgrove
    By Nicole Cosgrove · 1 month ago
    How to Get Dog Pee Out of Your Carpet: 4 Tips & Tricks

    How to Get Dog Pee Out of Your Carpet: 4 Tips & Tricks

    Owning a dog is a big responsibility, but it is also a rewarding experience in many ways. Along with the fun, snuggles, and bonding, though, typically come she…

    Dogster Team
    By Dogster Team · 2 months ago
    4 DIY Homemade Enzyme Cleaner Recipes for Dog Urine: Easy & Effective

    4 DIY Homemade Enzyme Cleaner Recipes for Dog Urine: Easy & Effective

    When disaster strikes in the form of dog pee somewhere it should not be, what you need is an enzyme cleaner to tackle the smell and stain. Store-bought enzyme…

    Kit Copson
    By Kit Copson · 1 month ago
    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of a Mattress: 8 Effective Steps

    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of a Mattress: 8 Effective Steps

    Owning a dog has many benefits and challenges, including urine stains when accidents happen. Urine leaves unpleasant colors and lingering odors that can make y…

    Nicole Cosgrove
    By Nicole Cosgrove · 2 months ago

    How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Smell From Tile: 4 Effective Ways

    Part of being a dog owner involves learning to clean up after accidents. All puppies need to learn to be potty trained, and some dogs may even develop incontin…

    Nicole Cosgrove
    By Nicole Cosgrove · July 4, 2026
    How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Smell From Tile: 4 Effective Ways

    How to Remove Dog Odor From Your House: 15 Vet-Approved Tips

    There is no getting around it: Dogs can get stinky. No one even has to ask if you have a pet; it's evident when they enter your home. But no one wants their ho…

    Chris Dinesen Rogers
    By Chris Dinesen Rogers · June 16, 2026
    How to Remove Dog Odor From Your House: 15 Vet-Approved Tips

    4 Vet-Approved Homemade Remedies for Dog Stains & Odors for Pee, Poo & Puke

    Dogs can cause many stains. While enzymatic, commercial solutions may work best for deep-set stains, you can often get away with a homemade solution. While the…

    Kristin Hitchcock
    By Kristin Hitchcock · June 17, 2026
    4 Vet-Approved Homemade Remedies for Dog Stains & Odors for Pee, Poo & Puke

    How to Protect Laminate Floors From Dog Pee - 5 Great Tips

    Having a dog is one of the many joys we can have in life. No companionship is quite like the kind we get from our four-legged friends. While having these famil…

    Ashley Bates
    By Ashley Bates · June 16, 2026
    How to Protect Laminate Floors From Dog Pee - 5 Great Tips

    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of Clothes and Fabrics: Tips & Prevention Tricks

    Keeping your home clean with a new dog in the house can be challenging, and some canines take several weeks or longer to adapt to potty training. What do you d…

    Nicole Cosgrove
    By Nicole Cosgrove · June 17, 2026
    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of Clothes and Fabrics: Tips & Prevention Tricks

    How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpet Without Vinegar: 5 Methods

    There are a lot of ways to tackle dog urine odors. One of the most common ways is with vinegar, which overpowers the smell and destroys the bacteria that cause…

    Kristin Hitchcock
    By Kristin Hitchcock · June 16, 2026
    How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpet Without Vinegar: 5 Methods

    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of Wood Furniture: 4 Simple Methods

    There's no doubt that you love your pooch madly. However, accidents on your precious wooden furniture or, worse, on your hardwood floors can drive you crazy. W…

    Genevieve Dugal
    By Genevieve Dugal · June 17, 2026
    How to Get Dog Pee Smell & Stains Out of Wood Furniture: 4 Simple Methods

    How to Wash a Dog Bed With Urine in It - 12 Easy Steps & FAQ

    If you own a dog, you’ve probably experienced the sinking feeling of discovering they’ve wet their bed at one point or another. It’s almost inevitable that you…

    Nicole Cosgrove
    By Nicole Cosgrove · June 17, 2026
    How to Wash a Dog Bed With Urine in It - 12 Easy Steps & FAQ

    Love Dogs? So Do We! Join the Dogster Community

    Stay informed with expert pet care insights delivered straight to your inbox! Discover professional guidance on animal behavior, feeding tips, trusted product picks, and much more.

    You may opt-out at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

    The Dogster app on a phone