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If you have a new puppy and a concrete floor, chances are your pup has urinated on it at least once. And although concrete is a solid and durable material, it is also very porous. Therefore, your pet’s urine tends to seep deeply and stink up your entire garage or basement. Even worse, you may feel like you can never get rid of the smell if your dog has gotten into the habit of using your basement, garage, balcony, or any other paved surface as his private toilet.
But don’t despair! With patience and the right cleaning methods, it’s possible to eliminate that foul smell once and for all. Read on to see how.
Getting Dog Pee Out of Concrete & Garages: Before You Start
There are a few steps you’ll want to take in preparation for your cleaning project. Here are the things you’ll need:
- Hard bristle broom
- Wet or dry vacuum cleaner
- Mop
- Enzymatic cleaner
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
- Rubber gloves
- Protective glasses
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Water
Note: Even if you think the urine smell is gone after using regular cleaning products, it only needs a little moisture (for example, on a rainy day) to come back. Water allows uric acid to release a gas, which creates that strong, nasty smell.
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Find the Spot With a UV Lamp
If your dog’s urine has already dried up and you can’t find the exact spot where the accident happened, use a UV lamp. Indeed, a UV lamp can reveal the site of an old stain, which is very useful if you have already cleaned the concrete floor several times and there is no visual sign of urine.
You can also treat the entire concrete surface, which will give it a cleaner, more uniform look.
How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Concrete & Garages
1. Clean the Area Thoroughly With Soap and Water
The first step is to clean the concrete floor of dirt or debris. Sweep or vacuum to make the surface as smooth as possible. Next, remove any furniture that could be damaged by cleaning products. Then, mop the floor with mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and allow it to dry completely.
2. Try Good Old Vinegar and Baking Soda
Both of these classic cleaners work best on recent urine stains. First, sprinkle the urine stain with baking soda. Then, pour a little vinegar and let the magic happen. As it dries, the acid in the vinegar will help neutralize the unpleasant smell.
However, this method is not infallible and may not be ideal on old urine stains. We’ve got a few extra tricks to tackle those, so read on.
3. Use an Enzymatic Cleaner
Vinegar and baking soda are effective, but only up to a point. For stubborn stains and especially the smell of urine, you may prefer a cleaning solution containing enzymes.
Urine contains uric crystals, which are not soluble and strongly clump together on porous surfaces such as concrete. Thus, conventional cleaning agents like water, soap, vinegar, and baking soda will fail to dislodge uric acid crystals fully. On the other hand, the enzymatic cleaner will break down the uric acid and eventually detach it from the concrete.
4. Use Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
This powerful product is often used for heavy-duty cleaning and works well on garages and concrete surfaces. It will undoubtedly succeed in eliminating urine residue and odor.
However, be aware that this is not an environmentally friendly product and may irritate your skin and eyes. Read the instructions carefully and wear protective goggles and rubber gloves if you decide to use them.
5. Let Dry and Repeat
Allow the concrete surface to dry overnight after treatment is complete. If you used an enzymatic cleaner, you could cover the floor with plastic sheeting to slow the evaporation of the product.
If the odor persists the next day, treat the surface again with the enzymatic cleaner.
6. Consider Waterproofing Your Concrete Floor
This more drastic and expensive solution will, nevertheless, facilitate cleaning in the future and give your concrete floor a more uniform appearance. However, this solution should be used only after the complete elimination of the smell of urine.
Why Does Your Dog Pee in the Same Place?
When dogs urinate, they release a pheromone that prompts them to keep relieving themselves in the same place. So, if your pooch has peed multiple times in the same spot in your garage or basement, all that urine may have sunk deep into the concrete. This is why you may need to do more than one treatment to get rid of the urine odor completely.
When Peeing on the Floor Is a Sign of a Health Problem
Sometimes, a health problem, such as a urinary tract infection, is the reason why an adult dog frequently urinates in the house. Your dog could also suffer from anxiety or other behavioral issues.
Thus, if the problem is relatively new, pay attention to any recent changes in your pet’s environment or daily habits.
If accidents happen frequently and you’re unsure of what’s causing them or how to prevent them, a consult with your vet could help!
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Final Thoughts
Whether your garage is spotless or not, you don’t want it to reek of dog urine. Whether your dog has gotten into the habit of peeing on your concrete floor or it’s just an accident, you now know how to get rid of stubborn pee stains and odors. However, always be on the lookout for a possible health problem, especially if the behavior is repetitive in your pup.
Featured Image Credit: Sista Vongjintanaruks, Shutterstock
