Why does my concrete patio still smell like dog pee?

Urine on hard surfaces can be hard to see. The AKC says: But oftentimes, you'll be able to smell it, even if you don't see it. Purdue University notes: Even when excrement is removed daily, a porous kennel floor may become saturated with urine due to repeated use.

Should I seal the concrete after cleaning?

Quikrete's sealing steps say: Remove all wax, oil, grease, dirt and dust from the surface to be sealed. Allow the surface to dry completely before applying sealer. It also notes: (Keep in mind sealed concrete can be slippery when wet.)

How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Concrete, a Patio or Garage

Q: How do I clean dog urine off a concrete patio?

Quikrete's general patio cleaning advice, written for dirt and stains rather than urine: Always start by removing any loose dirt or sediment with a broom or blower. For light dirt or stains to a concrete patio, simply mix liquid dishwashing detergent with water in a spray bottle, squirt it on the desired areas and scrub with a stiff nylon bristle brush. After cleaning, rinse the area thoroughly with a water hose.

Q: What should I not use on concrete?

Quikrete says: Using bleach or other acidic cleaners can discolor or otherwise harm the concrete, plants and other things around the patio. In addition, using a brush with wire or metallic bristles can scratch or damage the concrete.

Q: How do I stop my dog peeing on the patio?

Colorado State University Extension says: Train the dog to use a non-turf area in the landscape, such as an area covered with mulch or gravel, or select a location where dog spotting will not become an aesthetic problem and damage can be tolerated.

Your dog keeps peeing on the patio, garage floor, basement slab or kennel run, and the smell won't go away. Here is how to find the spots, clean them, what to keep off concrete and pavers, when to seal and how to give your dog a better place to go, using what the AKC, Quikrete, Unilock, Purdue University, university extension services and Humane World for Animals say.

Why the smell hangs on

Urine on a hard outdoor surface is easy to miss by eye. The AKC says: "But oftentimes, you'll be able to smell it, even if you don't see it."

Repeated use makes it worse. A Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine paper on kennel flooring says: "Even when excrement is removed daily, a porous kennel floor may become saturated with urine due to repeated use."

Pavers can hold onto what lands on them, too. Unilock says: "Paving products feature fine capillaries capable of trapping dirt, liquids, and various substances", and adds: "If left unattended, these substances can penetrate the paver, making them challenging to clean and leaving behind stubborn stains."

Sources: AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells; Purdue University, Effects of Flooring on Animal Health and Well-Being: Implications for Kenneled Dogs (PDF); Unilock, Paver Cleaning.

Step 1: Act fast and find every spot

The AKC says: "Regardless of what your dog has peed on, your best course of action is to act fast. The sooner you get to it, the more likely you'll be able to remove all traces of urine odor."

Old spots on concrete are hard to see, so mark them before you clean. Humane World for Animals says: "If you have a black light, use it to identify soiled areas and lightly outline the areas with chalk." That way you know exactly where to scrub.

Don't skip any. The AKC warns: "Lingering scent can draw your dog back to the same area, reinforcing accidents."

Sources: AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells; Humane World for Animals, pet stains and odors.

Step 2: Sweep, scrub and rinse

Quikrete's patio cleaning advice is written for general dirt and stains, not urine in particular. It starts with: "Always start by removing any loose dirt or sediment with a broom or blower."

Then: "For light dirt or stains to a concrete patio, simply mix liquid dishwashing detergent with water in a spray bottle, squirt it on the desired areas and scrub with a stiff nylon bristle brush."

Pick the brush with care. Quikrete says: "In addition, using a brush with wire or metallic bristles can scratch or damage the concrete." And finish with water: "After cleaning, rinse the area thoroughly with a water hose."

In a garage or basement, decide where the rinse water will go before you start. Repeat on the chalked spots until you can't smell them up close.

Source: Quikrete, Questions and Answers (cleaning a concrete patio).

What to keep off concrete

Quikrete warns against harsh products on a patio: "Using bleach or other acidic cleaners can discolor or otherwise harm the concrete, plants and other things around the patio."

Strong smells can also work against you. Humane World for Animals says: "Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area." Don't mix products together; use one at a time and rinse between them. Our guide to enzyme cleaner for pet urine covers how it works and how to use it.

Go easy with a pressure washer. If you use a powerful one, Quikrete says: "You should also consider putting plastic sheets down around the base of your house and over plants surrounding the concrete patio for protection." Unilock notes: "Pressure washing may contribute to water wastage and runoff, raising environmental concerns."

Sources: Quikrete, Questions and Answers; Humane World for Animals; Unilock, Paver Cleaning.

Pavers and stone patios: be more careful

Pavers have sand in the joints and stone can stain, so follow the maker's care steps. Unilock's basic cleaning steps include: "Pull back or protect nearby plants from over-spray, if using a cleaning solution to clean your pavers." and "Spray water on the surface using a hose or power washer at an angle no greater than 30 degrees, to avoid washing out any joint material." It continues: "Thoroughly rinse off cleaning solutions from the surface, directing water to suitable drainage points."

For stone, Unilock says: "It may seem counter-intuitive to consider sealing natural stone, but remember that natural stone can be somewhat porous." If your patio or entryway is tiled instead, see our guide to cleaning dog pee from tile and grout.

Sources: Unilock, Paver Cleaning; Unilock, How to Clean Natural Stone.

Sealing the concrete once it's clean

A sealer is a project for after the cleaning, not instead of it. Quikrete's sealing instructions say a concrete sealer can be used "to seal walks, driveways, garage floors, concrete porch decks, steps, patios, exposed aggregate finishes, and any other concrete surface exposed to weather and harsh environments."

Its surface preparation steps are: "Remove all wax, oil, grease, dirt and dust from the surface to be sealed." and "Allow the surface to dry completely before applying sealer." It adds: "Very porous surfaces may require two coats."

Check the weather. Quikrete says: "Do not apply at temperatures below 40° F. Do not apply if rain is likely." And for a patio your dog runs on, note its warning: "(Keep in mind sealed concrete can be slippery when wet.)" Follow the directions on whichever sealer you buy.

Sources: Quikrete, Sealing Concrete and Masonry (PDF); Quikrete, Questions and Answers.

Concrete kennel runs

Purdue's paper says the flooring for kenneled dogs "should be easy to clean." Clean a concrete run with the same scrub and rinse steps above. For bedding, pads and the crate itself, see our guide to cleaning dog pee in a crate or kennel.

Source: Purdue University, Effects of Flooring on Animal Health and Well-Being (PDF).

Give your dog a designated potty spot

Cleaning works better when the dog has somewhere else to go. Colorado State University Extension, writing about lawns, says: "Train the dog to use a non-turf area in the landscape, such as an area covered with mulch or gravel, or select a location where dog spotting will not become an aesthetic problem and damage can be tolerated." If your dog uses artificial grass, see how to get dog pee smell out of artificial turf.

University of Illinois Extension describes how: "Take your dog out on a leash to a designated spot in your backyard to do their business. Reward with a treat when they go."

Humane World for Animals says: "If possible, put the fresh, urine-soaked paper towel in your pet's designated "bathroom area."" And for the old spot: "Once the area is clean, make it unattractive and/or unavailable to your pet and make the appropriate bathroom area attractive."

Humane World for Animals also says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes." Read more in why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot.

Sources: Colorado State University Extension, Dog Urine Damage on Lawns; University of Illinois Extension, Dog Gone Lawn; Humane World for Animals.

When it's a pro job

The AKC says: "If odors linger despite repeated cleaning, or if there are multiple or deep stains, professional cleaning may be the best option." For pavers and stone, Unilock suggests you "consult with a Unilock Authorized Contractor to help you bring their beauty back." If the spots are months or years old, see our guide to old, dried pet urine stains.

Sources: AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells; Unilock, How to Clean Natural Stone.

Accident on the carpet or couch too?

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more." It is not described for concrete or outdoor surfaces; for those, follow the steps above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.