6 Methods for Getting Rid of Dog Urine Smell Outside Naturally 

Written by Katie Downey
Published: February 3, 2024
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Having a live-in best friend who’s always by your side after a bad day is amazing. Having your yard and everything in your outdoor domain smell like dog urine is not even a little bit amazing. It seems like there isn’t a whole lot you can do to get rid of the stench without bringing harmful chemicals on board. There are better, safer, and cheaper ways to combat the issue. You’re certainly going to want to save this article when you see these first-class methods for getting rid of the dog urine smell outside naturally!

1. A Snip Causes Less Stink

Dog urinating

Many men frown at getting their dogs neutered, but it is the best thing they can do for their health in the long run.

©jxpfeer/iStock via Getty Images

One of the most health-conscious ways you can help the smell of the dog urine in your yard is to neuter or spay your dog. After the hormone levels drop in their bodies and affect the pH of their urine, the smell is drastically better. This doesn’t mean your dog’s urine will smell like roses, but it will not be as offensive as it was. Keep in mind that it does take a month for the pH in the dog’s urine to fall, and until their hormones straighten out (also a month or two), they will still exhibit marking behavior. After all, it is their calling card.

A Long and Happy Life

Besides making your dog and yard smell vastly better, it will soften any aggression issues and make them much more manageable. This will, however, take time if the dog is an adult when spayed or neutered. The biggest perk to altering your dog is the mountains of health benefits. Dogs are prone to reproductive and mammary cancers, but altering your dog throws all risks of uterine, ovarian, prostate, or testicular cancers right into the trash. Anything involving the “c-word” can absolutely be fatal.

It is often fatal for any puppy your dog takes part in creating if they are taken to shelters, given away for free, or end up in the wrong hands. In 2022, approximately 400,000 perfectly loveable cats and dogs were euthanized because of overpopulation in already-filled shelters.

Other Ways to Get Rid of Dog Urine Stink Naturally

Pipi on the grass

Spring is right around the corner, and you don’t want to have a stinky yard.

©schulzie/iStock via Getty Images

Below are a few fast and easy-to-create ways to rid your outdoor space of the dreaded dog urine smell before the sun really heats things up this summer. You can try all of these options if you find one didn’t work as well as you’d hoped. Several of the options can and should be done frequently. It is best to do this with natural ingredients that will cause the very least harm to plants and animals outside. Many beneficial insects and arachnids can be hurt by all cleaners, even the natural ones. It is vital to disturb the ecosystem in your yard as little as possible.

2. Baking Soda, Lemon and Vinegar

baking soda / lemon / vinegar
Mix equal parts water, white vinegar, a few tablespoons of baking soda, and lemon juice in a handheld disinfectant sprayer to coat areas affected by urine smell.

This can be made or used in several different ways. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray on the stinky spots and let sit. After it dries, liberally sprinkle baking soda over the spots to absorb any odor that remains. Another tried and true way to eliminate dog urine odor naturally is to mix equal parts water, white vinegar, a few tablespoons of baking soda, and lemon juice in a handheld disinfectant sprayer and coat the areas you want to be treated. Reapply every few days.

3. Lots of Water

The easiest and best way to get rid of the smell of dog urine is with water. This is also the most natural and safest way to get rid of the smell. Using your hose will dilute enough of the urine that much of the order should go away. Keep in mind that you will need to stay vigilant with the stink remedy.

4. Hydrated Lime

The type of lime you choose is very important. Only choose hydrated lime or calcium hydroxide. The other type of lime is Quicklime or calcium oxide. Hydrated lime is much better for neutralizing odors. Sprinkle it around in the areas where your dog most frequently does their business. Be careful not to put too much down, or it can burn your grass. A light sprinkle should be enough. This can be found in farm or garden centers.

5. Citronella Outdoor Candles or Sprays

What summer night would be complete without the insect-repelling scent of citronella candles burning? If you have gone above and beyond to wash away the urine into your soil with water, scrubbed any concrete or wood, and treated any pee spots with vinegar and baking soda, adding some citronella candles is the way to go. You will be making the outdoors more comfortable by keeping mosquitos away and covering what little smell may remain with the strong citronella scent.

6. Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Detergent

baking soda / hydrogen peroxide / dish soap
A mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap helps offset urine odor when applied in spray form.

Mix eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide with three tablespoons of baking soda and a couple of drops of chemical-free dish detergent. Mix this in a spray bottle and spray onto the skinky dog urine areas. This will work even better if you thoroughly rinse away the dog urine residue from the spot first. If you allow the spot to dry and still smell urine, try this mixture. Let it dry, rinse, and repeat if necessary.

A Word of Caution

Vintage tin caution sign on a white background - Hazardous Area

Always mix any ingredients outside and away from children and pets.

©Zerbor/Shutterstock.com

Even though the ingredients listed in this article are naturally derived, it is very important to mix the solutions outdoors and away from children and pets. If you are working with hydrated lime, use a face mask appropriate for infectious diseases or chemical fumes. Breathing in the fine dust can cause serious lung disorders if breathed in, some of which may be permanent. Wearing goggles is also a good idea. If you rub your eyes and have any of these ingredients in your hand, it could end poorly.

It is also important to mix the solutions in a well-ventilated area. Hydrogen peroxide is not safe to breathe in, especially when mixed with other substances. It is always better to be safe than sorry! Who would get rid of the dog urine smell if you’re incompacitated?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © User2547783c_812/iStock via Getty Images

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About the Author

Katie Downey is a writer for A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on wildlife, arachnids and insects. Katie has been writing and researching animals for more than a decade. Katie worked in animal rescue and rehabilitation with handicapped cats and farm animals for many years. As a resident of North Carolina, Katie enjoys exploring nature with her son, educating others on the positive role that insects and spiders play in the ecosystem and raising jumping spiders.

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