Two-thirds of U.S. households own a pet and the canine varieties are by far the most popular, so that’s a lot of dog urine for homeowners to contend with!
A couple of home truths to begin with: dogs can pee on artificial grass but the best way to keep turf free of dog urine odors is to choose high-quality pet turf installed properly by professionals who are aware you have a dog.
That way, your artificial grass will have some extra protection against dog urine odors.
But what if the problem started when you added a dog to the family after installing your artificial grass?
Or corners were cut during installation and you are now paying the price?
If so, what’s the best artificial grass cleaner for dog urine to remove the stink?
Let’s take a look at how to clean artificial turf that reeks of dog urine so that you can venture safely back outside to sit on the patio or around the firepit without that permanent stench in your nostrils….
What’s The Best Artificial Grass Cleaner For Dog Urine?
The best artificial grass cleaner for dog urine is typically an enzyme-based cleaner that attacks the root cause of the odors. Commercial disinfectants may also work or, if you want to try a home remedy, mix vinegar and water and spray it on. Another method for removing dog urine smells is to change the infill to a high-quality antimicrobial variety.
There’s more detail about how to clean artificial grass that smells of dog urine below but be aware that hundreds of cleaners are available online, not all of which can deliver on their promises to remove urine smells effectively. Many work for a few days before the odors return. Do your homework and check reviews/testimonials before buying.
Why Does Artificial Grass Smell Of Dog Urine?
Your artificial grass lawn could smell of dog urine because of any of the following five reasons:
- Poor permeability of turf: the backing of the pet turf should be highly permeable to allow liquid to pass through. Absorbent latex should not be used as it will trap urine odors. Our turf services use products with polyurethane backing, which is non-absorbent and washable.
- Poor installation methods: what goes under artificial grass is key to its performance. if membranes are placed under the turf, pet urine will be trapped and start to stink. Similarly, unless the ground is prepared correctly with sufficient drainage, the urine will not drain away from the artificial grass effectively.
- Low-grade infill: infill keeps the artificial grass blade standing upright and looking realistic but if you have dogs, a special non-sand-based antimicrobial infill should be used (and no crumb rubber).
- Lack of basic maintenance: artificial grass is low-maintenance compared to real grass but several tasks should be performed regularly if you have dogs to avoid urine buildup.
- Too many dogs (or dogs too large) for the turf area: if numerous dogs are all peeing on the same small patch of artificial grass, there might be no escaping some pet urine odors.
The component of urine that creates the unpleasant odor is urea or uric acid, a waste product that the body uses to break down amino acids in dogs as well as humans. This is expelled in urine and doesn’t naturally decompose with time.
The smell of dog urine can become quite overpowering in hotter weather, depending on the respective sizes of your dog(s) and the synthetic grass area. Artificial grass can get hot in summer, which tends to exacerbate the problem. The turf products used by Grass Pros employ innovative cooling technology to partially alleviate the issue.
Artificial Grass Maintenance For Dog Owners
Even if the artificial backyard lawn is installed correctly with the best artificial grass and proper pet-friendly infill is used, dog urine odors can still build up if homeowners neglect some basic maintenance steps.
One of the main reasons why homeowners select artificial grass to replace real grass is the low maintenance requirements—but that doesn’t mean zero maintenance if pets use the space.
Neglecting basic maintenance can lead to uric acid collecting on or below the grass from dog waste, especially in hot, dry weather where rainfall doesn’t help flush away the urine. Good, antimicrobial infill will help prevent this most of the time but the infill needs to be changed periodically and an occasional splash of water can help if it hasn’t rained for a while.
If your pet turf has been installed with proper drainage, the dog urine should drain away effectively and leave few odors. But if your dog urinates in the same place every day or you have only a small space (and/or several dogs) you could be fighting a losing battle without a good artificial grass dog urine cleaner.
Here’s where you can begin looking…
How Can You Clean Artificial Grass Dog Urine?
Unless you have too many dogs peeing in too small a space, you should be able to effectively neutralize dog pee smells on your lawn.
Here are a few methods to try if you can’t bear the stink…
Apply A High-Quality Enzyme-Based Cleaner
Enzyme-based cleaners tackle the root cause of a dog urine odor problem on artificial grass—uric acid.
Traditional cleaners do not break down the pungent acid because it is not water-soluble. Enzyme-based cleaning solutions contain enzymes and live bacteria that neutralize the smells.
If you get your hands on the right cleaner, you can usually hook up your garden hose to the container and combine the solution with water to soak the artificial grass area. No brushing or scrubbing should be required.
Follow the instructions on the container and, after cleaning, rinse away the solution from the turf area with water.
Apply A Commercial Disinfectant
If you want to try a commercial disinfectant to combat dog urine odors, note that the disinfectant can create its own strong, unwanted odors too.
Most high-quality, heavy-duty, broad-spectrum commercial disinfectants are quite effective at removing lingering odors but you may want to consider products like Zoflora, which contain fragrances.
This can reduce the unwanted chemical smells and instead leave a more attractive fragrance behind on the grass area.
Mix White Vinegar With Water
A home remedy for cleaning dog urine smells is to mix white vinegar and water in equal parts and spray it on the area of artificial grass lawn affected by the dog urine smells. Leave the solution on for about 10 minutes and, afterward, rinse with the garden hose.
If the entire lawn stinks of dog urine, this may not be effective but for minor, localized patches, it could work to remove odors.
Add New Antimicrobial Infill
Once the ground beneath the artificial grass has been prepared and the turf laid, no installation is complete without infill. This is a “dressing” usually made from crumb rubber or sand/silica granules that helps the grass blades stand upright and appear more realistic.
For pet owners, it’s more challenging to find effective infill because sand or crumb rubber can retain dog urine and create nasty odors. Therefore, a sand-free, antimicrobial infill must be added.
An antimicrobial and anti-bacterial infill will help control and neutralize germs and odors. Speak to artificial grass professionals if you’re unsure which infill to choose. You may also need a pro team to change the infill for you as it’s no simple task. The old infill needs vacuuming out and removal of all the urine-saturated gunk hiding between the grass blades.
Then, the turf area will need to be cleaned using an enzyme-based cleaner (see above) and the new antimicrobial infill added in sufficient amounts (two to three pounds of infill per square foot) to withstand dog pee. Once sprinkled, the infill needs brushing in with a plastic leaf rake or power brush.
Use A High-Grade Deodorizer
After you’ve selected and applied the best artificial grass cleaner for your dog urine problem, you may want to sprinkle the area with a natural turf deodorizer.
Baking soda is good for this. Let it sit on the turf for around 20 minutes before sweeping or vacuuming away. Because the infill will also be removed, a good time to do this is when you’re planning to change the infill.
Use A High-Pressure Hose
A quick solution for dog urine problems on artificial grass is to blast the area with a high-pressure hose. This will likely remove the offensive smells at least temporarily but may also remove the infill so you’ll need to add more antimicrobial infill after the area has dried out.
This is a good solution for “surface” problems but using a high-powered hose on deeper installation issues will simply move the urine around. The odors will likely return after the area is dry and your dog starts using the area again.
In areas with water shortages, it may not be an ideal solution to regularly blast your lawn with a high-pressure hose but as a temporary measure, when the weather is hot and dry, it may remove odors effectively.
What If Your Artificial Grass Dog Urine Issue Is Due To Poor Installation?
The cleaning options discussed can be effective for artificial grass dog urine problems but if your turf was installed poorly from the start, the same problems may recur.
For a patch of lawn that was meant to be low-maintenance, homeowners can face a lengthy battle against unwanted smells.
Homeowners with serious installation errors, such as an impermeable membrane beneath the turf that traps pet urine, may need to face the fact that the only long-term solution is to rip it up and start again—with a professional installation.
Is It Normal For Artificial Grass To Smell Of Dog Urine?
Yes and no.
If it’s a low-quality installation and/or you have several dogs or a large dog peeing in the same area every day, dog urine smells should be expected.
But the fact is, dogs can pee on artificial grass without it stinking. If that wasn’t the case, artificial grass wouldn’t be used in so many commercial dog care and “dog hotel” facilities.
Our work with artificial grass over the past decade has included many installations in both domestic situations with dogs and in dog-care facilities that choose synthetic grass over real grass for good reasons. There are pros and cons of artificial grass for dogs but some of the many benefits of artificial grass include:
- Low maintenance
- Durability
- No muddy paws trailing through the house
- Cleaner dogs = fewer doggy baths
- No digging up your prized lawn
- No yellow stains
- No grass trimmings in the house
- Fewer bugs and fleas
- Fewer odors
- Toxin-free (no pesticides or fertilizers)
We’ve helped design many artificial grass dog runs and other dog-friendly backyard ideas for homeowners as well as in dog daycare centers, dog parks, and more.
Tips for preventing artificial grass dog urine smells
Preventing artificial grass dog urine smells starts with the right grass selection and installation—and continues with a few basic maintenance steps.
Here are a few tips…
Artificial grass selection
Select high-quality pet turf from a renowned supplier like Artificial Grass Pros and look for:
- Durability to handle wear and tear from dogs
- A permeable polyurethane backing that is non-absorbent (no latex)
- Excellent drainage
- No trapping of smells
- Washable
- Heat resistant (and UV-resistant)
- Cooling technology
Professional installation
Be upfront about the number of dogs you have and their size(s) and hire the right team of professionals.
Some homeowners think that installing artificial grass simply involves flattening the ground and rolling out a carpet. There’s much more to it than that—especially if you have dogs.
Our installation team will assess the drainage requirements and ensure that the ground beneath the grass is properly prepared while ensuring that high-quality antimicrobial infill is used on top.
A few installation tips for dog owners to prevent artificial grass smells include:
- Ensuring that the compacted sub-base layer is permeable and contains no sand (aggregate and granite dust/chippings are best).
- Placing any membrane under the sub-base layer
- Adding a deodorizer layer below the grass
- Using a highly absorbent, antimicrobial, zeolite-based infill with a natural honeycomb-like structure that absorbs pet urine odors
- Not installing a weed barrier
Sub-standard installation companies may miss one or more of the above steps, leading to unwanted artificial grass dog urine smells.
Looking after artificial grass if you have dogs
You won’t need to cut, fertilize or seed your lawn but a few tips will help you take care of artificial grass with pets and keep the spaces clean, hygienic, and looking the part:
- Rinse the turf with water once a month at a minimum—more often in hot, dry months or if you have more dogs
- Don’t allow solid waste to sit on the lawn and collect bacteria
- Apply an enzyme-based cleaner or disinfect if urine smells develop
- Top up the antimicrobial infill from time to time
- Remove debris to avoid the buildup of bacteria and unwanted smells
FAQs
Can you use bleach on artificial grass?
No, undiluted bleach should not be used to clean dog urine from artificial grass. Bleach can cause discoloration and other damage.
How do you remove solid waste from artificial grass?
Remove solid waste from artificial grass as soon as possible as you would with real grass. Collect the waste with a bag or scoop, rinse the area with water, apply a disinfectant cleaner, and then rinse with water again.
Can dog pee cause yellow staining on artificial grass?
Artificial grass is highly durable and will not discolor with dog pee as real grass does.
What type of backing should my pet turf have?
Avoid latex backing as this will cause the artificial grass to retain dog pee. The best pet turf comes with polyurethane backing which is non-absorbent and can be easily washed.
How often should you clean artificial grass?
This depends. If you have dogs, a weekly rinse would be beneficial in the hotter, drier months. At other times, once a month will help. If you don’t have dogs and your turf was installed correctly with adequate drainage, an occasional spray with the hose will help keep it fresh but the most important thing is to keep it clear of debris, which can attract bacteria.
Do dogs like artificial grass?
It appears so. There are many reasons why your dogs will enjoy artificial grass, including being outside all year round to play, run, and roll. There are fewer toxic odors used, fewer bugs and fleas, and the area, if installed properly, stays flat and mud-free.
Of course, it’s also great for owners with very little maintenance and no digging, muddy paws or yellow patches.
Fully customized and odor-free pet turf spaces…
The cost of artificial grass constitutes a significant investment, so it’s a no-brainer that you should do everything you can to look after it. Professional grass selection and installation and a little basic maintenance are all that’s usually required—even for dog owners.
If your turf stinks of dog urine all the time, something’s wrong. But the best artificial grass cleaners for dog urine can help you restore freshness and hygiene to your turf
Our experienced team of turf professionals has helped homeowners with dogs enjoy customized, odor-free areas for over a decade. If you’re considering the switch to turf, discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
