Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about getting rid of dog smell when mopping:
What household items can I use to get rid of dog smell when mopping?
You can use white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or enzymatic cleaners like Nature’s Miracle to help eliminate dog smell when mopping.
What ratio of vinegar and water should I use?
A 50/50 ratio of white vinegar to water is recommended for cleaning and deodorizing floors. Start with 1 cup vinegar per 1 cup water.
How does baking soda help remove pet odors?
Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes before sweeping and mopping it up.
Should I mop with vinegar or baking soda first?
It’s best to start by mopping with vinegar first, rinsing the floor, then sprinkling baking soda and letting it sit before sweeping and mopping again.
Why Does Dog Urine Smell When Mopping?
The unpleasant smell when mopping a floor where a dog has urinated is caused by compounds in dog urine interacting with the floor. Dog urine contains ammonia, bacteria, fatty acids, and nitrogenous waste that produce odors as they break down.
These compounds soak into porous surfaces like wood and grout lines in tile. Even after the urine is cleaned up, trace amounts remain deep in the flooring and are released when moisture is added, like when mopping. The moisture causes the urine compounds to off-gas, creating that characteristic dog urine smell.
Getting rid of this stubborn odor takes a thorough cleaning process to remove all traces of urine from the flooring.
How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Smell When Mopping
Here are the steps to effectively remove dog urine odor from floors when mopping:
1. Blot Up Any Fresh Urine
If the dog has just peed on the floor, immediately blot up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels. Try to absorb as much liquid before it has a chance to soak in.
2. Clean With an Enzymatic Cleaner
Spray or mop the area with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle. Enzyme cleaners work to break down the compounds in urine that cause odors. Let the enzymatic cleaner soak in for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rinse With Vinegar and Water
Fill a bucket with equal parts cool water and distilled white vinegar. Use a ratio of 1 cup vinegar to 1 cup water. Mop the floor with the vinegar and water solution. This will help deodorize and disinfect the floor.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda and Let Sit
Coat the floor with a generous layer of baking soda. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes to absorb odors. The baking soda will draw out any lingering urine smell.
5. Rinse and Repeat as Needed
After letting the baking soda sit, sweep it up and mop the floor again with the vinegar and water solution. You may need to repeat this process 2-3 times to fully remove the dog urine odor.
6. Clean Regularly
Continue mopping the area with vinegar and water or enzyme cleaner on a regular basis, especially if odor returns. This will help prevent the urine smell from becoming stubbornly set in the flooring.
Tips for Eliminating Dog Urine Odor When Mopping
Follow these helpful tips for the best results when trying to tackle dog urine odor on floors:
- Catch it early – Clean up accidents as soon as possible so urine doesn’t have time to soak in.
- Use the right cleaners – Enzyme cleaners and vinegar work best to break down urine compounds.
- Let solutions sit – Give cleaners or baking soda time to fully work before mopping up.
- Dry thoroughly – Use fans or open windows to ensure floors dry completely after mopping.
- Seal floors – Use waterproof sealants on grout lines and wood floors to prevent odors.
- Replace pads – Throw out old mop pads and get new ones for a fresh start.
Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Dog Urine Smell
Many household ingredients can be used to make effective DIY cleaners for eliminating dog urine odors on floors when mopping. Here are some recipes to try:
Vinegar and Water
As mentioned, a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water makes a great urine odor remover. The acidic vinegar dissolves urine deposits and refreshes the floor.
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide
Combine 1 part vinegar with 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spritz on floors and let sit briefly before mopping. The oxygen bubbles in the peroxide help lift stains.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Layer baking soda on the floor, spritz with vinegar, and let fizz for a few minutes. The chemical reaction deodorizes while lightly scrubbing.
Essential Oils
Add a few drops of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, or tea tree essential oils to any of the above solutions. The natural oils add extra odor eliminating power.
Commercial Cleaners for Dog Urine Odor
There are also several effective commercial products available for eliminating dog urine smells from floors:
Nature’s Miracle
Nature’s Miracle is the most popular enzymatic cleaner for pet stains and odors. It contains bacteria that target and break down urine compounds.
Bissell Pet Odor & Stain Remover
This cleaner uses activated oxygen to lift stubborn pet stains and odors. It’s safe for finished hardwood floors.
Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
Based on enzymatic bacteria, this professional-grade cleaner permanently removes pet stains and odors from surfaces.
Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator
The citrus scent of this spray masks urine odors while enzymes digest and remove stains.
MICROBAN 24-Hour Sanitizing Spray
Kills 99.9% of bacteria and sanitizes home surfaces. The fresh linen scent helps neutralize unpleasant pet odors.
Preventing Dog Urine Smells on Floors
While thorough cleaning is important for eliminating dog urine odors, preventing those smells in the first place is ideal. Here are some tips:
- Let your dog out frequently to relieve themselves outside
- Crate train dogs when you can’t supervise
- Clean up accidents ASAP when they occur indoors
- Consider washable pee pads or turf for dogs to use indoors
- Watch for signs your dog needs to urinate like pacing or squatting
- Close off rooms with absorbent carpets so dogs only access easy-clean floors
- Install gates to keep dogs off carpets and rugs
- Use enzymatic cleaners during regular mopping or steaming
When to Call a Professional for Dog Urine Odors
If you have tried all of these cleaning methods but still can’t get rid of the dog urine smell in your floors, or the odor returns quickly, it may be time to call in a professional.
Professional cleaners have industrial-strength equipment and products to thoroughly treat pet stains and odors that have soaked deep into flooring. This includes:
- Subsurface extraction to pull odors from below the surface
- Ozone treatments to freshen and deodorize at the molecular level
- Steam cleaners that reach high temperatures to sanitize floors
- Powerful pet odor removal chemicals
- Truck-mounted carpet cleaning systems
Professional pet odor removal services can cost $200-$500 depending on the size of the area being treated and how severe the contamination is. This is often money well spent to permanently get rid of lingering urine odors.
Conclusion
Dog urine can create stubborn and unpleasant odors when mopping floors, but there are many effective solutions. The keys are using cleaners containing enzymes or vinegar to break down urine compounds, absorbing odors with baking soda, thoroughly rinsing and drying floors, and sealing or replacing porous flooring. With some persistence using the right methods, you can get rid of those embarrassing dog smells coming from your floors during mopping.
