Top Tips for Preventing Dog Urine Odors on Fake Grass

If you love a thick, green yard but live with a fun dog, you might have had trouble keeping your artificial grass fresh and free of smells. A big problem for pet people is that strong dog pee smell that sticks to even the best fake lawns. No matter, if you have the artificial grass Bradford homeowners like or put down the turf yourself, stopping pet smells, is key to enjoying your yard. The good news? With the right steps and a few good habits, you can keep your yard clean and smelling nice, and both you and your dog will enjoy it. In this blog, we'll share top ways to cut dog pee smells before they begin, so your yard stays pretty all year.

1. Pick the Best Fake Grass and Infill:

First, know this: not all fake grass is the same. If you’re spending money on a perfect, no-work-needed lawn, it’s smart to choose pet-safe turf. Find grass that has holes for water and backing that lets stuff through—this lets pee go down and not sit on top.

Pro-Tip: Go for grass with tall blades (around 30–40mm) and a special infill. The best infill—like rubber granules or rounded silica sand—takes in wetness and kills bad smells. Think of it like your yard having its own filter.

2. Set Up a Daily Rinse Plan:

Let's be real: dogs pee. It's what they do. Instead of letting pee stay and get hot in the sun—which makes the smell stronger—try to wash the lawn each day. Use your hose (better if it has a spray that you can change) and spray a lot of water on the spot.

This not only makes the pee less strong but also helps it move down the drain. If you want to be very careful, add a bit of soft, pet-safe soap to warm water in a bucket and softly clean any yellow spots before washing it off again.

Pro-Tip: Plan to wash when your dog is out walking in the yard at night—clean right after that and it will make things way easier. If you wait to clean, more people might smell it as they walk by.

3. Use an Enzyme Spray Every Week:

Soap and water do well, but at times you need more power to kill the strong-smell bugs. Here come enzyme sprays: a cool tiny mix that tears down pee deep down. You can get this from many pet shops or online shops.

Each week, spray the enzyme cleaner a lot on spots where your dog likes to pee. Let it sit and do its thing for around 15-20 minutes, then wash it off well. You'll be shocked at how clean your place smells after that.

Pro-Tip: Always read the instructions before you start—some enzyme cleaners need you to mix them with water, and some work best as they are. Use just a bit, as you don’t need much!

4. Teach Your Dog to Go in One Place:

Your dog loves to hit every bit of grass like an expert. Pick a quiet spot in your yard—it might be by a fence or hidden behind something to put plants in—and lead your dog there every time.

Begin by bringing your dog to that spot when you see him sniffing for a place to pee. Give him a pat, offer a treat, and show him that this is The Place. Soon, he will understand: this area is just for doing his thing.

Pro-Tip: Put a piece of real grass or tiny stones in the spot you pick. Dogs tend to like a real ground feel. After he’s trained well, switch it with a bit of fake grass that you'll clean often—it's simple to wash and not as messy as a large, dirty spot.

5. Use Baking Soda for a Quick, Natural Freshener:

If you want a fast, no-chemical fix, take some baking soda from the kitchen. After you wash your grass, put a light layer of baking soda on the smelly spots and let it sit all night. In the morning, brush it off or hose it down lightly, and there—smells are much less.

This way won't take the place of your normal weekly clean, but it's great for times when you need a quick solution before guests come by surprise.

Pro-Tip: Put a tiny box of baking soda in your yard box to always be set for fast smell fixes. Make sure small animals or nosy squirrels don’t find it!

6. Change Out Infill Each Year (or if Needed):

As time goes on, the infill in your lawn might start to wear out, making it less good at soaking up water and keeping smells away. Look at your lawn twice a year: poke around the top part of the turf and check if the sand or rubber bits are packed tight or look off-color. If so, it's time to add new infill.

You can buy refill kits online or at plant shops—most have enough for a normal house lawn. Put the new infill all over, sweep it deep with a hard broom, and fix any thin areas. Your turf will appear full and smell new right away.

Pro-Tip: If your home is in a wet area of the UK, look at your infill more. Too much water can make it break down fast. A good infill stops moss and algae from growing, which can make things smell musty too.

FAQs:

1. How often should I clean my fake grass if my dog uses it?

Wash it quickly every day (or every two days), and use an enzyme cleaner once a week. If your dog likes to mark his spot a lot, you might need to clean with the enzyme stuff twice a week when it's hot. Being regular with it is important!

2. Can I use vinegar or other things from home to make the smell go away?

Vinegar can fight the bad smell, but be careful—its strong acid might hurt the bottom part of your grass after a while. Baking soda is a safer choice. If you really need to, mix water and white vinegar in equal parts, give a light spray, then wash it off well. Still, enzyme cleaners are the best choice for keeping it fresh for a long time.

2. Can my fake grass get harmed if my dog goes on it a lot?

If you stick with what I said before—wash it often, make sure it drains well, and keep the infill in good shape—your grass should be fine. But if you let those yellow spots sit, they can ruin the fake fibers and wear them out fast.