How to get rid of dog poop smell in your yard

Where the smell comes from

A yard smells for two reasons: waste that is still there, and urine that soaked in. Poop is the bigger and more obvious source. Urine is the one people forget, and it keeps smelling after the piles are gone.

Dog urine is high in nitrogen. Penn State Extension says the concentrated nitrogen in urine acts like a fertilizer burn when it lands in a single spot. That is why the same corner of the lawn browns and smells.

Step 1: take out the source

No spray beats removal. Pick up every pile, including the ones under bushes and along the fence, and put them in the trash in tied bags. Penn State Extension says dog waste should be picked up, bagged and disposed of immediately.

Do not bury it or compost it. The same source says dog waste should never go into compost piles or be used to amend soil.

If the yard has not been cleaned in a while, start with the full cleanup guide.

Step 2: flush the urine spots with water

Penn State Extension says research has shown that watering the spot after a dog urinates is the only proven method for the lawn damage, and that you should dilute the area with water right away. It also says watering during dry spells lessens the effect of the nitrogen.

Do this soon after the dog goes, not days later, since the advice is to dilute right away. In a Temecula Valley summer the sprinkler schedule matters too, because the same source says regular watering during dry spells lessens the nitrogen effect.

That advice is about lawn damage, not smell. Our reasoning is simple: the same dilution that protects grass also moves urine out of the soil surface, so a soaking at the dog's favorite spots is a sensible first move. We do not have a study that measures smell.

Step 3: wash hard surfaces

On concrete, pavers and patios, scrub the area with dish soap and water, then rinse well. Send the rinse water to the lawn or a planted bed, not toward the street or a storm drain, because the watershed association says storm drains do not go to wastewater treatment, and the EPA says pet waste adds nitrogen, phosphorus, parasites and bacteria to water bodies when it is not handled properly.

Many people reach for bleach. If you use it, follow the CDC's rule: never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. Use one product at a time and rinse between them.

Enzyme cleaners are sold for pet odors. We have not found independent testing we can cite, so check the label and test a small spot first.

Why not just spray something on it

Air fresheners and sprays cover a smell for a while. They do not remove waste or urine, so the smell returns. We could not find a verified product that deodorizes a yard on its own, which is why the order above puts removal and rinsing first.

Do not spread dog waste or bags as a fix either. The North and South Rivers Watershed Association says not to use dog waste as fertilizer in yards or gardens, and Penn State Extension says never to add it to compost or soil.

If the smell is on your hands or shoes

For your hands, use soap and running water. The CDC says to wash after contact with dog waste even if you used a bag, and that an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is the backup if there is no sink.

For shoes, wipe the soles on the grass or rinse them outside before they come indoors.

If you smell dog poop inside the house, check the soles of shoes and your dog's paws before anything else. A yard that still has waste in it is the likeliest source of what comes through the door, so clean the yard first. Then wash the entry mat or floor with the same dish soap and water you used outside.

Keeping the smell from coming back

The longer waste sits, the more there is to smell. A weekly pickup keeps piles from stacking up. See how often to pick up dog poop if you are unsure of your schedule.

If you want help, Scoop King's deodorizing and sanitizing service is available in Temecula Valley, and the weekly plan is $89 a month with no contract. See pricing for all plans.

This is general information. If your dog seems sick, call a vet.

Questions people ask