Last Updated on June 29, 2022 by ReTurf

Whether you have a pet of your own or just a neighbor’s pet that likes to visit your yard, you may have experienced the unpleasant smell of pet urine on your artificial turf. While it’s certainly not the most pleasant scent when it appears—don’t fret. There are ways to clean pet odors from synthetic turf and keep your lawn smelling fresh.

Cleaning Artificial Grass with The Hose

First and foremost, one way to clean pet odors from artificial turf is to use a hose to spray the area where the odor is coming from as soon as you’re able to. By picking up the waste itself or spraying it away, you’ll already be removing a great deal of the odor. If you catch it quickly enough, this is likely all you will need to do.

Some pet owners use a water bucket and pour it over the soiled area, but this isn’t necessary unless you’re unable to use the hose. In general, spraying the grass with your everyday garden hose is your best bet to prevent any potential pet smells later on.

It’s important to mention that artificial turf doesn’t need to be rinsed with the hose every time your pet uses the restroom—but it’s a good idea to do a rinse about once a week or as needed, especially if you have multiple pets.

If nothing else, you should try to rinse your pet’s favorite area often. This will help to keep the smell from building up over time and becoming too strong in that location.

Cleaning Artificial Grass with Diluted Vinegar

If the hose method does not work, you can try using a mixture of water and vinegar. Simply mix 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar and use a spray bottle to apply the diluted vinegar mixture to the affected area.

Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it away with the hose. The vinegar will help to chemically neutralize the odor caused by the pet urine.

Cleaning Artificial Grass with Baking Soda

You can also try using a mixture of water and baking soda. This is similar to the vinegar method, but many people find that the baking soda helps to absorb the odor more effectively.

Simply sprinkle baking soda on the  affected area and let it sit for a bit before rinsing it away with the hose. You may need to repeat this process a few times to completely remove a strong pet odor.

Using Commercial Artificial Turf Cleaners to Remove Pet Odors

If you’re still having trouble removing the pet odor from your artificial turf, you can try using a commercial artificial turf cleaner. Some of these cleaners are designed specifically to remove pet odors. Be sure to follow the instructions on the cleaner to ensure that you’re using it correctly.

As you know, cleaning up your pet’s waste is an important part of being a pet owner (if only your neighbor knew that), and just as with regular grass, removing it from artificial grass is the best thing you can do to prevent lingering pet smells. By quickly cleaning up any pet waste from your yard you’ll be able to keep your property smelling fresh and looking great.

While you don’t have to be obsessive about rinsing after your pet uses the restroom, just like keeping up with any type of cleaning around your property, a little bit of attention with the garden hose here and there will save you some effort later.