How to Get Rid of Dog/Cat Odor in Shrubs

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Things You'll Need

  • Blacklight

  • Garden hose

  • Spray nozzle

  • Water

  • Distilled white vinegar

  • Spray bottle

  • 2 cups hydrogen peroxide

  • Dish soap

  • 2 tbsp. baking soda

  • Orange peel

  • Pinecones

Cat urine can permeate your whole yard.

Dogs and cats that urinate outside tend to visit the same spot repeatedly. This leads to a strong urine smell that permeates the bushes, shrubs and even your patio. If you have stray animals in your area, you may have problems with them spraying your outdoor areas as a sign of dominance. Getting rid of the smell is a multi-step process that completely washes away the urine.

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Step 1

Locate the urine-soaked areas by examining your shrubs with a blacklight during the nighttime hours. The black light identifies enzymes in the urine and makes it appear to glow under the light, but it only works after the sun goes down. Aim the blacklight all over the shrubs, to identify any urine-soaked areas in the shrubs and in the surrounding areas.

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Step 2

Attach a spray nozzle to your garden hose, and thoroughly saturate the shrubs and surrounding areas with fresh water. This works especially well if the urine is still damp, which you'll notice due to its strong acidic smell. Check for any signs of a remaining urine smell the following day, once the area dries.

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Step 3

Mix 2 parts water with 1 part distilled white vinegar and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. This combination is used inside your home to remove odors associated with pet smells and also works outside, without damaging your landscaping. Spray the mixture around the shrub and on the urine-soaked areas you identified with the blacklight.

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Step 4

Combine 2 cups hydrogen peroxide, a few drops of dish soap and 2 tbsp. baking soda. This liquid mixture removes the smell of cat and dog urine both inside and outside. Apply the mixture to the affected areas of the shrub, then rinse it away with fresh water from your garden hose.

Step 5

Lay pieces of orange peel and pinecones around the perimeter of the shrub. Cats are repelled by the scent of these items and won't urinate in the area. It's also a useful way to keep pets from urinating inside your home and on interior plants.

Tip

Garden lime may work to neutralize the enzymes in animal urine and keep the shrub and surrounding lawn from turning brown.

Scold your pets or use a spray bottle to punish the pets if they attempt to urinate on the shrub. Eventually your pets will learn not to urinate there.

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