If you have a dog at home, you know that sometimes even bleach or floor cleaner isn’t enough to eliminate the bad smell of dog urine . It seems like the floor, walls, or sofa are soaked in the stench.

Dog urine contains a lot of nitrogen , the concentration of which depends on the dog’s age, sex, and diet. For example, female dogs tend to stain more, as do dogs that eat a high-protein diet.

To neutralize the bad smell of dog urine, you can use an old trick: dilute a little tomato juice in your dog’s drinking water, as this drink neutralizes the nitrates in the urine.

If you can’t get rid of the bad smell of your dog’s urine , you may be making one of the following three mistakes.

Don’t treat each stain differently

A stain on a concrete floor shouldn’t be treated like one on a couch. If the pee is on a fabric surface, the first thing to do is place some paper towels on it to remove excess moisture. Then sprinkle a light layer of baking soda and let it sit overnight. The next day, vacuum the area to remove all residue.

Use flavored detergents

Covering up the smell won’t eliminate it. Before using detergent or other scented products, try to remove the urine. Apply a solution of equal parts vinegar and water to the stain. Rub and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Finally, wipe with a clean cloth and then another dipped in detergent.

Using the wrong disinfectant

Ammonia is often used to eliminate bad odors and stains, but this can paradoxically make the smell worse. It’s better to use water, detergent, and a few drops of bleach.

To reduce the smell as much as possible, it is best to remove the stain as soon as possible, especially during the summer.