Asked on Jan 11, 2020

How do I clean dog urine out of a wooden deck?

Linda A Winkler
by Linda A Winkler

My little dog has decided he cannot go down the stairs to the ground any more and my big dog has learned this bad habit as well.It stinks outside our slider and it is most unpleasant to have the door open or go out on the deck.It's too late to prevent them from using the deck as a potty.I need to be able to clean the deck and put something done to dissuade them from using the deck any more.Help!


  9 answers
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jan 11, 2020

    My daughter's dogs don't like wet feet so if it's raining they go on the deck. Aside from picking up, when the weather is mild, they borrow our power washer. To discourage them, when I let them out, I walk them to the steps. They will normally scamper right into the yard. I'm not sure if I trained them, or they trained me, but, it works. Then I praise them and give them a treat.

  • Gk Gk on Jan 11, 2020

    Hello Linda. Because the wood on the deck is so porous I doubt that you would be able to permanently remove the dog urine smell even if you used a large amount of pet urine enzyme cleaner to clean the deck. You could try that first to see if it helped. One thing you might be able to do is to seal the deck with a deck product and that would trap the smells in the wood. You could also consider walking the dogs outside on a leash to the area you would like them to go and/or using another door. To keep the dogs off the deck you could install a gate that would prevent them from coming onto the deck at all. It will be a matter or retraining the dogs.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jan 11, 2020

    We power wash our deck every spring because our dogs are the same. They don't like getting their feet wet. I found after cleaning it was a good idea to seal the deck. That way it isn't so porous but I will need to do this on a regular basis from now on. If none of this is possible could you make an area outside that is covered for the dogs to do their business in? You could make it look nice and be an area that provides shade for the entire family.


  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 11, 2020

    Yes, please walk the dogs on a leash, it is great exercise for all involved.

    The simple answer is to keep the dogs off the deck, use and enzyme cleaner and seal the wood on the deck, weather permitting.

    Problem solved and best to you.

  • Maura White Maura White on Jan 12, 2020

    Try power washing it


  • Karen Karen on Jan 12, 2020

    Can use vinegar, or go to Tractor supply and buy special urine removable items you may can at any of the farm stores.

  • Dee Dee on Jan 12, 2020

    I go to an industrial supply store and it sells enzyme cleaner. It takes the smell of urine out of almost anything. Or get a good cleaner degreaser from the auto store and use it on the clean the deck with a power washer.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Jul 09, 2020

    Hi Linda, so sorry to hear that. It's a common problem. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup water, 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar, and about 1/4 cup of mild dish soap. Put the solution in a spray bottle a mix thoroughly before spraying it on the stain. Rub it in lightly with a clean cloth and let it stand for about 20 minutes. Rinse the solution away with a damp cloth and let it dry thoroughly. Be sure to test the mixture first on a spot to make sure it won’t discolor or damage your carpet.