Why Doggy Urine Odor Comes Back & How to Stop It

Has your dog ever had an "accident" on the carpet, sofa or bedding ... and you could never seem to get rid of the smell?

It's a common problem for dog owners - one that is not easily solved.

Urine is one of the toughest odors to remove. Even when you think it's finally gone, the urine smell can come back again.

Here's what happens. You clean the spot, assuming the problem is solved. But then - days, weeks or months later - the disgusting urine smell mysteriously returns ... and this time, it's even stronger than before!

Urine odors resurface for two reasons:

1. There is a component to urine called "urine salts" that no amount of cleaning cab remove. The urine salts are the part of the urine that make odor.

2. At certain times, "something" in your home reactivates these urine salt deposits, and the urine smell comes back. That mysterious "something" is humidity.

Humidity increases the sensitivity of odor sensors. So the more humid your house is, the stronger the odors become.

Indoor humidity levels increase during the summer. Everyday activities like cooking, showering and drying clothes will also cause humidity. And when indoor humidity levels rise, they reactivate the latent urine deposits and the terrible odor returns.

Let's talk a little more about those deposits.

Urine is made up of three different parts. Many cleaning products remove the first component - the sticky liquid content. Some can even remove the second component - the stain-causing pigmentation. But nothing removes the third component - the uric acid crystals or "urine salts" that cause odor.

When you clean or treat the spot, it may seem like the urine is gone because the stain and odor disappear. But the urine salts are still there.

In their dry state, urine salts have no odor. But when it gets damp or humid, moisture reactivates the crystals and the urine odor comes back - with a vengeance.

I've heard from dog owners who finally wound up replacing their furniture or carpeting because the odor was so bad. That's something we'd rather not have to do, especially in today's economy.