Dog poop and pee on artificial turf: how to clean it and stop the smell

Artificial turf does away with mud and brown spots, but not with dog waste. Poop sits on the blades until someone picks it up, and pee drains into layers you can't see.

Can dogs poop and pee on artificial grass?

Yes, and some makers sell turf designed for dogs. But drainage only moves urine down into the turf; it doesn't make it vanish.

Turf is a layered system:

• Blades and backing. The plastic grass is tufted into a backing that lets liquid through. ForeverLawn, which makes K9Grass, says most artificial grass drains through four to six holes per square foot.
• Infill. Sand or rubber granules between the blades weigh the turf down, per the Synthetic Turf Council, the industry's trade group. For pet areas, PolyTurf's manual recommends adding zeolite, a mineral that reduces pet odor.
• Base. Under the backing, PolyTurf calls for about 4 inches of compacted crushed stone that stays porous.

The STC says permeable turf is typically designed to drain 25 inches of water an hour, and PolyTurf recommends fast-draining backings for pets. The STC also notes that its landscape buying guidelines may not apply to pet uses such as dog runs, so if you're still shopping, ask for turf made for dogs.

Why does artificial turf smell like dog pee?

Because draining isn't washing. Some urine residue stays on the fibers, in the infill and in the base, and bacteria turn it into ammonia.

Ohio State University Extension explains the chemistry: bacteria in soil and feces produce urease, the enzyme that converts urea to ammonia, and the reaction speeds up with more urea, more mixing of urine with feces, and warmer temperatures. A July potty spot with poop residue on it has all three.

Turf makers point below the blades. The Motz Group, an infill maker, says infill absorbs more urine than any other part of a turf system and is the most prone to bacterial growth. It also warns that raw sand infill can trap urine before it drains. ForeverLawn leaves infill out of its dog turf, saying infill can harbor waste and bacteria.

Grass yards have their own version; see dog poop and pee smell in the yard. Turf trades the brown urine spots of a lawn for a different chore: odor control.

How do you clean dog poop off artificial turf?

Pick it up as soon as you can, then hose the spot. ForeverLawn says solid waste is easy to find on turf and should come up frequently, the sooner the better.

1. Lift it with a bag or scooper. The STC's maintenance guidelines, written for sports fields, also say to remove animal waste as soon as possible.
2. Rinse the spot to clear the smear a bag leaves behind.
3. Messy pile? ForeverLawn says to pick up all you can, rinse, and treat the spot with a bacterial enzyme. Don't wash solids down into the blades.
4. Bag it for the trash, tied shut, in an outdoor can. Here's more on how to dispose of dog poop.
5. Make it daily. The Motz Group suggests daily pickup on turf, or twice a day with more than one dog. Here's how often to pick up dog poop in any yard.

How do you get dog urine smell out of artificial grass?

Rinse the potty zone often with plain water, more often in summer, and treat it with a pet enzyme cleaner your turf maker allows.

• Rinse on a schedule. ForeverLawn recommends rinsing between cleanings when you aren't getting regular rain. The Motz Group suggests at least monthly, and up to weekly for big dogs in a small yard or where rain is scarce. Since warmth speeds up ammonia, lean toward weekly or more in summer.
• Soak, don't blast. Run the water gently so it sinks through the infill.
• Treat repeat spots with an enzyme cleaner. UC Davis's Clinical Animal Behavior Service recommends enzymatic cleaners in its housetraining and urine-marking handouts, to erase lingering odor that lures a dog back. Humane World for Animals says they break down pet waste odors, and warns that urine is harder to clean once it soaks into carpet padding. That advice was written for accidents in the house, but turf's infill and base work a lot like carpet padding, so pick a product labeled for artificial grass.
• Follow your turf maker's guide. SYNLawn's care manual says some odor-control infills need flushing with water and some don't, so ask your dealer. ForeverLawn suggests treating in the early evening and says the longer the enzyme stays on, the better it works.
• Let it dry first. ASPCA Animal Poison Control lists mild stomach upset as the usual risk from enzyme cleaners and advises letting them dry before pets return.
• Still smells? Puddles after a rinse point to a drainage problem, which is a job for your installer.

What should you not use on artificial turf?

Bleach, bleach mixes, harsh solvents, pressure washers and wire brushes.

The Washington State Department of Health says never to mix bleach with ammonia, acids or other cleaners: bleach and ammonia make toxic chloramine gases, and bleach and an acid, such as vinegar, give off chlorine gas. It also lists urine as a source of ammonia, so bleach on a pee spot is a mix in itself.

Your turf maker's care guide has the final word; SYNLawn even ties warranty claims to following its guidelines.

Does artificial turf get too hot for dogs?

It can. In full sun, turf gets far hotter than grass.

Penn State's Center for Sports Surface Research says synthetic turf generally runs 35 to 55°F hotter than natural grass. The highest published reading it cites is 200°F on a 98°F day in Utah, and Penn State researchers recorded 175°F in central Pennsylvania. Turf is hottest on clear days from about noon to 3 p.m., and watering cools it only briefly: in studies Penn State reviews, temperatures climbed back within about 20 minutes.

Texas A&M's veterinary college suggests a back-of-hand test: if the ground is too hot for the back of your hand, it may be too hot for paws. If your dog limps, slows down or licks its paws, bring it in to rest, and see your veterinarian for sores, cuts or bleeding. On hot days, save potty breaks and play for mornings and evenings.

Where should turf rinse water and dog waste go?

Waste goes in the trash, and rinse water goes down through the turf, never down the street. Macomb County Public Works puts it in five words: "Only rain in the drain."

The county says never to dump pet waste, chemicals or dirty wash water into a storm drain or ditch, because they pollute local lakes and streams. It names polluted storm water runoff as one of the two biggest sources of water quality problems in the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair. So bag solids before you rinse, run the hose gently near driveways, and never sweep leftover cleaner toward the curb. Here's where dog poop goes when it rains.

How often should you clean artificial grass with dogs?

Scoop daily, soak the potty zone weekly, and rinse and brush the whole turf monthly. More dogs or hotter weather means more often.

Why brush? SYNLawn says it spreads infill evenly for drainage, and the STC says debris left on turf works its way in and slows drainage.

Do pooper scooper services work on artificial turf?

Ours does. Turf yards get the same visit as grass, priced the same way: by plan, dogs and yard size.

You get a text when we're on the way. We sweep the turf in rows, corners and fence line included, seal every pile in two bags for your outdoor trash can, latch the gate and send a gate-check photo. Tools and boots are disinfected between yards, and dogs stay inside while we work. Miss a pile? Tell us within 24 hours and our Happy Yard Guarantee brings us back free.

For odor, add deodorize and sanitize, a pet-safe enzyme spray on your dog's potty zones, for $8 a visit. Turf makers set their own rules on cleaners, so check your care guide before adding ours or any other product. Rinsing, brushing and infill care stay with you or your installer. Compare plans on our pricing page.