What Happens When Ammonia From Dog Urine & Bleach Are Mixed?

When your whole house smells like dog pee (and let's face it, when you have a canine, that happens sometimes), the first thing you'll want to do is clean. Surprisingly, pee and bleach are not a good combination. The chemical composition of bleach and urine results in a toxic gas when they are mixed.

Most people know that cleaners should not be combined because the ingredients can clash, but sometimes, you have to consider what you're cleaning also. Although household bleach is mostly water, it can still be irritating on its own because of the strong smell. The sodium hypochlorite that is the main ingredient in bleach reacts when it is mixed with either ammonia-based cleaners or urine, which also contains a small amount of ammonia.

The Missouri Poison Center explains that when ammonia or urine are combined with bleach, the resulting mixture creates chloramine gas. This gas can cause watering of the eyes, runny nose, and coughing. If you accidentally mix pee and bleach, open a window and leave the area so you can get some fresh air. You should also prevent your pets from accessing the space until the gas and resulting odor have cleared out.

If you see a puddle of pee, clean it right away. First, use some towels to blot up as much as you can. It's easy if your dog pees on a hard floor, but on carpet, put some pressure on the towels to soak up more of the liquid.

According to the American Kennel Club, getting rid of the smell of dog urine is the hardest part. In this battle, enlist a common household item: baking soda. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda across the pee spot. Let it sit overnight so the baking soda absorbs the liquid and the odors and then vacuum it up. This can be repeated a few times if necessary.

Another cleaning ally is vinegar. Combine 1 cup of plain white vinegar along with 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Shake it in a spray bottle and spray that on the stain. Use clean towels to soak up the spray.

While you can't mix pee and bleach, there is a way to deal with the situation when your whole house smells like dog urine. There are a lot of commercially available options marketed as enzymatic cleaners. These products contain enzymes, which are biological molecules that break down compounds like fats, oils, and proteins.

Enzymatic cleaners can also break down odors like pet urine and help get rid of stains. Further, you can use them to remove stains from carpet, such as mud. There are several types of enzymatic cleaners that are advertised for use on laundry stains, upholstery, and the like, so choose a type based on the area you need to clean.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends keeping an area your pet has inappropriately used as a restroom off limits. If it's not possible to remove access, make it unattractive with a deterrent spray that makes them not want to be there. It's too tempting for pets to return to "the scene of the crime" if they can still detect their scent.

The Humane Society also advises getting your pet checked for a medical reason for the inappropriate potty behavior. As long as a medical cause is ruled out, you can use positive reinforcement to encourage your pet to go potty in the right place.