First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape up solids with a rounded spoon, then blot the liquid with white paper towels or cloth.
- Work from the edges toward the center, and don't rub.
- Rinse the spot with cool water as soon as the mess is off, then blot it dry.
Pet stains on siding are as much about the smell as the mark, since an animal can keep returning to a spot it can still smell. Wood, vinyl and fiber cement each need slightly different handling, so the material is what sets your limits. If weathered gray wood has lost all its natural color, it may stay silver even after a good cleaning.
Keep a pressure washer on its gentlest setting on vinyl siding, since high pressure can force water behind the panels. Test a small hidden patch on wood siding before you spray the whole wall. If pet stains on fiber cement siding are still there after a few tries, call a pro.
Before you start
What siding, roof & exterior can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
8 items
What you'll need
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- Rounded spoonLifts solids without pushing them into the siding.
- White paper towels or clothBlots up the liquid. (opens Amazon)
- Garden hoseRinses the spot at low pressure.
- Mild dish detergentMakes the wash solution for the first scrub. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushScrubs the siding without damaging the surface. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic drop clothProtects nearby plants. (opens Amazon)
- Enzymatic pet stain-and-odor cleanerTreats the odor, which is what keeps pets coming back. (opens Amazon)
- Oxygen-bleach deck cleanerOnly for black mildew on wood, in the set-in section. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Clear the solids and blot
Scrape up any solids with a rounded spoon, taking care not to press them into the siding. Blot any liquid with white paper towels or cloth, working from the edges toward the center. Keep blotting until no more moisture comes up.
Step 2 of 5
Protect plants and sweep debris
Sweep away leaves and debris, then cover nearby plants with a plastic drop cloth. Spray the plants with water to dilute any overspray.
Careful. Test any cleaner, and any pressure washer setting, in an inconspicuous area first.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse and wash gently
Rinse the spot with a garden hose at low pressure. Then scrub it with mild dish detergent in water and a soft brush, brushing along the grain on wood. On fiber cement siding, use a soft brush or a cloth instead.
Step 4 of 5
Apply the enzymatic cleaner
Apply an enzymatic pet stain-and-odor cleaner to the spot and the area around it, following its label for the amount and wait time. This is the step that goes after the odor, so don't skip it even when the mark looks clean.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse everything off thoroughly
Rinse thoroughly with the garden hose until no suds or cleaner remain on the siding. Work in sections so nothing sits and dries on the surface, then blot the area dry with a cloth.
Careful. Don't let the cleaner or soap dry on the surface.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pet stains on siding, roof & exterior
Choose an enzymatic pet stain-and-odor cleaner and follow its label for amount and wait time. For black mildew, test a mildew-specific cleaner on a small hidden patch first, since it is a separate job from the pet stain.
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Dog Stain & Odor Eliminator, Severe Mess
Armor All Fresh FX Rapid Odor Eliminator
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on siding, roof & exterior, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The spot is finished when it no longer smells once it has fully dried, and the siding looks even with the area around it. If the odor returns, repeat the enzymatic cleaner step and let it sit as its label directs.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your siding, roof & exterior
Wood siding
Wood takes the hose rinse and soft brush well, so the steps above work as written. Brush along the grain every time so the wash follows the boards.
Skip the pressure washer on wood siding, especially softer woods like western redcedar, since it can strip the surface. Use the soft brush rather than anything stiffer, even on a stubborn spot.
Weathered, gray wood
Gray, weathered wood can be restored with commercial deck cleaners, brighteners or restorers, which remove mildew and dirt so the wood's own color shows. Use them only after the enzymatic cleaner step, and follow each product's label.
If all the natural color has leached out, the wood stays silver when dry and that's normal, so leave those fibers in place. Restoring the color is optional, so skip it if the odor and the mark are gone.
Vinyl siding
Vinyl gets the same hose rinse and dish-detergent wash as the other siding types. Keep it away from organic-solvent cleaners, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover and furniture polish, since vinyl can't take them.
If a mark is still visible after the enzymatic cleaner, go back to the soft brush and another rinse. Don't swap in a stronger product on vinyl.
Fiber cement siding
Use a soft brush or cloth on fiber cement, and rinse with a low-pressure hose spray. Keep hard metal brushes and abrasive sponges away from it, since they can damage the surface and finish.
For mildew on fiber cement, use a mildew-specific cleaner with a soft cloth rather than an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner. Follow its label closely.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old pet spots on siding are usually found by smell, especially on a damp day. Lightly outline each one with chalk so you can find it again once it's dry.
Saturate the spot and the area around it with an enzymatic cleaner, then cover it with a damp towel so it stays moist 24-48 hours. Uncover it, let it dry, and rinse with the garden hose.
A stubborn spot may only improve after one round, so repeat the treatment before deciding it's permanent. For black mildew on wood, an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner can be applied in sections, kept wet for about 15 minutes, and scrubbed along the grain; on fiber cement, use a mildew-specific cleaner and a soft cloth instead.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pet stains on siding, roof & exterior?
Most kitchen remedies don't belong in a siding wash. Water and mild dish detergent are what siding needs for pet stains, and the rest are too harsh for the surface.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use ammonia-based cleaners.
Their smell resembles urine, which can draw the pet back to the same spot. Choose an enzymatic cleaner and check the label for ammonia before you buy.
Don't reach for chlorine bleach on fresh urine.
Urine contains ammonia compounds, and mixing them with bleach can produce hazardous gases. Bleach also doesn't remove urine odor, so it adds risk without solving the problem.
Don't aim a pressure washer upward at vinyl.
Keep any pressure spray angled down the panels, never up. For the rinse, the garden hose at low pressure is the safer choice.
Don't use steel wool or wire brushes on wood.
Leftover iron from them reacts with the wood's natural extractives and leaves stains on the boards. A soft brush does the job without marking the wood.
Don't pressure wash fiber cement siding.
A high-pressure power washer can damage the surface and finish on fiber cement. Stick to a soft brush or cloth and a low-pressure hose spray.
When to call a professional
If the odor comes back after a full cleaning, or the spot has soaked into a damaged panel, a siding contractor can take a look. They can tell you whether the panel should be replaced rather than cleaned further.
Questions
Does pet urine stain siding?
Yes, when urine soaks in and dries. Rinse it promptly, then follow the steps above, since the odor needs the enzymatic cleaner as well as the rinse.
Can I use chlorine bleach on dog urine on siding?
No, not on fresh urine. Mixing bleach with urine compounds can produce hazardous gases, and bleach doesn't remove the odor anyway.
Will vinegar get pet urine off siding?
No, skip vinegar; it isn't needed on siding. The dish-detergent wash and the enzymatic cleaner handle the spot.
Can I pressure wash pet stains off siding?
No, a pressure washer can damage wood, vinyl and fiber cement siding, so rinse with a garden hose and wash the spot with mild dish detergent and a soft brush. Finish with an enzymatic pet stain-and-odor cleaner.
How long should an enzymatic cleaner stay on siding?
Follow the label, since it sets the amount and wait time. For old spots, a damp towel over the treated area can keep it moist for 24-48 hours.
Why does my pet keep going back to the same spot?
Because the smell is still there even after the mark is gone. Clean the odor fully with an enzymatic cleaner, and avoid ammonia-based products, which can draw the pet back.
Are black spots on siding pet stains?
They may be mildew rather than pet mess. On wood, mildew is treated with an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner, and on fiber cement, use a mildew-specific cleaner with a soft cloth.
Pet Stains on other materials
Other stains on siding, roof & exterior
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.