First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot up as much as possible with clean paper towels or a cloth.
- Don't rub, because rubbing pushes urine deeper and spreads it.
- Keep heat away until both the stain and the odor are gone.
- Start cleaning soon, since the longer urine sits, the deeper it goes.
Concrete is porous, so urine that soaks in dries into a stain and an odor that get harder to shift the longer they sit. A fresh spot is much easier to clear, while an older one may take several rounds and may only fade. Whether the warm wipe clears the mark decides how far you need to go with the ammonia pads.
Pee stains on concrete that you can still see clearly are the ones to tackle first. Rabbit urine stains on concrete follow the same plan, so don't skip the pads just because the mark looks faint. If something stubborn remains, repeat the ammonia pad step with a fresh pad, after testing it on a small hidden patch first.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Clean paper towels or a clothTo blot up as much urine as you can before cleaning. (opens Amazon)
- SpongeFor the warm, sudsy first wipe. (opens Amazon)
- Household ammoniaFor the absorbent pads that do the lifting. (opens Amazon)
- Absorbent padsTo hold the ammonia against the stain.
- Soft clothFor the water wipes and final drying. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Wipe with warm sudsy water
Dip a sponge in warm, sudsy water and press it onto the stain rather than scrubbing. Work from the edges toward the center so the urine doesn't spread. Rinse the sponge, wipe the area clean, and dry it with a cloth.
Careful. Hot water on the first wipe can cook the protein and set the stain.
Step 2 of 55 minutes
Lay an ammonia pad on it
Soak an absorbent pad in household ammonia, wring it as dry as you can, and lay it over the stain. Leave it there for 5 minutes, and keep it on the stained spot only.
Step 3 of 5
Wipe away the ammonia
Wipe the area with a cloth dampened in water to pick up the ammonia and what's left of the stain. Wring the cloth out often so you aren't spreading urine around.
Step 4 of 55 minutes
Repeat with fresh pads
Soak a fresh ammonia pad, wring it dry, and leave it on the spot for another 5 minutes. Keep repeating with fresh pads and water wipes until the stain is removed.
Step 5 of 5
Dry the area
Wipe the area one last time with a cloth dampened in water, then dry it with a soft cloth. Check the spot once the concrete is fully dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for urine on concrete, brick & driveways
Look for a stain-specific cleaner labeled for urine on concrete or masonry, and test it on a hidden spot before you use it on the whole area.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on concrete, brick & driveways, 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
Look for the wipe to pick up less with each round, and the mark to pale as you go. Let the slab dry all the way before you decide, since a damp patch always reads darker than the rest. If a shadow survives several rounds of pads on a dry slab, the stain has likely set in, and the older-stain section explains the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Pee on concrete
Fresh pee is the easiest version of this stain to lift, so blot it up before you do anything else. Don't wait for the spot to dry, because the longer urine sits, the deeper it soaks in.
Start with the warm sudsy wipe and move to the pads only if the stain is still visible. If it's gone but the smell lingers, keep the area dry, since moisture keeps the odor going.
Concrete floor
Indoors, the spot stays damp longer than it would outside, so keep the first wipe light and wring the sponge out well. Don't flood the floor, and keep the pads on the stained area only.
Let the spot dry fully before you judge the result. Opening a window or running a fan helps it dry faster.
Concrete patio
Outdoors, rain and sun change how fast the spot dries, so pick a dry day and finish the whole process in one session. Don't leave the pads half-finished when the weather turns.
Keep the work to the stained spot so the solution and water don't spread onto the rest of the patio. Then let the area dry fully before you decide the result.
Rabbit or mouse on concrete
The same steps apply to rabbit and mouse urine, since the stain and the cleaners are the same. Put on gloves and pick up any droppings or bedding before you start, so the cleaning goes to the stain itself.
Work in a ventilated spot if you can, since ammonia is strong. Once the area is dry, check it again, because a faint smell can return if the spot stays damp.
Painted concrete
Painted concrete is cleaned the same way, but the paint is the surface you need to protect. Keep each pad to the 5 minutes in the steps instead of leaving it longer.
Once the stain is gone, check the paint around the spot, since a pad can dull the finish. Let the area dry fully before you decide the result.
Old, dried or set-in stains
If the stain has been there for a long time, the first round of pads may only lift the top layer. Old, accumulated stains need stronger methods, and each one carries more risk of damage to the concrete, so go gently.
For a stain that has dried deep into the surface, use a poultice: a paste of talc, whiting, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth or clay mixed with a solvent, spread at least 1/8 inch thick over the spot. Cover it with plastic for 24 hours, let it dry, then scrape or brush it off.
Repeat as needed, since one round may not be enough for an old stain. Proprietary stain-specific cleaners are preferred over homemade mixes, so use one of those if the poultice doesn't do the job.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on urine on concrete, brick & driveways?
Most home remedies come from fabric or food stain advice, so none of the common ones belong in these concrete steps. Alcohol and dish soap are the two remedies to reach for least on concrete, since most home fixes come from fabric or food advice.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix ammonia with bleach
Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach, since the mix can give off hazardous fumes. If you need to switch products, rinse the spot with water thoroughly first.
Don't stop after one round of pads
A single round may only lift the top of the stain, and the smell can stay behind. Keep repeating with fresh pads until the stain is gone, and move to the deeper method below if it still shows.
Don't skip the warm sudsy wipe
It's the first step for a reason, and it often lifts the mark before any stronger product is needed. Jumping straight to the pads means using more product than the stain needs.
Don't leave a pad on past five minutes
Each pad gets five minutes, so set a timer instead of guessing. When it's up, lift the pad and wipe the spot before the next one goes on.
Don't lay the alcohol and ammonia pads together
The method runs them one at a time, and they are never used on the same patch at once. Clear one completely, then move on to the other.
When to call a professional
Get a pro if a water-repellent coating on the slab keeps the wipes from soaking in, or if the concrete is historic stone or brick that needs a restoration specialist. Give them the timeline, how many pad rounds you've already done, and whether the stain is inside or out.
Questions
Does urine stain concrete?
Yes. Urine soaks into concrete's pores and dries into a stain, and the odor gets more noticeable the longer it sits. Acting soon gives you the best chance of lifting it.
Why does the smell come back after cleaning?
Bacteria break down the urea in urine, and they keep going as long as there is moisture. That's why the odor can flare up on humid days or after cleaning, even when the stain looks gone.
How long should each pad stay on?
Leave each ammonia pad on the stain for 5 minutes. Repeat with fresh pads and water wipes until the stain is gone, then dry the area.
What if the stain has dried into the concrete?
The pad steps may only lift the surface, so a dried, deep stain needs more. Use the poultice method described below for a stain that has set in.
Is it safe to clean urine off painted concrete?
Yes, with care, because paint can react to ammonia. Keep each pad to 5 minutes and stop if the paint softens, lifts or changes color.
How do I know when the stain is gone?
Keep repeating the pads and water wipes until the stain no longer shows on the surface. Then do the final dry-down and let the area dry completely before you decide.
Is rubbing alcohol safe to use on concrete?
Yes, but only as a pad, never as a pour. Soak an absorbent pad, wring it as dry as you can, lay it on the stain, and leave it for five minutes. Keep it separate from the ammonia pad, since the two are used one at a time.
Do I need to use both the alcohol and ammonia pads?
Not always. Start with the warm sudsy wipe, and only bring in the alcohol pad if the stain is still visible afterward. If it stays, alternate alcohol and ammonia pads one at a time until it's gone, then finish with a damp wipe and a soft dry cloth.
Does rabbit or mouse urine need a different method?
No, the same sequence applies, since the stain and the odor both come from urine. Concrete soaks it in the same way, and the smell lingers as long as moisture keeps the urea breaking down. Work through the steps in order and check the result once the area is completely dry.
Urine on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
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.