The infill between the blades is where dog urine residue collects. Here is how to flush it, treat it and keep it from coming back, step by step.
What infill does, and why it holds smell
Infill is the sand, coated sand, rubber or mineral granules brushed in between the blades. It weighs the turf down and holds the blades up. Urine runs through it on the way to the base rock, coats the granules, and leaves residue in both places. Packed-down infill drains slowly, so loosening it helps every rinse and treatment get through.
Step by step
- Pick up and brush. Remove solid waste, then brush against the grain with a stiff turf brush or power broom to loosen packed infill.
- Rinse. Flush the area with a hose to carry loose residue down and out, then let standing water drain.
- Mix. For Urine Zero 10X, 12.8 oz of concentrate plus 115.2 oz of water makes one gallon of spray. Water only, nothing else in the tank.
- Soak at dusk. Use a pump sprayer on a coarse stream, not a mist. Keep going until the infill looks darker and feels evenly damp, and treat 12 inches past the edge of the spot.
- Brush it in. A few passes with the brush works the solution down through the infill.
- Leave it overnight. Re-mist if it starts to dry. Keep pets and children off the turf until it is dry.
- Repeat for old spots. Two or three passes, 12 to 24 hours apart.
How much spray infill needs
Ready-to-use spray per pass, by area and how bad the smell is.
| Area | Light (0.4 oz/sq ft) | Moderate (0.8) | Severe (1.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 20 oz | 40 oz | 75 oz |
| 100 sq ft | 40 oz | 80 oz | 150 oz (about 1.2 gal) |
| 300 sq ft | 120 oz (about 0.9 gal) | 240 oz (about 1.9 gal) | 450 oz (about 3.5 gal) |
At $10 a finished gallon of Urine Zero 10X, a moderate pass on 300 square feet uses about $19 of spray.
Does special infill help?
Some turf owners use zeolite infill, a volcanic mineral. One brand, ZeoFill, says its infill is 97% clinoptilolite and is designed to keep the ammonium in pet urine from turning into ammonia gas (ZeoFill). That can hold the smell down between cleanings. It does not break the residue down, so the infill and base still need rinsing and treating.
Turf maker TigerTurf also points to drainage: a free-draining base lets urine pass through quickly instead of pooling in the backing (TigerTurf).
When to replace infill
If a spot still smells after several deep treatments, the infill there may be packed with residue. Remove the infill from that spot, rinse and treat the base, and brush in fresh infill, or have a turf installer do it. Check the drainage while you are there: low spots and weed cloth under the turf can trap urine.
Disclosure: Urine Zero publishes this page and sells one of the products in it.
FAQ: Turf infill
How do I know the infill is soaked?
The infill looks darker and feels evenly damp when you press it, not just the blade tips. If only the tips are wet, add more flow.
Should I rinse after treating?
Not usually. Let it dry in place. If spray drifted onto a sealed patio, rinse that once the turf is dry.
Is it safe for my dog?
Use it as directed, and keep pets and children off the turf until it is completely dry.
How often should I treat the infill in a dog run?
Weekly until the smell stays away, then every other week, then monthly.
Sources
- ZeoFill organic infill, product listing: 97% clinoptilolite, designed to keep the ammonium in pet urine from turning into ammonia gas.
- TigerTurf, How to prevent odours on artificial grass: a pet owner’s guide: hose down toileting spots weekly; avoid bleach and harsh cleaners, which can damage fibres and backing.