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Dog Crate Smells Bad? Clean It Right and Add a Washable Pad

Urine and drool soak into seams and bedding, and soap alone does not remove them. Clean with an enzyme cleaner, then use a washable pad so the smell stays out.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
45 min
Cost
$20-$50
Difficulty
Easy
An empty wire dog crate with its plastic tray pulled out and a scrub brush beside it on a tile floor
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. How to keep a dog crate from smelling
  9. What to skip
  10. FAQ
  11. Related problems

Quick answer

When a dog crate smells bad, the cause is almost always urine and drool soaked into the tray, the seams and the bedding. Empty it, wash everything in hot soapy water, then treat the urine with an enzyme cleaner and dry the crate in the sun. A machine-washable crate pad with a waterproof layer then takes the next accident, so you wash a pad each week instead of scrubbing the crate.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 45 minutes

Wash, treat and dry everything

  • Empty the bedding and wash it hot
  • Scrub the tray, the bars and the seams with soapy water
  • Soak urine spots with an enzyme cleaner and let it work
  • Dry the crate fully in the sun before your dog goes back in

How long it lasts: Until the next accident or a few weeks of drool and fur. Without a washable layer, the crate itself soaks it all up again.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Washable dog crate pad (illustration)
Illustration

A machine-washable crate pad with a waterproof backing

The crate rarely needs replacing. The smell builds up in whatever the dog lies on. A pad with a waterproof layer takes the accident and the drool, goes in the washer and dries quickly. The free steps remove the smell now, and the pad stops it from building up again.

What to get: Washable dog crate pad

How long it lasts: For as long as the pad holds up. You wash it every week or after an accident, and the tray underneath stays clean.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Dish soap and a scrub brush

    For the tray, bars and corners

    You have it

  • Rubber gloves

    For handling soiled bedding

    You have it
  • Enzymatic pet odor cleaner (illustration)
    Illustration

    Enzymatic pet odor cleaner

    Breaks down the urine that soap leaves behind

    Check price
  • Our pick
    Washable waterproof crate pad (illustration)
    Illustration

    Washable waterproof crate pad

    Measure the crate floor first

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Urine in the tray and seams

Even a small accident runs into the gap where the tray meets the wire and soaks into scratched plastic. As it dries, urine breaks down and gives off the sharp ammonia smell you notice.

2

Bedding that holds odor

Foam and thick blankets absorb drool, skin oils and accidents. Washing the cover but not the foam leaves the smell in the middle.

3

The wrong cleaner

Ammonia-based cleaners and heavy perfumes can smell like a toilet to a dog, which may draw it back to the same spot.

4

A crate that never fully dried

A damp tray or pad turns sour within a day. If the crate sits in a closed room or a humid garage, the smell builds faster.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Empty the crate and wash all bedding

    Take out the pad, blankets and toys. Wash them in the hottest water the labels allow with an unscented, pet-safe detergent and add an extra rinse. Dry them fully.

  2. Take the crate outside and scrub it

    Tool used: Dish soap and a scrub brush

    Pull out the tray and hose both parts. Scrub the bars, corners and seams with hot water and dish soap, using a brush for the gap where the tray sits. Rinse well.

  3. Treat urine with an enzyme cleaner

    Tool used: Enzymatic pet odor cleaner

    Spray the tray and any stained spots until they are wet, then leave them for the time on the label. Enzymes need to stay damp to work, so do not wipe right away. Never mix cleaners, and keep bleach well away from ammonia.

    Enzymatic pet odor cleaner (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Enzymatic pet odor cleaner · Breaks down the urine that soap leaves behind

    Check price on Amazon

  4. Dry the crate in the sun

    Leave the crate and tray in direct sun for a few hours. Sun and airflow finish the drying, and a damp crate brings the smell back.

  5. Put in a washable pad and set a routine

    Tool used: Washable waterproof crate pad

    Place the pad flat so it covers the floor, then wash it once a week or after any accident. Take your dog out right before crate time, so the pad is not the nearest toilet.

    Washable waterproof crate pad (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Washable waterproof crate pad · Measure the crate floor first

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If the smell comes back within days, it is probably soaked into something you cannot wash: foam bedding, a cheap pad with no waterproof layer or a plastic tray with scratches that hold urine. Replace the tray if it is badly scratched. If your dog has accidents in the crate often, talk to your vet, since a urinary problem or diabetes can be the cause, and check that the crate is the right size and your dog is not left too long. A waterproof pad cuts the work, but it will not fix a medical problem or a dog that chews bedding.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Washable dog crate pad (illustration)
Illustration
Washable dog crate pad
urine and drool soaking into the bedding and the tray Owners of adult dogs who do not chew bedding and want an easy weekly wash. Check price
Budget pick
Enzymatic pet odor cleaner (illustration)
Illustration
Enzymatic pet odor cleaner
urine smell already in the tray and seams Someone with a smell today who wants the cheapest real fix. Check price
Best pick
Washable dog crate pad (illustration)
Illustration

Washable dog crate pad

Fixes: urine and drool soaking into the bedding and the tray

Look for: A machine-washable cover; A waterproof or water-resistant backing; Sized to your crate floor, so it does not bunch; A non-slip bottom that stays put.

Who it's for
Owners of adult dogs who do not chew bedding and want an easy weekly wash.
Honest downside
Your dog chews fabric. Swallowed stuffing is dangerous, so use a bare tray or a chew-resistant mat and ask your vet.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Enzymatic pet odor cleaner (illustration)
Illustration

Enzymatic pet odor cleaner

Fixes: urine smell already in the tray and seams

Look for: An enzyme or bacteria-based formula made for pet urine; Safe for plastic, metal and fabric; No ammonia in the ingredients.

Who it's for
Someone with a smell today who wants the cheapest real fix.
Honest downside
You will wipe it off right away. Enzymes need time, and the crate must stay damp for the time on the label.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on pet-odor cleaning guides, crate-care advice from veterinary and shelter groups, and what dog owners report in reviews of crate pads. We do not test products by hand.

How to keep a dog crate from smelling

  • Every day: take out and shake the pad and check the tray for damp spots.
  • Every week: wash the pad in hot water with unscented detergent and dry it fully.
  • Every month: scrub the tray and bars, treat the seams with an enzyme cleaner and dry the crate in the sun.
  • Every time: take your dog out just before crate time, and do not leave a young dog in the crate longer than it can wait.

What to skip

Ammonia cleaners and perfumed sprays

Ammonia is part of what you smell in urine, so an ammonia cleaner can leave a scent that draws your dog back. Perfumed sprays only cover the smell for a few hours and leave the urine in the seams.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog crate smell like pee even after washing?
Soap and water remove the surface, but urine in the seams, scratches and foam stays behind and gives off a smell as it dries. An enzyme cleaner breaks that down. If the smell lingers, replace the foam pad or the scratched tray.
Why does my dog kennel smell bad or like ammonia?
Urine breaks down into ammonia as it dries, and a kennel with poor airflow keeps the smell in. Wash it, treat the floor and seams with an enzyme cleaner, and let it dry in fresh air. If an outdoor kennel floor never drains, fix the drainage as well.
Can I use vinegar or bleach on a dog crate?
A mix of vinegar and water is safe for rinsing a plastic tray. Bleach can disinfect, but rinse it very well and never use it with ammonia or vinegar, since the fumes are dangerous.
How often should I clean a dog crate?
Wash the pad once a week and right after any accident. Wipe the tray when it is dirty and do a full scrub about once a month. Puppies and dogs that drool need it more often.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Washable dog crate pad (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Washable dog crate pad

Check price