What Dissolves Dog Poop in the Yard? 4 Potential Choices

There are so many wonderful things about dog ownership — the fact that dogs can quickly fill yards with poop is not one of them. Cleaning the yard is tedious and may not be something that you always have time for, causing the poop to pile up.

Fortunately, there are a few options for dissolving dog poop. Instead of having to bend over and pick it up, you can simply eliminate it! Read on to learn more about these choices and decide which one would be the best for you..

 

The 4 Things That Dissolve Dog Poop in Yards

1. Gardening Lime

Gardening lime is the number-one option for dissolving dog poop because it works the fastest and most effectively. Gardening lime is a white powder sold at garden supply stores. Just sprinkle it over the poop, and within a few days, the poop will disintegrate. Lime absorbs the moisture from it, causing it to break down into the soil faster.

The issue with gardening lime is that it can be dangerous. When using this method, wear gloves and eye protection. Lime is caustic and cannot come into contact with your bare skin, or it can cause burns. When lime is applied to the poop in your yard, no children or animals should be allowed on the lawn for the first few days. After this time, the remaining lime and poop can be hosed off and washed into the soil.

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2. Peppermint Oil & Baking Soda

One handful of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a bowl mixed with 15 drops of peppermint essential oil makes a homemade dog poop dissolver. It works naturally to dry out dog poop and kill bacteria while managing odors. This helps the poop to dissolve as it naturally would on its own; it just speeds up the process. After a few days, you’ll notice the poop begin to harden and turn white. Depending on how many poop piles you have to cover, you may need to have plenty of baking soda on hand.

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3. Dog Poop Disposal System

A dog poop disposal system like the Doggie Dooley Waste Disposal System works effectively to dissolve poop, but you do have to collect it first. The poop is scooped into a waste system in the ground and dissolved with added pellets. It’s like a tiny septic tank just for dog poop.

Once the system is placed in the ground in an area with high-draining soil, it can break down the waste of two large dogs once a week. This option is more work than the others on this list, but it’s safe for the environment and non-toxic.

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4. Enzyme Dissolver

There are products on the market today designed to dissolve dog poop, like Nature’s Pure Edge Yard Odor Eliminator. This product contains zeolite and activated charcoal to quickly reduce poop size up to 80%. Over time, the remaining 20% will dissolve slowly. While it’s working, it absorbs odors. It can also be used as odor control in areas of heavy urine saturation. In addition to lawns, it can be used on concrete, artificial turf, patios, and kennels. Sprinkling 3–4 tablespoons per square foot will be required to get odors under control and dissolve poop.

Won’t Rain Dissolve Dog Poop?

Rain doesn’t dissolve poop. Heavy rain can make dog poop turn runny and even more unpleasant, releasing odors and making it harder to clean up. It doesn’t dissolve it; it just makes more of a mess. Rain also promotes bacterial growth. Getting dog poop to dissolve quickly won’t work by getting it wet. It has to be dried out instead.

When Should You Dissolve Dog Poop?

Picking up dog poop every time your dog goes is the best way to keep your yard clean, but this is often not possible for various reasons. If your yard is filled with poop piles because you don’t have the time to pick it all up, dissolving it might be the easiest way to get rid of it.

If it’s raining or snowing heavily, it might not be possible to pick up poop. Dissolving the poop can ensure that when the snow melts away, you’re not left with an unsightly and smelly yard.

If you use Astroturf for your lawn, dissolving poop is better than simply picking it up because it can’t biodegrade naturally. Remnants of the poop will remain, causing a sanitation issue.

Won’t Dog Poop Dissolve on Its Own?

Dog poop, over time, will naturally break down and dissolve on its own, but it won’t be a fast process. In some cases, it can take up to a year for the poop to decompose fully, which is time that you don’t have in a yard that’s getting more poop added to it every day. The aforementioned methods will dissolve dog poop within days.

Do I Still Have to Pick Up Dissolving Dog Poop?

Some dog poop, depending on the size, won’t completely dissolve. Remnants will remain that will continue to break down over time. If you want to leave them there, you can, and they will continue to dissolve. But if they’re too large for your liking, you may want to pick them up. The cleanup will take much less time and effort once the poop is mostly dissolved.

This would be a judgment call you’d have to make for your yard, depending on your preferences.

Why Do I Have to Remove Dog Poop at All?

In some areas, you can be fined for not cleaning up your dog’s waste. In addition, dog poop left on the lawn can damage your grass. It’s considered an environmental hazard because it can destroy plants and grass due to high levels of nitrogen. Your lawn will eventually be dotted with yellow, dry patches.

Dog poop is also just unpleasant. People can step in it and track bacteria into their homes. If your dog has parasites, these can spread to other animals through contact with the feces. Also, dog poop doesn’t quickly disappear on its own. Removing the waste from your yard is beneficial in many ways.

 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to help dog poop dissolve in your yard. Even if time got away from you, you could still clean up the mess and prevent it from happening again. No matter which option you choose, your yard will thank you for it. Owning a dog doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a lovely lawn.

• Related Read: What Should Puppy Poop Look Like?

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Featured Image Credit: SasaStock, Shutterstock