This UV Flashlight Urine Detector Helps You Find (and Clean Up) Dog Messes

As an author of 35+ pet books and a certified animal behavior consultant, I often hear from pet lovers complaining about hit-or-miss potty behavior—and subsequently, questions about how to remove pet stains, such as cat pee and dog poop, from carpet.

While dog smell isn’t always related to accidents (there are medical reasons why dogs smell bad), bathroom incidents are a top reason that pets lose their homes. Though we can always smell the nasty evidence of pet odor, you can’t always see the evidence of bathroom accidents, and even the best carpet cleaner can’t clean an unfindable stain. That’s why a pet urine detector UV flashlight can be so useful.

What does a UV flashlight do?

Pets have accidents—or sometimes mark on purpose—in unexpected places. It goes beyond the puppy being unable to make it out the door, meaning you’ll have to clean the carpet. Pet puddles and plops end up staining the furniture, too. Aside from the “solid” creativity you might easily find, your leg-lifting dog staining the bedspread or walls with urine won’t leave a neon dog pee mark.

But most biological fluids, including urine, contain phosphorus that naturally glows in the presence of oxygen. You can’t see the glow under normal light. But certain UV wavelengths of light, like the ones found in the UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector, make the glow easier to see. Once you’ve identified it, you can get that dog pee out of your carpet.

Is a UV flashlight the same as a black light?

Technically, yes—a black light flashlight is a type of UV flashlight, emitting UV light. Sometimes also called black light, UV light simply has a frequency higher than visible light.

What is the UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector?

This handheld device looks and works like a flashlight. Instead of a normal lightbulb, the pet urine detector, or black light urine detector, uses ultraviolet (UV) light that prompts certain fluids to glow under its illumination due to its high frequency.

Product Specs:

Light 7-ounce weight
51 individual UV lights
Lights last up to 15 years
1-year manufacturer warranty
Runs on 3xAA standard alkaline batteries (not included)
Dimensions 2.2 x 1.37 x 5.7 inches
4.5 volts, 5 watts, 395 UV wavelength

Pros:

Finds invisible stains on rugs, carpets, clothes, and other surfaces (including the car)
Also works on pests like scorpions or bedbugs
Economical $13 price
Pocket-sized for convenience
Lightweight design

Cons:

Does not work as well on cat urine, which requires a shorter wavelength of 365-385 to glow (cat owners should look for a cat urine black light detector)
Will not detect wet stains
Must hold flashlight relatively close to stain (24 inches)

How to Use the UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector

Lots of things glow under UV light, including carpet fuzz, bugs, and toys. Vacuum the area first so that you don’t get distracted (or horrified) by all the shiny detritus revealed.

Focus on dry urine. The UV light only creates a glow with dry urine. If it’s still damp, or you’re in a humid area so the carpet or other surface absorbs moisture, you won’t see the glow. Thankfully, you’re likely to notice an area that’s wet before you need the light—save it for when you can’t find the source of the smell.
Search in the dark. You’ll have the greatest contrast in a dark room, so get the best results by using it in the evening with the lights out. When there’s too much light, it dilutes the glow and makes stains hard to see.
Get up close. The UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector works best at a distance no further than 24 inches. Standing up and waving the light around may miss soiled areas, so invest in knee pads to crawl around (or get your kids to do the legwork). Try to find the exact locations of suspect odors to target the area. This light won’t work well on all urine stains as a cat urine detector, but getting up close will help improve the effectiveness.
Look for yellow. Lots of things glow under a black light (white, green, blue, even red) but look for the pale yellow color that a urine stain creates. Pet urine stains look different depending on whether the dog squatted or leg-lifted. Stains can look like a pooled puddle, drips, or splatters on the floor, furniture, or walls. Remember that bright white glow spots are more likely from carpet cleaners, spilled drinks, or even wallpaper glue.
Mark the dirty deed. Once you turn off the light, the spot disappears. So be sure to use tape, chalk, or even a sticky note to mark the stain so you can clean up the pet mess.

Why is the UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector viral?

Dog lovers tired of smelling but not seeing all the canine messes discovered they could find invisible urine stains using the UV Flashlight Pet Urine Detector. People delighted with the product have reviewed and shared success stories with other pet lovers.

The product continues to fly off the shelves and became a viral sensation with over 35,000 Amazon ratings averaging 4.4 stars. As of December 2021, this UV flashlight ranks number one in the category of Pet Urine Detectors, and number three in Handheld Flashlights.

Reviewers are obsessed with the flashlight for both its practical and fun applications. That makes it a great inexpensive gift for a wide range of people. Pet lovers find it useful, of course, but also kids who enjoy making toys or decorations shine in the dark. Even the “yuck” factor has a quirky novelty appeal, as illustrated by the reviews below.

The best Amazon user reviews

Verified Amazon purchaser Sheree says, “If you have pets and want to eliminate ‘bad habits,’ this is a must! I was skeptical at first. I had no idea that a blacklight would show urine stains…but have found all of the urine stains and have treated them.”

Verified customer Jean B. Carson writes, “This light is fantastic but it shows EVERYTHING! I thought my house was clean. Turn off the lights at night, shine this light, and be prepared to be shocked.”