Dogs are considered as part of the family but let’s be honest – sometimes, they can be very smelly family members. And along with the unconditional love and loyalty there comes the responsibility to take actions against pet odor in your house.
This task can be quite challenging but we got you covered with 12 hacks for removing dog smell from your house. Choose the best options which suit your needs in order to achieve pet-odor-free home.
1. Thoroughly mop the hard floors
The first step in eliminating the dog smell out of your house is to sweep all debris left by your canine friend. This may include hair, dander, and dirt brought from outside on its paws.
Since the debris is very lightweight you need to handle it carefully. Otherwise, these particles will end up in the air and land on higher surfaces around your home.
- Sweep the debris gently and collect it with a dustpan so you can easily throw it away in the trash can.
- Cover the hair and dust in the trash can with a piece of paper so it won’t be blown out when you open the can later.
- When you are done with sweeping, clean your floors with a mop to ensure that you get rid of all dust and pet hair that you might have missed previously.
- Make your home as dog-friendly as possible to ease both your life and of your canine. In case of excessive itch, consider the use of an anti-itch shampoo.
Usually, it’s hot weather makes things worse for pets.
2. Do proper vacuuming
Once you’ve cleaned the hard floors such as tile, wood or linoleum, you have to continue with the carpets and rugs. They can easily hold a huge amount of dust, pet hair and dander without you even realizing it.
In this task, the vacuum cleaner is your best comrade. Use it not only for the carpet floors but for your furniture and curtains as well. Always remember to empty the canister (if applicable) after vacuuming and clean the air filters regularly.
Read more about how to keep your home clean with dogs
Have in mind that there are special vacuum cleaners for pet owners which might help you even more in the battle against dog smell.
3. Use the power of steam and deep clean your carpets
Sometimes vacuuming your carpets is not enough because the bad smell might be left in the fibers. Therefore, you can turn to steam cleaning services or do it by yourself if you own a steam cleaner.
If you hire a company for the task, ask them in advance if they use dog-friendly chemicals. Also, take your dog out of the premises that are being cleaned and make sure to let it back inside once the carpets are completely dry.
4. Properly wash your bed sheets, throw pillows and other linens
Unfortunately, pet odors can be trapped in almost every fabric around the house. So you need to machine wash your linens regularly. This may include (but is not limited to) the following:
- Pillow cases
- Couch cushion covers
- Bed sheets
- Throw pillows
- Blankets
- Towels
Basically, everything that can be machine-washed should be cleaned on a regular basis to eliminate pet odor. Make sure to put the items on their places after they have dried completely.
We should also mention that your clothes can also trap the dog smell especially if you often hug your furry friend. So washing your clothes frequently should also be a step in your cleaning routine.
Note: Follow a schedule on how often you should bath your dog. The best way to hygiene is a dog well taken care of.
5. Machine wash the bed of your dog
We can bet that the smelliest thing in your house is your dog’s bed. And no wonder, since your pet spends a lot of time in it and releases most of its hair, dander, urine, and saliva there.
- Separate the cover from the core and machine wash it. You should read the label instructions because some dog bed covers can be machine dried and the rest have to be air dried.
- Check the core of the bed for any stains or bad smell. If it needs cleaning too, make sure that it can be washed. If not, neurontinbio then you will have to replace it with a new one.
- When you put the bed together you can try this simple trick – spray the cover with a stain repellant.
We may never know why a dog pees on your bed but this will help you with reducing the dog smell altogether.
6. Ventilate your home often
Letting fresh air in your property is essential when you want to get rid of dog smell.
- Begin with an opening as many doors and windows as possible.
- Next, turn on any fans you have in the house, including the central AC (turn off the cooling or heating option and just use the fan option).
- Keep an eye on your dog and maybe use a pet gate so it won’t run out through an open door.
7. Replace the air filters in your house
Spare some time to change the air filters of your heating and cooling systems to ensure the proper airflow around your house.
Take out the old filters carefully to avoid spreading the accumulated dust. Put them in a bag and bring them to your local hardware store to find the right replacement. Or another option is to purchase new filters in bulk so you can save some money and time.
8. Get an air purifier
An air purifier can clean some of the debris and dander from the air inside your property thus reducing some of the dog smell. You can find a variety of air purifiers on the market but make sure to choose one which is specifically created for assistance with pet odors.
There are also high-quality air purifiers which can eliminate fungi and bacteria in the air as well. This will result in a nicer smell along with better health for you and your family or flatmates.
9. Locate and repair point-source issues
If the previous steps haven’t helped in getting rid of the dog smell, then the reason for the pet odor have to be identified specifically. It might be an old pee stain in a hard-to-reach place.
Look thoroughly through your home, find the source of the bad smell and treat it with an odor-eliminating product. Below you can find an easy recipe for a DIY odor neutralizer:
- Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 cups of white vinegar.
- Put the ingredients in a clean spray bottle.
- Add water to fill the whole bottle up.
Spray the neutralizer on the problematic area, let it rest for a while and then remove it with a clean cloth.
10. Investigate with black light
Sometimes treating a stain might not be enough to get rid of the pet odor. So you can pretend to be one of the actors from CSI and investigate your home with the black light to locate any leftover saliva, urine or other dog body fluids. They glow in the dark with a pale yellow or green light and you will know where to scrub more.
Also, try to scan the bottom part of your furniture as well as the lower parts of your walls. There might be some hardly-visible stains.
Have in mind that you may notice other glowing spots such as spilled drinks or cleaning solutions residue. They will glow brightly under the black light.
11. Invest in odor-sealing paint to get rid of stubborn wall stains
It’s possible that you will find dog urine spots on your wall which may be the reason for the bad smell in your home. If this is the case you have 2 options:
- Replace the problematic area of the drywall with a new one.
- Repaint the affected area with odor-sealing paint primer.
The second option can also be used for urine smell issues on wooden furniture or hardwood floors.
12. Use odor-neutralizing products
These type of products won’t help you eliminate a serious odor problem, but they are suitable for minor dog smell. You can use them to keep your home fresh when you are expecting visitors or in between house cleanings.
Another idea is to use scented candles or potpourri baskets. Just make sure that whatever product you choose it is pet-friendly and also out of the reach of your dog.