10 Pet Odor Removal Tactics that Work
There’s no doubt – you love your animals, just not their lingering scents. Use these pet odor removal tips to bring your home back to baseline.
The bacteria from urine, feces, and saliva causes most bad pet odors. Bad odors can also be caused by pets with skin conditions. Bacteria can transfer from your dog onto household surfaces, and when pet accidents aren’t dealt with fast, the associated smells can seep deep into flooring and upholstery.
The Number One Way to Get Rid of Pet Odors
The number one way to eliminate pet odors is with an enzymatic cleaner. These cleaners contain enzymes that eat bacteria. So rather than masking a smell, they destroy it at its source.
You can find enzymatic cleaners safe for all surface types – hardwood floors, sofas, bedding, and even laundry detergents with odor-destroying enzymes. These cleaners remove odors and stains – ideal if your house smells like a dog.
Some of the top products include:
- Rocco & Roxie Stain Odor Eliminator – Safe for carpet, furniture, hardwood floors, litter boxes, and more.
- Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost – Use this bio-enzymatic additive and your regular laundry detergent to power through pet odor.
To use an enzymatic cleaner, start by wiping away any saliva, urine, or feces. Then follow the direction on the bottle – for fabrics, this entails saturating the surface and allowing the cleaner to work for a specified time before wicking away the moisture. For hard surfaces, spray the area, wipe, and repeat.
Other Helpful Tips for Removing Bad Pet Smells
Boost your pet odor cleaning power by using these tips.
Clean Up Urine and Feces ASAP
When your pet does his business on the floor, clean it up as soon as possible. The longer urine or feces sits the better bacteria’s chance to settle.
Clean up the mess with a paper towel and then treat the area with an enzymatic cleaning spray, following the directions on the bottle. If you have cats who kick litter out of their box, use the same tactic.
It’s a good idea to, on occasion, use a black light in your home to see if there are any pet messes you may have missed.
Odor Neutralizer Plug-In
If one area of your home smells worse than the other, use an odor-neutralizing wall plug-in. These plug-ins can help absorb some of the bad odors.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a safe way to absorb bad odors, and you can use it anywhere. Sprinkle baking soda on the stinky furniture, carpet, or blankets. Let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.
Frequent Washing of Pet Bedding
Pet bedding is a significant source of odors for animals with frequent potty training accidents or skin conditions. Wash your pet bedding once per week (or as needed) using an enzymatic laundry additive.
Give Your Pet a Bath
If you have a dog and a bad smell comes from her coat, bathe her. Wash your animals anytime they emit a strong odor to keep it from spreading through your home.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Air purifiers help reduce allergens and bad odors from pets. They pull unwanted particles out of the air.
Vacuum A lot
Keep pet hair and accompanying odors from taking over your home by vacuuming every day. Look for a vacuum designed for pets. Also, vacuum the furniture your pet sits on.
Ventilate the House
When weather permits, open all the windows and ventilate the house. The fresh air will replace some of the stale air in your home, helping bad smells to dissipate.
When All Fails, Mask the Bad Smells
If you have company coming over and can’t eliminate the bad smells, try making them. Masking smells is a temporary solution, but needed when you’re in a pinch. Start by spraying fabrics with Febreeze or a similar fabric refresher. Then light a candle, bake some cookies, or boil a stovetop potpourri.