Does your home have a kennel-like odor? If you weren’t looking, would you even know if it did? You’re probably accustomed to the dog’s odor and hence seek a second assessment from an olfactory expert to validate your concerns.
If the verdict is favorable, a thorough cleaning is required. When you and your sweetheart are snuggling in bed or on the couch, the aroma of the pooch pervading your furniture is less than pleasant.
Vacuum Up Hair + Dander
Those of us who have shedder dogs know how difficult it is to keep up with the hair and fur. While we all understand the importance of vacuuming the floor, the truth is that the floor is only the beginning. It is critical to vacuum up any pet hair and dander from any hidden areas. This includes the cushions on your couch, behind furniture, and in all the cracks and crevices around areas where your pet frequently congregates. Even if your pet sheds little, it’s critical not to neglect this procedure, since you will still have to deal with pet dander.
Wash + Dry
Additionally, it is critical to wash all items that your pet utilizes on a daily basis. This includes pet bed covers, furniture cushion covers (if they are machine washable), pet blankets, and, of course, sheets and linens (if your pet is allowed on your bed).
Clean Toys, Bowls, Collars + Leashes
When we consider the cleaning that we perform on a regular basis for our pets, we frequently overlook items such as toys, food bowls, collars, and even leashes. All of these objects can readily accumulate odor and bacteria, which is why it’s critical to wash and launder them on a regular basis.
Make sure to clean your pet’s favorite spots often, as smells will quickly build up there. Don’t forget to put the sun in your arsenal of home remedies: It will naturally get rid of smells, so put your pet’s things outside for a while after washing them.
Bathe Them Regularly
My dog despises bath time, and I mean despises it. However, in order to remain on top of things, I have a routine grooming session arranged with his groomer. If you bathe your pet at home, create a reminder on your phone or a recurring appointment on your calendar to ensure that you do not forget.
Give your carpet a clean
In a shaker jar, combine three cups of baking soda and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Sprinkle a little on your carpet and wait 30 minutes before vacuuming it up.
Clean the air and the clothes
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle of water and spritz the air. It also works well on curtains, throw pillows, and other fabrics in your home.
Hepa Filter
For people who suffer from allergies, a HEPA air filter may be beneficial in addressing any dander or pet odor issues head-on. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter that drives air through a small mesh to collect hazardous particles such as pet dander. You may purchase air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters, and some vacuum cleaners do as well.
Here are tried-and-true ways to clean your pet at home that don’t use harmful chemicals:
Vinegar
You can make your own cheap all-purpose cleaner with white vinegar and water instead of buying one that costs a lot. Even though it’s easy, this cleaner can be used on almost any surface, such as the floor in the kitchen or bathroom or on the carpet.
Since vinegar is acidic, it will kill the bacteria in the dog’s poop and take away the smell. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make your own all-purpose cleaner. Then spray the cleaner on the urine spot and leave it for 10 minutes. Then use a clean, dry cloth to clean it up. The only bad thing about this solution is that you might have to clean again if the urine smell is strong.
Hydrogen Peroxide
When your dog pees on your carpet or rug, you need a strong solution to get rid of the smell. This DIY stain and odor remover for carpets has the same ingredients as the DIY all-purpose cleaner above, but it also has hydrogen peroxide, which makes it even more effective.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make this home remedy for dog urine smell. Then, mix in about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Spray the cleaner on the urine spot and let it sit for about 15 minutes. The peroxide will clean the urine and get rid of the bad smell at the same time.
This is a good home remedy for carpets, but it may need to be done more than once to get rid of the smell of urine. Just keep in mind that you’re saving a lot of money because hiring a professional carpet cleaner isn’t cheap. So, if you need to, do it again!
Dish Soap Cleaner
Water and dish soap, as simple as it sounds, can do a lot to clean up dog pee stains and get rid of the smell. The water in this solution can help rehydrate urine that has been dried out or dilute urine that is still liquid. The dish soap will start to get rid of the bacteria that are making the smell so bad.
Mix 1–2 tablespoons of dish soap with half a bucket of warm water to make this home remedy. Then, use a sponge to rub the mixture into the urine spot. After you’ve cleaned the spot, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the soapy water and let the area dry. Use scented dish soap if you want to leave a pleasant scent behind.
Like most of these home remedies, you might have to do this more than once to completely get rid of the smell of pee. This do-it-yourself solution might not work well on things that are very dirty, like thick carpeting or soft furniture.
Baking Soda
You can make a powerful odor remover by mixing baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide. This will get rid of the strong smell of dog urine on furniture, carpets, rugs, and beds. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and 2 tablespoons of dish soap together to make this paste. Because the mixture will bubble up when you stir it, you should use a deep container.
When you mix the ingredients and the bubbles go away, you’ll have a paste. Put the paste on the urine spot and let it sit for about an hour. Then, take a clean, damp cloth and wipe away the paste. You will have to rinse your rag a few times to get all the paste off, but it will be worth it because the pee smell should be gone.
Apples
Use apples to soak up smells. This one is easy as far as home remedies go: Half an apple and put it in an area that smells bad (such as around a litter box). The apple halves can soak up smells for up to six hours. This is a great way to use up fruit that has been out too long.
These simple cleaning solutions for pets are easy to make, won’t hurt them, and work well on many stains. For really tough stains, you might want to try bleach, but keep in mind that bleach changes the color of things, so you have to be careful. You will find that these methods work very well for everyday cleaning. Don’t worry that your house will smell like vinegar; the smell will go away as the vinegar dries.
Frequently Asked Question
Why do our precious dogs smell so bad?
Your dog is very proud of how it smells. It’s how they show the world who they are. Think about their stinky hot dog breath and the saliva on everything from their toys and bed to your face and neck. Just like people, dogs get oily skin and waxy ear buildup. Did you know that their sweat comes out of their feet? There is a lot of dog smell to deal with there.
