Dogs are unaware of the kind of smell that they can leave to linger in the air within your home. Therefore, it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to get rid of the smell and prevent it from building up again.
Below, you can learn more about the top 7 ways to leave your home smelling fresher and free from dog odors.
Deep Clean
One of the main reasons why so many dog owners notice their home has a strong odor of pets is because the smells can seep deep within carpets and furniture where they can be more difficult to remove.
People who prevent their dogs from being able to go on the furniture will still have dog odors caught in their furniture. This is because your dog’s paws, saliva, and fur come into contact with lots of things around your home and the odors can get trapped in carpets and furniture more easily.
Start by stripping your carpets and furniture and vacuuming them before washing furniture and carpets with shampoo and using deodorizers to eliminate the odor.
We recommend removing cushion covers, linens, and clip covers before you begin dry vacuuming. Be sure to vacuum everywhere in your home to remove as many pet hairs and pet dander from causing odors to linger.
After you’ve thoroughly vacuumed, use a steam cleaner to give your carpets a deep clean. Some people like to hire professionals to steam clean their carpets, whereas others prefer to rent one and do it themselves.
Giving your home a thorough clean with a vacuum and steam cleaner regularly is highly effective at removing dog smells from being so prominent in your home.
Baking Soda
The above method is great to do once in a while, but it can be time-consuming and take a lot of effort. In between those deeper cleans, you can take steps to keep the odors of your dog at bay by utilizing baking soda.
Once all of your linens and covers have been added back to your furniture, sprinkle baking soda onto them. You can also sprinkle baking soda onto your couch and underneath cushions.
Baking soda works effectively to remove strong dog odors because it can absorb odors naturally. It’s a popular choice for eliminating strong odors because it absorbs them without leaving a strong fragrance. If you wanted to leave a pleasant scent when sprinkling baking soda, you can always add essential oils.
If your dog sleeps in your bedroom, be sure to sprinkle baking soda on the area where they usually stay once per day. Leave the baking soda to absorb the odors for 12 hours before using a vacuum to suck it up.
Another way that you can use baking soda to expel dog odors from your home is to open up a box of it and leave it around the area where your dog spends a lot of his/her time. If they have an accident and make a small mess, you can sprinkle the area with baking soda and wait for it to dry before vacuuming it up.
Air Purifiers
Using the best air purifier for pet odors can have a hugely positive effect on leaving your home smelling fresher and being free from dog odors. We recommend choosing an air purifier that has a true HEPA filter.
This is because true HEPA filters can capture 99.97% of pollutant particles, including pet dander and pet hair, that are as small as 0.3 microns. As a result, you can reduce the amount of pet hair and pet dander floating in the air and leading to odors.
In addition to this, an air purifier that also comes with an activated carbon filter would be great too. Activated carbon filters work to capture the odor-causing pollutant particles that are airborne in your home.
The combination of a true HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter can help to maintain the cleanliness of the air in your home and prevent you from having to deodorize it too often.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming your home regularly is incredibly important for preventing dog odors from building up and lingering. Dog owners should aim to vacuum their homes every week to get rid of as many dog smells as possible.
Depending on the number of dogs you have and how bad the smell can get, you may need to vacuum daily or once every couple of days.
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Dog owners are already aware that their pets had bad breath. The odors from their bad breath can spread around your home when they lick themselves and anything else in your home.
It’s recommended to brush your dog’s teeth regularly to make sure that they have better oral hygiene. You can also use dog treats that have cleaning properties that can freshen up your dog’s breath and prevent smells from spreading.
Drying Dog Fur
When it comes to bathing your pet, you’ll want to be sure that you dry them properly, otherwise, you run the risk of causing odors to become even stronger.
Dogs with wet fur are prone to gathering more bacteria that can lead to odors. Therefore, you must have a towel handy to properly dry your dog’s fur before they have the chance to shake.
You can also use a blow dryer on the cool setting for drying dogs who have especially long fur.
Once your dog has been dried, they’re less likely to catch bacteria that can cause odors.
Washing Dog Beds
Dog beds are often the area that has the strongest odors because it’s where your pet spends a lot of their time. As they’re sleeping, their beds can get covered in pet dander, hair, urine, saliva, and dirt from their paws.
Therefore, cleaning your dog’s bed regularly is incredibly important for alleviating their odors from accumulating in your home. The majority of dog beds are made with materials that can be easily machine washed.
So, you can simply remove the cover and throw it into the washing machine. It can then be left to air dry or be put through a dryer depending on the type of dog bed that you have.
If there are any stains on the dog bed or you want to prevent them from leaving permanent marks, you can use a stain repellent after washing it. This is a great way to prevent stains and leave the dog bed smelling better.
Conclusion
Taking pride in how your home smells and looking after your dog’s hygiene can go hand-in-hand. Hopefully, you’ve found the tips above useful in helping you to take practical steps towards eliminating odors that your dogs leave behind.