How to Keep Your Home from Smelling Like a Dog
Dogs can let loose a flurry of offensive odors inside the home. Even though homeowners love their canines like family, the dog smells inside a home must go. Keep the dog but eliminate the dog odors from your home with these handy tips. Your home will smell fresher and cleaner.
How are dog odors produced?
Dogs produce odors just like any other animals. Similar to humans sweating, dogs perspire, too. Dog perspiration is released through their fur and the bottoms of their feet. When the animals walk through the home or roll on the carpet, they track these smells throughout.
Skin issues, dental problems and ear infections can also cause dog odors. Infections, for instance, may be caused by odorous bacteria. Also, a lack of proper grooming can contribute to foul odors. Regular baths and brushing the coat can eliminate the offensive smells.
A dog’s diet might also be the culprit. Dog food contains plenty of grains, and grains produce starches and fatty acids. When the dog consumes these byproducts of grains, dry, flaky skin can erupt. Dry skin conditions host odor-causing bacteria.
Proper care can help wipe out those dog smells, but it will not completely eliminate them. Lingering odors may be due to a dog’s individual chemistry. But applying the following solutions can help neutralize the foul dog scents and maintain a cleaner-smelling home.
1. Vacuum
Vacuuming periodically is hardly enough. A home with a dog requires routine vacuuming, sweeping and mopping to clean up the hair, dirt and dander. Carpets, furniture, rugs, floors and curtains should be regularly vacuumed. Remember to change the vacuum filter often.
2. Steam Clean
While vacuuming removes dry dirt from carpet fibers, a steam clean is necessary to dislodge trapped odor particles. Once steam cleaning is complete, allow the carpet to dry before letting the dog back inside. Be aware that the change in carpet odor can trigger some dogs to mark their territory.
3. Sweep
Sweep gently to prevent kicking up dust and dander into the air. Place newspaper over the dust once it is emptied into the trashcan. The paper will prevent the dust from flying out of the trash. Mop hard surfaces after sweeping or use a pet-safe floor cleaner.
4. Launder Linens
Fabrics in the home can attract odors, so launder all machine washable items. Bed linens, throw pillows and couch cushion covers should be sent through the washing machine. Clothes, too, should be washed. Completely dry the fabrics before putting them back in place.
5. Deep Clean
Upholstered furniture should undergo a deep clean to eradicate offensive smells. Wash all removable covers and treat any stains with baking soda, which absorbs odors. Use a soft-bristled brush on furniture without removable covers to brush away dander and pet hair. Wipe with a damp cloth.
6. Wash the Pet Bed
A dog bed is a haven for dog hair, dirt, dander, urine and saliva. Quality dog beds are machine washable. If the core of the pet bed is stained or contains odors, wash the core. Coat the bed cover with a stain repellant to keep it cleaner in the future.
7. Neutralize Odors
A solution of vinegar and baking soda is the perfect room deodorizer. Spray the solution on fabrics, like drapes, carpets and the dog’s bed. When washing bedding, linens, towels and slipcovers, add a bit of apple cider vinegar to the detergent to further neutralize the smells.
8. Ventilate
Pet-related odors can be mitigated by airing out the home. When weather permits, open doors and windows to let in fresh outside air. Turn on the ceiling fans. Consider switching on the AC fan. Set up pet gates to keep the dog from running out of the open doors.
9. Change Air Filters
Although regularly changing the air filters will not directly reduce the dog odors, switching them out will facilitate efficient heating and cooling. Air flow is noticeably maximized with clean filters, and stagnant air will not have a chance to cause odor issues.
10. Use a Blacklight
Invest in a blacklight to help identify specific problem areas. Scan the carpets and lower walls. Pet urine will glow in a yellow or green color under the blacklight. A neutralizing agent, like baking soda or vinegar, can be applied directly onto those spots to eliminate the odor.
11. Paint
A blacklight can pinpoint urine stains along the lower walls and baseboards. Replacing the drywall is an expensive and time-consuming option. An equally effective alternative is to paint over the urine-stained walls with odor sealing paint designed for pet issues.
12. Set Up an Air Purifier
Air purifiers reduce odor issues. A high-quality air purifier will filter particulate matter, like pet dander and debris, as well as kill airborne bacteria and fungi. Of the countless options, try to choose an air purifier that is designed specifically to address pet odors.
13. Perfume the Home
Carpet cleaning services will be cheaper for you if you combine cleaning your carpet with other things in your home like upholstery and air ducts, for example.
Scented candles, potpourri, essential oil diffusers and fresh flowers can lend sweet smells to the home environment. Be sure to keep these items out of the dog’s reach. Or, spray a Febreeze product around the dog’s corner of the home to introduce a fresh, clean scent.
Carpet Cleaning Service
It’s inevitable that your dog will track dirt and grime into your carpet fibers. Your carpeting will benefit from a professional deep clean from a reputable residential carpet cleaning service experienced in carpet cleaning, odor removal and restoration.
Professional technicians start with a pre-treatment, followed by a deep clean using the hot water extraction method. They apply a stain solution to keep your carpets protected. Professional carpet cleaning services are convenient and can be completed within one day.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
