Tackling Pet Odor Removal: How To Keep Your House Smelling Fresh

There’s no doubt that we love our pets. Having them by our side makes life a little bit better. But there’s just one problem. They can stink. Whether they had an accident in the house or had a day of playing in the dirt, our beloved fur babies can make our houses smell not-so-fresh. And pet odor removal doesn’t sound like the most fun task.

A smelly house with smelly pets can often be a deterrent to having guests over, or maybe you don’t even want to be around it yourself! Luckily, there are multiple ways to combat the faintest odors to the most powerful.

Follow the tips and tricks below, and you’ll have a clean, fresh-smelling household in no time. Pet odor removal is easier than you think.

Clean The Odor Source

When pets live in our houses, their dander, fur, dirt, and even traces of feces can be brought into the home. The first thing you’ll want to do is start with the basics.

• Vacuum. Start with vacuuming all surfaces of your home, including floors, carpets, baseboards, rugs, mats, furniture, underneath the furniture, cushions, and especially areas where your pet likes to hang out and spend time.
• Clean the carpets. After vacuuming your home, it’s best to do a deeper clean to remove odors that have really permeated into your carpets or rugs. There are two ways you can clean your carpets: dry or wet shampoo.
  • Dry shampoo: Sprinkle a powdered carpet cleaner of recently vacuumed carpet. Let the powder sit for about half an hour or as directed on the container. Vacuum once more to remove the cleaner and any dirt or smells from the carpet.
  • Wet shampoo: A wet shampoo will require a carpet cleaning machine which you can rent from many grocery stores. Using a liquid cleaner, you’ll use the machine to run the shampoo throughout the entire carpet. It’s best to let the wet carpet dry for about 24 hours. Once dry, re-vacuum.
• Spot clean. Any recent messes that are made should be quickly attended to and cleaned using an enzyme cleaner. Enzymes are wonderful at breaking down biological proteins in urine, feces, or vomit. Enzyme cleaners can be bought online or at your local pet store.
• Clean your furniture. Our pets love to jump up and hang out on our home furnishings. Unfortunately, this a very common place for pet odors to linger. Cleaning your furniture can help rid your home of stinky pet smells. Make sure to check your furniture’s care label to ensure that you’re cleaning it properly. Many are dry clean only.
• Wash your pet. Since your pets are the source of the stink, it’s extremely important to bathe them regularly. Make sure you’re using an animal-safe shampoo, and be careful to avoid getting water in your pet’s ears. Pay special attention to any areas where they might have gotten into something smelly, like their paws or bottom.
• Wash your pet’s bed. Your pet’s bed is another main source of pet odor. Many pet beds are machine washable and can easily be thrown into your washer and dryer. Some larger beds have a removable cover on them. Wash the cover and sprinkle baking soda on the bed before replacing the cover for odor protection.
• Wash your pet’s toys. This might be something that is often overlooked when it comes to pet odor removal. It’s extremely easy to throw fabric and rope-based toys into the washer and dryer. Hard toys can be wiped down in the sink using soapy water or other cleaning solution (more on this below.)
• Wash your bed. Washing your pet’s bed is a great pet odor removal technique. So it makes sense to clean your bed as well. If your pet is allowed on your bed, you should be washing your bed linens often. Add a quarter cup of vinegar to your wash for extra odor removal.
• Replace litter boxes. Regularly scooping your litter box will easily prevent nasty pet odors. However, litter boxes will require a deep cleaning now and then as well. Empty all the litter from the box and scrub with soap and water. Pour vinegar into the box and let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub and rinse. Once the box is dry, fill it with new litter.
• Clean the cage. Whether you own a rabbit, gerbil, ferret, or even use a dog crate — cleaning the cage or crate is crucial with pet odor removal. Empty all the contents, scrub the cage with soap and water (or other natural cleaners), and air dry.

Eliminate Odors In The House

Now that you’ve tackled cleaning the odor sources, how can you get rid of the lingering smell in the air? There are a few simple tricks that can help nip that odor in the bud.

• Let the breeze in. If the weather permits, open all the windows in your home. Letting a breeze flow through your home will help encourage the remaining pet odors to leave your house. During the colder months, leave one window open for a few minutes to help encourage airflow within your home.
• Use an air freshener. There are so many wonderful air freshening products out there that assist with pet odor removal. Products can include sprays, plug-ins, candles, and more. Be sure to check the labels and confirm that they are safe for animals to be around or any poisoning risks.
• Invest in an air purifier. The filters of an air purifier are perfect for trapping dander, fur, allergens, and dust in your home. Air purifiers are essentially making the air cleaner in your home. If you decide to use an air purifier, be diligent in replacing the filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

Prevention of Odors and Keeping Your House Odor-Free

Your house is fresh, clean, and free of pet odors. Now how can you keep it that way? With some consistency and routine, you can achieve an odor-free household at all times. Simple actions throughout your day and week are a great way to making pet odor removal problems a thing of the past.

• Get into a cleaning routine. Cleaning your home regularly and staying on top of new messes will ensure that your home smells fresh and free of odors. Here are some basic rules to follow:
  • Vacuum 2-3 times a week
  • Clean hardwoods every week
  • Dust every week
  • Do laundry consistently
  • Deep clean carpets every few months
• Clean up pet messes ASAP. The longer a pet’s mess sits, the harder it is to remove, and the more intensely the odor will seep into your floors, carpet, or furniture. As soon as you notice your pet’s mess, clean it up. Pick up the waste, blot the area and clean the area with an enzyme cleaner.
• Wash toys and pet beds regularly. As mentioned earlier, it’s an important step in pet odor removal to wash all of their toys. But it’s equally important to make this a part of your regular cleaning routine. Try and make it a habit to wash their toys and bedding at least once a week for odor prevention.
• Stay on top of grooming. Just like cleaning your home and their toys. keeping your pet washed and groomed is crucial in preventing pet odors in your home. Brushing your pet’s teeth a couple to a few times a week is also a great habit to start.
• Create paw wiping habits. Get in the habit of training your indoor/outdoor animal to stop and have their paws wiped after coming in from outside. This could take some time and patience, but it will reduce any substances from outside coming into your home. Keep a towel by your door for easy access.
• Keep an eye on the litter box. Scooping your litter box every single day should be a requirement in your household for a stink-free home. Do a deeper clean of the litter box every month.
• Use furniture covers. If you have pets allowed on your furniture, it might be wise to cover your couches and chairs in furniture covers. These covers are easy to remove and easy to wash. Just throw in the wash when you notice an odor, and you’re good to go! Easily washable fabrics like microfiber are also a good choice in a household with pets.

Homemade Cleaner Recipes For Pet Stain And Pet Odor Removal

Stain removers and odor removers can often be a bit costly to purchase or contain nasty chemicals that aren’t safe for your pet. We’ve compiled 3 cleansers that you can easily make at home.

Vinegar and Baking Soda Cleanser

Mix 2 cups of white distilled vinegar with 2 cups of water into a large bowl. Add 4 big tablespoons of baking soda but at them slowly as the mixture will fizz! Pour into a spray bottle and use it to treat recent pet messes. You can also choose to leave out the baking soda from the mixture and sprinkle it on the stain directly, followed by spritzing with the vinegar-water mix. Blot and rub until the stain has been removed.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda Cleanser

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain while mixing together ½ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Pour the hydrogen peroxide mixture over the baking soda. Gently scrub the area and let it sit for up to 15 minutes. Afterward, be sure to vacuum the area thoroughly.

Citrus Enzyme Cleaner

An enzyme cleaner is a must-have for all pet owners. With a little time, you can make your own!

Funnel 7 tablespoons of brown sugar into a container, add 1.5 cups of lemon and orange peels. Next, add a liter of water to the container, screw on the cap, and give it a good shake. Undo the cap halfway so it can release the natural gases that will occur. Leave the bottle alone for 3 months, and then? You have yourself a natural enzyme cleaner!