What to do when your house smells like dog

There are plenty of wonderful benefits to having a dog companion – but an unpleasant odor isn’t one of them! If you’ve noticed an unmistakable smell of dog, or if friends have started to avoid breathing through their nose at your house, it might be time to take action.

Fortunately, fighting a dog odor isn’t difficult. In this article, I’ll take you through eight ways you can eliminate doggy smells.

But before I get to the tips, here’s an important disclaimer: please make sure any products you use are dog-friendly. Many chemicals that are fine for humans can harm your pet, so don’t use any products unless you’re sure they are safe.

With that out of the way, let’s get rid of that nasty dog aroma!

1. Clean Your Dog’s Bed Once a Week

The first tip is also the simplest – wash your dog’s bed at least once a week. The fabric retains odors, so your house will never smell fresh if you don’t wash it often.

If your dog bed has a removable cover, machine-wash the cover and use a pet vacuum on the cushion. For stubborn odors, or beds without a cover, you may want to leave baking soda on the cushion overnight.

2. Vacuum All Furniture

Many of us love to snuggle with our pets on the sofa, but this means nowhere is safe from that “doggy” smell. If your dog sleeps on furniture, it should be cleaned as often as a dog bed.

In fact, one of the fastest ways to eliminate a dog odor is to take apart all your furniture and give it a thorough clean. Start by removing all covers and washing them on a high heat to kill bacteria. Then vacuum all cushions, sofas, mattresses and other furniture. Don’t forget to clean under furniture too.

3. Get Your Dog Regularly Groomed

Having your dog bathed and groomed isn’t going to get rid of a pet smell forever – but it can help reduce it. A thorough bath removes dead skin cells and gets rid of bacteria, so your dog is more hygienic and less smelly. Grooming is also vital for a dog’s health.

It’s important not to wash your dog too often though, as this can dry out skin. For most breeds, a monthly clean with a professional groomer is more than enough to notice a reduced aroma.

4. Buy an Air Purifier

An air purifier with a carbon filter can reduce odors. Buying one doesn’t mean you can ignore the other tips on this list, but a purifier is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make your home smell fresher.

While air purifiers are one of the best “hands off” ways to reduce an odor, it’s important to regularly clean the filter. Filters can become clogged with pet hair which reduces the purifier’s effectiveness.

5. Deodorize Carpets and Beds with Natural Products

One of the cheapest ways to deodorize your carpets or beds is with baking soda. Simply sprinkle it over fabric or carpet fibers and allow it to work its magic overnight. In the morning, vacuum it up and enjoy your fresh-smelling carpets. This isn’t as effective as a professional carpet clean, but does a great job considering how little it costs.

A similar trick can also be used for cushion covers and blankets. Washing them in a mixture of laundry powder and apple cider vinegar can remove odors without spending a fortune on expensive products.

6. Use a HEPA Vacuum with a Charcoal Filter

Have you ever noticed that a dog odor gets worse after vacuuming? If so, your vacuum may not be filtering the air effectively.

Most vacuums come with a standard filter that works in a similar way to a sieve. These remove larger dust particles, but smaller particles pass through the gaps.

HEPA vacuums, on the other hand, use a complex network of glass fibres to trap dirt and dust. This makes them more effective at preventing particles escaping. While HEPA filters don’t eliminate odors directly, they can prevent the spread of bacteria and pet dander around the home.

If you really want to reduce odours when cleaning, some vacuums also come with a charcoal filter. These absorb odors and prevent your home smelling like a kennel.

7. Buy an Odor-Resistant Dog Bed

Your dog probably spends a lot of time on a bed, so it can be one of the smelliest items in the house. While washing can help, a better alternative might be to buy a bed with anti-microbial properties. These prevent bacteria from breeding which can reduce odors – at a cost.

8. Remove Carpets

The final tip also is the most extreme, but can be effective at reducing dog odors. Carpet fibers trap pet dander, mud, dirt, vomit and feces, making them difficult to clean. They also retain odors, so your house smells even when you’ve thoroughly cleaned. Replacing carpets with hard floors instantly solves this problem.

As a bonus, removing carpets can relieve dust or pet allergies. Allergens become trapped in fibers and are released as people walk on the carpet. Removing carpets, especially in a bedroom, can greatly reduce symptoms.

About the author:
James Hall is head writer and editor of SpotlessVacuum.co.uk. Away from writing, James has always had a passion for dogs and loves hiking with his Golden Retrievers.

Dog smells stink. Worse, some of these temporarily unpleasant odors can seep into your furniture, carpet and flooring, resulting in long-term issues.

Sometimes it can be tough to notice these smells in your home if you’ve gotten used to them. But your guests will, and so will potential buyers if you decide to sell your home.

By nature, dogs can be messy creatures. They play outside and sometimes have accidents in the house, especially as puppies. Learning easy, DIY ways to eliminate these odors can help keep your home smelling fresh. Here’s everything you need to know about dog smells and how experts recommend eliminating them.

Why Is Dog Smell So Hard To Get Rid Of?

“Dog smells are hard to get rid of because there are a lot of causes behind them,” says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian. “Oils in the skin, known as sebum, can emit an odor. Some dogs make excessive amounts of sebum and it gets onto everything in your house.”

Bonk says these oils and other things, like dog dandruff, are often difficult to remove from certain fabrics and carpets. “Bacteria and yeast that are normally present on your dog’s skin and in their ears can cause odor,” she says. “Dogs also have an innate desire to mark everything with their scent. Some dogs will urinate on anything to claim it as their own.”

Luckily, professional cleaning expert Bruce Vance of Town & Country Cleaning Services says dog smells are much easier to eliminate than cat smells, although dog owners often clean larger areas. “Dogs can release a lot of urine, and the spot on the carpet may be much smaller than the area in the carpet backing and pad where the urine has spread out,” he says.

Don’t worry, though! There are remedies for all types of dog smells. Here are five tricks to try.

Steam your carpet

Carpet steaming is one of the best solutions for dog smell, Vance says. Various handheld carpet steamers on the market, like the Bissell Little Green ProHeat Corded Handheld Deep Cleaner, combine warm water, cleaning solution and suction power to pull out dog smells lodged deep in carpet fibers.

To use a handheld carpet steamer, fill it with warm water and solution (if applicable) and run it over the affected area. Some carpet steamers require a cleaning product, while others only use water. You can also make a cleaning solution yourself by mixing a few tablespoons of dishwasher liquid with hot water.

Make sure your carpet is completely dry, roughly an hour or two cleaning, before determining if it needs a second pass.

Sweep and mop with vinegar solution

For wood or other hard-surface floors, Bonk recommends a good sweep, followed by mopping with a vinegar solution. White vinegar acts as a deodorizer, neutralizing new and lingering smells. Here’s a step-by-step guide for this simple dog smell elimination technique.

• Sweep the floors with a broom, cleaning the area as much as possible.

• Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle or bucket.

• Spray or lightly pour the solution on your floors, distributing it evenly with a mop.

• Mop away any excess solution and let dry.

Sprinkle baking soda

Baking soda reacts with acidic smells, such as from dog urine, making it a great neutralizer for new or old odors. It can be especially useful on upholstery.

To counteract dog smell, Bonk swears by baking soda. “Sprinkle baking soda onto fabrics that can’t be washed, then let it set overnight,” she says. The following morning, wipe away excess baking soda with a wet cloth or paper towel. You can also vacuum it up depending on where it’s sprinkled, like on carpet.

If smelly fabrics or furniture coverings are machine washable, Bonk advises washing them at least once a week or every other week.

You can also consider purchasing washable dog beds or dog beds with washable covers. Bonk says FurHaven Plush & Velvet Orthopedic Comfy Couch Dog & Cat Bed are a great option for keeping smells at bay.

Regularly bathe your dog

“In order to remove the dog smell from your home, you’ll want to bathe your dog frequently with a mild shampoo,” Bonk explains. “It’s very important that your dog gets 100 percent dry after baths because moisture is a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria and yeast.”

Monthly bathing would be ideal. Try Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo or a similar product that works for your dog’s individual needs from any pet store or online retailer.

Still Can’t Get Rid of Dog Smell?

If none of these solutions solve your dog smell problem, consider hiring a professional cleaning or floor care company. “Just removing the surface spot may not fix the problem,” Vance says. “In extreme cases, it may require removing the carpet and pad, allowing the subfloor to dry and then sealing the floor with a lacquer sealant.”

No matter what you try, steer clear of plain water. Bonk says water activates dog smells that come from skin and oils in particular. “Attempts to clean up odor with water can actually make it worse,” Bonk says.

Originally Published: January 19, 2022