How to Eliminate Pet Odors in Your Home

Vacuum. Your pets may leave behind odors as they roam around the house. The smell often originates from their fur, skin flakes, dirt, and traces of waste. To eliminate these sources, you must vacuum the entire house. Use the appropriate attachments if needed and make sure to vacuum areas such as:

• Floors
• Baseboards
• Carpets and rugs
• Furniture
• Underneath furniture
• Mattresses
• Areas where your pets frequently hang out

Clean old pet stains using enzyme cleaners. Undetected or improperly cleaned stains are often the culprits behind unpleasant odors in the house. If there’s an area recently soiled by your pet, spray enzyme cleaner on the spot. Wait for about 30 minutes, then blot it dry with a clean cloth. You’ll notice the unpleasant smell will disappear.

• Enzyme cleaners are most effective as they break down proteins found in urine, feces, vomit, and other biological stains.

Clean the carpet. While cleaning individual stains helps remove odors from specific spots, other smells might linger in various areas of the carpet. To tackle pervasive smells throughout the house, cleaning the entire carpet is necessary. It can be time-consuming, but the fresh scent of a well-cleaned home will be well worth the effort. You can use either a dry powder or soapy water to clean your carpet:

• For dry cleaning, sprinkle the powder across the whole carpet and leave it for at least 30 minutes. Then, vacuum up the powder, dirt, and odors.
• Try using a carpet cleaning detergent. Pour water and liquid soap into the soap compartment of a wet vacuum cleaner, press the trigger, and vacuum the carpet. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before vacuuming again.

Clean the furniture. Pet odors also tend to linger in furniture. A couch that’s your cat’s favorite resting spot can harbor all kinds of unpleasant smells. Each piece of furniture may require a different cleaning method, but always check the label to ensure it doesn’t need dry cleaning. An ‘S’ label means no water washing is allowed, while ‘X’ indicates only dry cleaning.

• For upholstered items like couches, mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap and stir to create foam. Use a soft brush to scrub the foam across the surface of the item. Wipe with a damp cloth and air dry.
• For leather or faux leather, mix a solution of vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Dampen a cloth with the mixture, wring it out until slightly moist, then wipe down the leather surface to remove any lingering odors.

Bath your pet. Pets love to play and, naturally, get dirty in the process. Regular baths for dogs and ferrets are a good idea, and some other pets may occasionally need a bath too. Place your pet (and their favorite toys, if any) into the bathtub, basin, or a bucket. Use a shower head or ladle to wet their fur, apply soap to their coat, and lather thoroughly. Rinse well to remove all soap, and use a towel to dry them off. After the bath, your pet will not only smell fresh but also look neat and tidy.

• When bathing your pet, pay special attention to their paws and rear area, which are often the dirtiest from rolling around in mud.
• Be cautious when bathing your pet. Avoid getting water or soap in their eyes, face, or ears. Soap in the eyes can sting, and it may cause ear infections if it enters the ears.

Wash your pet's bed. This comfortable resting place can often hold the most persistent pet smells. Fortunately, most pet beds are machine washable on a normal cycle with warm or hot water. Tumble dry them afterward.

• Large pet beds usually have removable covers that can be washed in the machine. Sprinkle baking soda on the interior to eliminate odors. Use a vacuum to clean the baking soda out, then replace the clean cover. Your pet will enjoy a fresh, clean bed once again.

Wash the bedding on the pet owner's bed. It’s lovely to cuddle with your pet on the bed, but it’s important to wash the bedding regularly and thoroughly as your pet’s scent will linger on the sheets. Remove the pillowcases, bed linens, and blankets, and put them in the washing machine. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) of vinegar to the wash to enhance odor removal. Dry the items by air or in the dryer.

• While washing the bedding, sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress. Be sure to vacuum up the baking soda before re-making the bed.

Wash your pet's toys and accessories. Your pet is likely lucky enough to have plenty of favorite toys and accessories. However, if not cleaned and left scattered around, these items can develop an unpleasant smell. Wash fabric toys, towels, collars, and leashes in the washing machine, and dry them in the dryer. Clean food bowls, hard toys, and rubber playthings in a sink with hot water and soap.

Change your pet's litter. It’s no surprise that a dirty litter box smells. Dump the old litter into a trash bag, then scrub the box with soap and water. To remove stains and odors, pour a bit of vinegar into the box and soak for about 30 minutes. Scrub the box with a brush, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry.

• Once the box is dry, add fresh litter and sprinkle a little baking soda in to help control odors.

Clean your pet's cage. If you have guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, rabbits, or other small pets that live in cages, their cages can make your home smell unpleasant. Take your pet to a safe area, such as another cage, and clean the current cage as follows:

• Remove everything from the cage and dispose of the bedding
• Wash toys and food bowls
• Scrub the bottom of the cage with soap and water
• Allow it to air dry
• Place fresh bedding inside the cage
• Return the toys and bowls to the cage
• Put your pet back in the cage

Open the windows. To clear out unpleasant odors from a room, nothing beats fresh, cool air coming in. During spring, summer, and fall, open your windows to let the fresh air flow through one window and push the stale air out of another.

• In colder seasons, open only one window at a time, and limit it to just a few minutes to allow the air to escape from the room.

Use an air purifier. You can filter pet hair, dander, and other odor-causing particles with an air purifier that has a HEPA filter. If you suffer from allergies, this is a double benefit, as these filters also help reduce dust and other allergens in the air.

• Be sure to replace the filter in your air purifier every few months or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Use deodorizing sprays. There are various deodorizing products that can eliminate pet odors. You can either purchase a ready-made spray or mix your own. Two common ingredients to use are baking soda and vinegar, which you can spray around the house, on carpets, beds, and any place that needs odor removal. Here's how you can make a deodorizing spray:

• Pour vinegar into a spray bottle, add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lemon, lavender, or vanilla, and spray it around the house.
• Mix ¼ cup (55 g) of baking soda into a spray bottle, fill with water, shake well, and spray freely.

Create a fresh atmosphere in your room. Whether or not your house has a lingering pet odor, air fresheners always bring a pleasant fragrance to your home. You can choose to buy a commercial product or make your own. There are countless options, from warm vanilla to refreshing citrus scents. When choosing a commercial air freshener, whether it’s a spray, gel, or automatic diffuser, be sure that the product is pet-safe. You can spray it around the house for a delightful scent.

• You can also create your own air freshener by boiling water with orange peels and your favorite herbs. Let it simmer on the stove and fill your home with a wonderful fragrance.

Establish a regular cleaning routine. Cleaning can be a labor-intensive task, but the best way to prevent pet odors from lingering in your home is by cleaning frequently and handling any messes right away. A cleaning routine includes vacuuming, mopping, washing laundry, and dusting. For the best results, follow these steps:

• Vacuum three times a week
• Mop hard floors with a vinegar and water solution
• Dust weekly
• Laundry should be done as soon as the load is full
• Clean carpets every two months

Clean up pet messes immediately. Don't delay cleaning when your pet makes a mess. Try to act as quickly as possible to prevent odors from lingering. Clean solid waste and dispose of it in the trash. Blot the stain to absorb moisture. Spray an enzyme cleaner on the affected area, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then blot again and let it dry.

• Urine, feces, and vomit can leave very unpleasant odors, so prioritize cleaning these to avoid bad smells.

Wash your pet's toys, bedding, and accessories regularly. Pet odors accumulate over time, so it's important to clean and wash your pet’s belongings. Wash pet bedding, fabric toys, leashes, and collars in the washing machine monthly. For hard toys, clean them in the sink with soap and water each month. Pay special attention to the water bowls – these should be washed with soap weekly.

Groom your pet. A pet that is properly groomed not only smells fresh but also looks great. You should regularly bathe, trim nails, and brush your pet’s teeth. Maintaining a good grooming routine can significantly improve the air quality in your home, as dirty fur, nails, or even bad breath can cause unpleasant smells.

• Brush your pet’s fur daily to remove dirt and hair.
• Brush your pet’s teeth at least three times a week to maintain oral health and fresh breath.
• Bathe your dog at least once a month. Dogs with thicker coats or stronger odors may need more frequent baths.

Wipe your pet’s paws when they come indoors. Pets love to explore, which is fun for them, but it also means that all sorts of outdoor odors can be tracked into your home. To prevent this, place a towel by the door and make sure to wipe your pet’s paws whenever they come inside. This is especially important on rainy or muddy days, or if your pet gets dirty from rolling around outside.

Cover furniture with washable materials. Your pet is probably quite proud to claim the armchair or a specific spot on the couch as its own. These special places, or anywhere your pet likes to rest, should be cleaned regularly to prevent odors. If your pet often lounges on your furniture, it’s a good idea to get washable covers to protect your items. That way, you won’t have to spend time vacuuming and scrubbing; you can simply toss these covers into the washing machine for a quick clean.

• Alternatively, you could opt for easy-to-clean furniture, like a couch or mattress with a microfiber fabric cover—this material resists odors and stains better than thicker woven fabrics.

Keep your pet's litter box clean. Scoop your pet's waste daily! This helps prevent unpleasant smells from feces and urine. You should also replace the litter on a monthly basis.