If you have ever wondered if your home smelled like a ‘dog’, I’m guessing you will welcome a couple of tips to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. With a couple of regularly cleaned areas and practices, your house will no longer smell like a dog or dogs live in it, and you can open your door and no longer wonder how it smells to the person on the other side. If you have more than one dog, there are a lot of areas in the home that could get smelly very quickly. With pets, keeping things fresh and cleaning is more manageable with frequent maintenance and cleaning.
Have a Blanket or Cushion for the Pet and Wash It Frequently
A designated area or areas where your pet sleeps will keep pet fur and oils off the furniture and keeps the smell contained to a washable area. Washing this cushion or blanket weekly as needed will keep the scent out of your home. If you have puppies, you can use old bath towels in their kennel. They can be quickly cleaned and dried, and even thrown away if necessary. When you buy a bed for your pet, look for one with a washable and removable cover. If it doesn’t have a detachable one, make sure the bed itself is cleanable. If you have any soft toys for your pet, throw them in the washing machine when you wash the bedding.
Brush and Bathe Frequently
Dog oils are the most important cause of “dog smell”, so it makes sense that bathing and brushing is the best way to keep odors to a minimum. Wiping feet when dogs come in from the yard can also keep dirt down. If your dogs are not into taking baths are home, we recommend having them bathed every month or two at the vet or boarding facility.
Use an Enzyme-Based Cleaner for Accidents
With pet accidents, it is essential to remove the scent of any accidents altogether, so they will not come back to it and mark the site again. The enzyme-based cleaner breaks down any smell and stains.
Use a Lint Roller
Keeping dog hair off the furniture with a lint roller is a simple way to keep the smell out of your home. Roll the fur right off the clothes and furniture and you will find that the smell will not linger the way it would if you had just left it.
Vacuum and Wash Floors Regularly
It is advisable to vacuum weekly but do sweep and vacuum up daily little messes as needed. It is also vital to wash the floors. Washing floors is also crucial. Tracking fur is helpful to keep the odor away. If you have a canister vacuum cleaner, empty the bin after each use to keep oils and odors from building up. If you have a bagged vacuum cleaner, change the bag regularly. If you are looking to purchase one, look for a vacuum with a HEPA filter – it is made for getting pet hair and dander off and out of your floors and carpets.
Shampoo Carpets Regularly
Clean rugs are the key to keeping dog odor out of your house. We recommend purchasing an at-home carpet shampooer or having a professional carpet cleaner shampoo your carpets every six months to one year.
Use a Natural Air Freshener
If all else fails, spray something in the air to fight the smell. We never recommend the use of artificial scents as air fresheners. The best air fresheners are oils and natural, soy-based candles. Eucalyptus and lavender are excellent choices for dogs – they are non toxic and calming to them.
Do you have a dog or dogs? What is your best tip for keeping your home smelling clean?