October 5, 2016

Dog Odors Be Gone

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If you follow me on Instagram you know we recently adopted a puppy. This isn’t our first puppy or dog – my husband and I both grew up with dogs and we had two labs before our little Stella. Having a pet is a wonderful experience with lots of rewards and responsibilities.

If you’ve ever wondered if your home smelled like ‘dog’, I’m guessing you might welcome a couple tips to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. With a couple regularly cleaned areas and practices, your home won’t smell like a dog or dogs live there and you can open your door without wondering what it smells like to the person on the other side.

If you’re reading this and thinking that I’m not a ‘dog’ person, I love dogs, I just don’t like my home to smell like one 🙂

Have a cushion or blanket for the pet and wash it frequently

I like the idea of pets having specific areas that they sleep on. This keeps the pet oils and fur off furniture as well as keeping the smell contained to a washable area. Washing this cushion or blanket weekly or as needed will keep the scent out of your home. With a puppy, we use old bath towels in her kennel. They can quickly be washed and dried if needed and even tossed if necessary. When purchasing a bed for your pet, look for one that has a removable, washable cover. If it doesn’t have a removable cover, make sure that the bed itself is washable. If you have soft toys for your pet, toss them in the washing machine when you launder the bedding.

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Try this fabric sanitizer spray on pet bedding to keep it smelling yummy:

LAVENDER FABRIC SANITIZER SPRAY

If you need to sanitize/freshen a dog bed or your furniture, this spray will become a new favorite. Lavender essential oil is soothing and calming and considered safe for pets.

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil (not all essential oils are safe for pets – do your research before using essential oils around them)

Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray on fabric to freshen – let dry completely before using. If you are concerned about water on fabric, test in an inconspicuous area first. Feel free to use this spray on other fabrics as well 🙂

Fabric Sanitizer via Clean Mama

Shampoo carpets regularly

Clean carpets are the key to keeping that dog smell out of your home. I recommend purchasing an at-home carpet shampooer and having a professional carpet cleaner shampoo carpets every six months to one year. I love this carpet cleaner and I use this rug shampoo in it.

Brush and bathe frequently

Dog oils are the biggest contributors to that ‘dog smell’, so it makes sense that brushing and bathing would be the best way to keep the smell down to a minimum. Wiping feet when dogs come in from outside can also keep dirt down. In a pinch, these grooming wipes work well.

Use a lint roller

Keeping fur off furniture with a lint roller is an easy way to keep the smell out of your home. Roll fur off furniture and clothing right away and you’ll find that the smell won’t linger the way it would if you just left it.

Vacuum regularly

I vacuum weekly (on Wednesdays) but I do sweep and vacuum up daily little messes as needed. Keeping tabs on the fur is helpful to keep the smell away. If you have a canister vacuum cleaner, empty the bin after each vacuuming session to keep the oils and odors from accumulating and if you have a bagged vacuum cleaner, change the bag frequently. I always recommend purchasing the best vacuum cleaner that you can – look for one with a HEPA filter that’s made for getting pet hair and dander off and out of your floors and carpets. I recently purchased this vacuum cleaner and I am loving it! (I have been looking for a bagged vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and that’s why I switched. I’ll give you more details in an upcoming post.)

Use an enzymatic cleaner for accidents

With pet accidents it’s important to completely remove the scent of any accidents so they don’t come back to it and re-mark that area. An enzymatic cleaner will break down the stain and any scent – this one is my favorite – I make sure to always have it on hand. It works great for kid stains too 😉

Use a natural air freshener

When all else fails, spritz something in the air to combat that dog smell. I never recommend using artificial fragrances as air fresheners. My favorite choices for air freshening are essential oils (lemon and clove are my favorite scent combination) and natural, soy-based candles. Eucalyptus and lavender are good choices for dogs – soothing and non-toxic to them.

Do you have a dog or dogs? What’s your best tip for keeping your house smelling like you don’t have one?

Here are two posts that should help if you’re looking for natural air fresheners, sanitizers, and odor absorbers – just click on the image to head to each post:

One Ingredient Odor Absorbers - Clean Mama

3 Natural Odor Eliminators - DIY Recipes for Common Household Odors main via Clean Mama

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Cleaning, DIY Homemade Cleaners