Dogs have a unique smell, especially when they are wet. This is why it’s important to keep your home fresh and free from pet odors. A dog’s scent can be sweet or unpleasant, depending on their diet, hygiene, and overall health. Regular grooming helps keep them clean and reduces bad smells. If your dog has a strong odor, they may need a bath or shampoo.
Each dog has its own scent, and some smells can linger in your home. Their diet, exercise, and surroundings all affect how they smell. To keep your home fresh, regular grooming, proper cleaning, and using an air purifier can help. Simple steps like bathing your dog every three weeks and keeping their space clean will make a big difference in controlling pet odors.
Personal Hygiene
Change your bedding frequently to help get rid of that dog smell. This will encourage your pet to urinate in an area where there is less odour, helping to eliminate the smell from your house and maintain a constant fresh smell, essential for less house-trained dogs. Keep dogs away from your favorite pillows and blankets to help ensure your house smells nice and free from dog hair and pet dander. Keep your house clean every day to help eliminate the smell of pet odors and reduce pet dander. These are the most important things that you can do to help decrease the dog odour, including using essential oils, steam-cleaning your carpets and upholstery, and opening the windows for fresh air.
Dog Hygiene
Keeping your dog clean is important for a fresh-smelling home. Trim their nails and groom them regularly to reduce odor and maintain a pet-friendly environment. Clean paws help prevent pet stains and keep dog beds fresh.
If you have a large-breed dog, consider using a dog crate for a quiet and comfortable sleeping space. A puppy pad in the crate can help prevent messes and stop your puppy from tracking poop inside. House soiling can cause bad smells, so proper training is key.
For older dogs, spaying or neutering may help reduce odor and keep your home pee stain-free. Male dogs tend to have less odor than female dogs, but some breeds naturally have a stronger smell.
If you have both a dog and a cat, keeping them in the same room can help balance their scents. If your dog tends to urinate or spray, a doggie door allows them to go outside as needed. This also helps prevent wet dog smell indoors after a bath.
To clean up pet accidents, always use an enzymatic cleaner to remove pee stains and eliminate odors. A good rule of thumb is if your floors or carpets are not visible, it’s time for a deep clean. Regular house cleaning ensures a fresh and odor-free home.
Get Rid of Carpeting
If you have carpeting, get rid of it if possible and replace it with hardwood flooring to make it easier to clean every day and eliminate the smell. If you do not want to replace carpeting, consider getting a mat for your dog’s bed (or crate) so that he can eliminate outside at least until their feet are dry, which can help reduce stains and odours. You may want to consider getting a large rug for the floor in the room where your dog spends most of his time to help eliminate the smell of pet odor.
If your dog tends to chew on things (like shoes), consider having him/her declawed. Sometimes, chewing is also a cause of smell in the house, especially if it involves pee accidents, which can significantly reduce pet-related odors. This can be especially helpful if your dog suffers from separation anxiety and starts to chew on things because he is missing you, as dogs don’t need additional stressors in their environment. Declawing involves removing all of the nails and the pads on the bottom of your cat’s paws; this procedure should be done only by a veterinarian who is experienced with this procedure, much like how grooming your dog should be done by a professional.
How to Get the Dog’s Smell Out of Your House
Eliminating Dog Odor with Air Fresheners
The easiest way to get rid of dog smell in your house is to use a good air freshener, especially if you clean everything regularly. There are several scents available, including those designed to neutralize wet dog smell and eliminate pet stains, making them ideal for a whole house approach. Air fresheners can be used in your home to get rid of dog smell.
Regular Cleaning: Vacuuming to Remove Dog Smell
You can also use a vacuum cleaner that has an upholstery attachment and take out the dust and pet hair from furniture, carpet, etc., which can significantly reduce allergens in the house.
Vinegar + Baking Soda: A Solution for Wet Dog Smell
Also, use vinegar and sprinkle baking soda to get rid of the dog smell and love dogs while keeping your house fresh. Use them only in small quantities because they are very strong smelling; this is particularly important when using pet products to ensure my house smells nice and free from stubborn dog odour. Use the vinegar and baking soda in combination with one another for the best results in eliminating odors from your home. You can also use a mixture of one cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of baking soda, and one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to effectively eliminate pet urine odors. Mix all these ingredients in a bowl to create a pet-safe solution that can help get my house smelling fresh. Spray the mixture over the places where you have had your dog to significantly reduce pet-related odors.
This will help to get rid of the dog odour as well as freshen up surfaces that have been used by dogs.
You could also try rinsing your carpets with a mixture of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 gallon of water to help get your house smelling nice.
Coffee Grounds for Absorbing Stinky Pet Odor
Another way to get rid of dog odour is by using coffee grounds or white vinegar, which can absorb smells, or by steam-cleaning your carpets and upholstery regularly for a constant fresh smell. Mix one cup of coffee grounds with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake it well before spraying it on your carpets or furniture where the odour is coming from; products like Febreeze or other pet products can help neutralize pet smells, aiding in eliminating dog odours. You can also spray the mixture on your carpet or furniture using a rag and then vacuum it up to get rid of the dog odour and eliminate the smell, following the same steps for best results.
Ammonia to Tackle Pee Smell in Your House
Use ammonia to remove pet odors from highly absorbent hardwood floors, such as parquet or wooden flooring. This helps get rid of the dog’s odour and significantly reduces pet-related smells. Spray the area with ammonia and let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up to help neutralize the wet dog smell and get my house smelling fresh, especially if the odor persists.
Dryer Sheets to Keep Your House Smelling Nice
Another way to get rid of dog odor is by using dryer sheets or white vinegar, which can help eliminate the smell in your home, especially when combined with baking soda and vinegar for effective odor removal. They are made of fabrics and carpets, which can trap odours and require regular cleaning to maintain freshness, especially in areas with pet beds. You can use them for other surfaces as well, such as rugs or furniture where there is pet odor on them, and consider using a mop with a pet-safe cleaning solution to get rid of the smell.
Also, read about the best way to remove dog odor from your home. Frito Feet—Why dogs smell like Frito feet, making my house smell like pets if not properly cared for, and how the Rover Q&A community suggests neutralizing the odor.
FAQs
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How do I stop my house from smelling like a dog?
Cleaning regularly can prevent your house from smelling like a dog. Vacuuming twice a week, washing pet bedding, and using baking soda on carpets and upholstery can help absorb odors.
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What causes a house to smell like a dog?
A house may smell like a dog due to pet dander, fur, and lingering odors on carpets and furniture. Using baking soda on carpets and regular cleaning can help minimize these smells.
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How do you deodorize an entire house?
To deodorize your entire house, ventilate it properly, clean surfaces, and use baking soda on carpets and upholstery to absorb odors. Regularly vacuuming twice a week and using air purifiers can also help.
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What is the best homemade pet odor eliminator?
A simple and effective homemade pet odor eliminator is baking soda on carpets and upholstery combined with white vinegar or a mixture of lemon juice and water. Let it sit for a while before vacuuming for the best results.
