Even though you love your animals, pet ownership comes with
unique challenges such as keeping your home smelling fresh and clean. If your
house is starting to smell like dog, use these tips to get rid of the odor.
Grooming your dog- Grooming your pet regularly is one of the
best ways to get the smell out. Brush your dog with a brush that works well for
his breed—ask your vet for a recommendation. Brushing will remove excess hair
and spread your dog’s skin oils throughout the coat, cutting down on shedding.
Bathing your dog can also help tremendously, but don’t overdo it—too frequent
bathing can actually dry out your pet’s skin and cause health problems.
Vacuuming- Vacuum your floors and furniture regularly to get
the hair, pet dander, and other detritus that brushing misses. There are
vacuums available today that are made specifically to pick up pet hair. You can
also try sprinkling your carpets and furniture with a bit of baking soda,
letting it sit on the surfaces for a few minutes, before vacuuming it up. This
can help neutralize odors as well.
Thoroughly cleaning your carpets and furniture- Every once
in a while, shampoo your carpets and wash your couch cushions for a nice deep
clean. Research deep-cleaning machines that let you shampoo only a small
portion of carpet at a time. Some are even designed to remove pet odors. Also
toss your dog’s bedding in the wash every once in a while. It will remove the
dirt that naturally collects on it and keep it smelling fresh.
Odor Neutralizing Products- You can try air freshening
products to spray around your home—these might freshen things up, but remember
that they only mask the odor instead of eliminating it. Try odor-neutralizing products
made specifically to get rid of pet odors.
Keep your home smelling fresh and clean with these tips!