How to Free Your Home of Pet Odour
Love your pet to bits but not the smell she brings along? These useful ideas can help keep odours at bay
Have you ever been told that your house smells of dog or cat? While pets fill homes with joy and happiness, they also bring with them their own particular smell that can seem hard to get rid of. What’s important to note is that pet odour doesn’t only emanate from the dog or cat itself. As your furry friend gets comfortable at home, the walls, fabrics and even air get permeated with their smell. Therefore, while giving your pet regular baths helps, if you want to completely rid the home of all odours, you need to attend to other elements in the house, too. Here are some helpful tips.
2. Use air purification devices
Of course, the easiest and most recommended way to keep odours at bay is to keep the home well-ventilated. You can also consider air purifiers that remove indoor pollutants like dust, pet dander and smoke particles, and help keep the home smelling better. Alternatively, to specifically combat pet smells, you can purchase pet odour and stain remover products.
Here are seven ways to a dust-free home
Of course, the easiest and most recommended way to keep odours at bay is to keep the home well-ventilated. You can also consider air purifiers that remove indoor pollutants like dust, pet dander and smoke particles, and help keep the home smelling better. Alternatively, to specifically combat pet smells, you can purchase pet odour and stain remover products.
Here are seven ways to a dust-free home
3. Cover surfaces with pet-friendly fabrics
If your dog is in the habit of sitting on couches and beds, consider covering the furniture with microfibre throws. Microfibre traps dog hair and dirt, so it doesn’t penetrate deep inside the sofa and bed crevices, thus preventing one common cause of lingering dog smells.
Tip: A DIY solution to ridding all linens, blankets and cushion covers of odour is by washing them using 1 cup oxy-detergent and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar.
Wondering how to keep your sofa clean?
If your dog is in the habit of sitting on couches and beds, consider covering the furniture with microfibre throws. Microfibre traps dog hair and dirt, so it doesn’t penetrate deep inside the sofa and bed crevices, thus preventing one common cause of lingering dog smells.
Tip: A DIY solution to ridding all linens, blankets and cushion covers of odour is by washing them using 1 cup oxy-detergent and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar.
Wondering how to keep your sofa clean?
4. Keep the pet bowls hidden
Another contributing factor to the smell is pet food. Dog and cat food has a strong, unpleasant smell. While the water bowls can be kept out in the open, consider keeping her food bowls and food packets in a place that is either close to a window or inside a niche, a closed shelf or under a cabinet. Wash the food bowl thoroughly every time your pet is done eating. Also place a microfibre cloth under the bowl – dogs tend to spill food on the ground that later adds to the odour. Regularly wash this cloth too, along with the bowls.
Browse through these ideas on how to store pet bowls
Another contributing factor to the smell is pet food. Dog and cat food has a strong, unpleasant smell. While the water bowls can be kept out in the open, consider keeping her food bowls and food packets in a place that is either close to a window or inside a niche, a closed shelf or under a cabinet. Wash the food bowl thoroughly every time your pet is done eating. Also place a microfibre cloth under the bowl – dogs tend to spill food on the ground that later adds to the odour. Regularly wash this cloth too, along with the bowls.
Browse through these ideas on how to store pet bowls
5. Vacuum and wash everything (well, pretty much)
This is gospel for all pet parents – vacuuming the house every week is essential. Look under sofas, move carpets, vacuum behind tight spots, clean the walls with a damp cloth and dust everything. Also, make it a habit to put their beds and toys in the washing machine at least once a month.
Tip: Apart from vacuuming your home, consider vacuuming your pets too. You can find pet grooming-cum-vacuum cleaners that deep-clean their fur, pull out loose hair, dust or muck sticking to their bodies.
This is gospel for all pet parents – vacuuming the house every week is essential. Look under sofas, move carpets, vacuum behind tight spots, clean the walls with a damp cloth and dust everything. Also, make it a habit to put their beds and toys in the washing machine at least once a month.
Tip: Apart from vacuuming your home, consider vacuuming your pets too. You can find pet grooming-cum-vacuum cleaners that deep-clean their fur, pull out loose hair, dust or muck sticking to their bodies.
6. Get air-purifying plants
NASA conducted a clean air study on houseplants that help purify the air. In the findings, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), peace lily (Spathiphyllum), variegated snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), florist’s chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea) and English ivy (Hedera helix) were among the many that remove harmful compounds in the air. One can hazard a guess they probably help even keep pet odours away – most of us know from our own experience they certainly freshen the air!
Read more:
10 Ways To Make Your Home Pet Ready
Tell us:
Do you have pets at home? How do you keep your home smelling fresh and clean? Tell us in Comments below.
NASA conducted a clean air study on houseplants that help purify the air. In the findings, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), peace lily (Spathiphyllum), variegated snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), florist’s chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea) and English ivy (Hedera helix) were among the many that remove harmful compounds in the air. One can hazard a guess they probably help even keep pet odours away – most of us know from our own experience they certainly freshen the air!
Read more:
10 Ways To Make Your Home Pet Ready
Tell us:
Do you have pets at home? How do you keep your home smelling fresh and clean? Tell us in Comments below.
When they go for walks, pets collect dust and muck on their paws and coat, which is eventually shed in the house – on the floors, couches and beds. Keep an absorbent door mat and towel by the door and wipe off your dog’s paws and ears before she enters, thereby minimising what she brings in.