It’s an issue all pet owners fight everyday… pet odors. Although you love them like family, pets often bring unwanted smells into your home. Are you constantly vacuuming your home, lighting scented candles, spraying febreze, bathing your pets? It seems like no matter what you do you can’t get rid of that smell. Learn how to keep your house fresh and pets odor free with these tried and true tips:
KNOW YOUR PETS’ FAVORITE HANGOUTS.
To cut down on cleaning time, know your pets’ favorite hangouts and target those areas first. Focusing on these higher pet traffic areas can help the mess {and odors!} from spreading to other areas of the house. Plus, if you’re short on time, even cleaning these few areas can go a long way in freshening up your home.
If your pet always likes to lie on a specific chair or a certain spot on your bed or sofa, consider putting down a blanket for them. When the spot starts to take on that pet smell, just switch out the blanket and toss it in the wash with the rest of your laundry. Quick and easy!
CLEAN PET MESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Pick up any solid waste first and throw it in the garbage.
Blot {don’t scrub!} the mess with a dry rag towel to absorb any excess moisture.
To help completely remove the odors and any remaining mess, lightly saturate the area with an enzyme cleaner. This will work to break down the proteins in any biological stain and provide a more effective cleaning. Be careful not to use too much cleaner, however, as it can be hard to remove the residue. It’s always better to add too little and repeat a second time than to oversaturate.
Let the cleaner sit for 30 minutes {or as directed on the packaging} and then blot the area again with a damp rag or cloth. I like to use a white rag so I can see when it starts to come up clean with the blotting.
Repeat the last 2 steps until the stain is completely gone.
VACUUM
Dirt, dander, fur balls, and other debris tracked in from outside can quickly build up around your home and start to create that “not-so-fresh” pet smell. Regular cleaning with your vacuum helps to pick up a lot of those pet messes and it can actually tackle a lot more than just flooring.
For a little extra freshness, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your vacuum filter.
USE AN AIR PURIFIER.
An air purifier will help to pull out dust, dander, and other household allergens from the air. Look for ones with a charcoal filter to further help eliminate those pet odors. Place your air purifier close to those areas that your pet tends to spend the most time or any areas of your home that are particularly troublesome {like a basement that’s harder to air out}.
CLEAN ALL OF YOUR PET’S ACCESSORIES.
Gather up any soft pet toys, blankets, and pet beds and throw them in the washing machine. Try to schedule a regular time to do this so it just becomes part of your regular washing routine {I like to do it once per month}. Check the labels for any special washing instructions and use the hottest water possible for extra disinfecting. For extra smell removal and to keep beds and blankets fluffy, add 1 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.
KEEP YOUR PETS NICE AND CLEAN
If you don’t want your stuff to smell like a stinky dog, then you might want to consider giving them a weekly bath—or more if they get dirty. Bathe pets with gentle, natural shampoos or use grooming sprays for a quick spritz in between bath times to keep them clean and fresh-smelling.
