Having a dog can be one of life’s greatest joys. Our furry friends provide endless love, comfort and companionship. However, dogs can also make quite a mess, especially when it comes to that ubiquitous doggy odor that seems to permeate your home. As a dog owner, you want to keep your house clean for both yourself and any guests that may visit. Luckily, there are many methods and products available to help eliminate that bothersome dog smell.
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Understanding the Causes of Dog Odor
Before learning how to get rid of dog smells, it’s important to understand what causes them in the first place. Here are some of the most common culprits of stinky dog odors:
- Accidents: One of the top reasons your home smells like dog is because your pup has had an accident inside. Urine and feces have very strong odors that can linger long after the mess has been cleaned up.
- Skin and coat: Dogs have natural oils in their skin and fur that can produce a characteristic scent, especially if they are not bathed regularly. This smell can transfer onto your furniture and carpets.
- Ears and paws: Moist, yeasty ears and sweaty paws are breeding grounds for bacteria that cause powerful odors.
- Gas: Flatulence from dogs, just like humans, can be quite smelly and permeate a room.
- Mouth: Bad breath in dogs is common and can smell up close or even across a room.
- Anal glands: These glands near a dog’s anus can fill up and need to be expressed, releasing a very fishy and unpleasant smell.
Knowing what causes that characteristic doggy smell can help you pinpoint solutions to combat it.
Tips for Keeping Your Home Smelling Fresh
Here are some helpful tips and tricks for keeping dog odors at bay in your home:
Clean Messes Thoroughly
When your dog has an accident in the house, be sure to clean it up promptly and thoroughly. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed to break down pet waste and completely remove the odor. Let the area dry fully before allowing your dog access again.
Wash Dog Bedding Regularly
Your dog’s bed, pillows, and blankets hold onto smells. Wash them weekly in hot water to kill bacteria and odors. Consider using an odor eliminating detergent as well.
Bathe Your Dog Frequently
Give your dog baths as needed, aiming for at least once a month. Use a moisturizing dog shampoo to wash their coat and skin. Pay extra attention to smelly spots like paws, rear end, and ears.Brushing your dog’s fur regularly also helps distribute oils and reduce odor.
Clean Ears and Paws
Check your dog’s ears weekly for buildup and odors. Clean excess debris and wax with a veterinarian approved ear wash and cotton balls. After outdoor play, wipe your dog’s paws to remove dirt, mud, and other debris that can cause smells when tracked indoors.
Brush Teeth
Your dog can’t brush their own teeth, so it’s up to you! Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth helps control plaque and tartar buildup that causes bad breath. Use dog-safe toothpaste and brush 2-3 times per week if possible.
Express Anal Glands
If your dog is scooting or smells strongly of fish, their anal glands may need expressing. Have your vet or groomer do this messy task to remove built up fluid and odor. Some dogs need their glands expressed regularly.
Use Air Purifiers and Deodorizers
Place air purifying bags or open boxes of baking soda around your home to help absorb unpleasant odors. Run air purifiers and diffuse essential oils in dog-prone areas. Open windows regularly to circulate fresh air.
Clean Carpets and Furniture
Shampoo carpets and mop hard floors to remove odors that accumulate over time. Steam clean fabric furniture and dog beds to freshen and deodorize regularly as well.
Change AC Filters
Dirty air conditioner and heating vents trap smells. Swap out your filters monthly to keep air circulating cleanly.
Limit Dog Access
Block off very smelly spots, like litter boxes and garbage cans, so your dog isn’t tempted to investigate up close. Keep your dog restricted to non-carpeted rooms if they tend to have frequent accidents indoors.
Use Odor Removing Products
Specialized cleaners, sprays, candles, and deodorizers are formulated to eliminate tough pet odors. Use them proactively to keep your home smelling fresh.
Best Products for Removing Dog Odors
Using the right products is key when trying to keep dog smells at bay. Here are some of the best odor fighting tools recommended by pet owners and experts:
Enzymatic Cleaners
Enzymatic cleaners work on a molecular level to completely neutralize organic waste like urine, feces, and vomit. They are much more effective at removing odors than regular soaps and detergents. Some popular brands include Nature’s Miracle and Angry Orange.
Baking Soda
Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors. Sprinkle it directly on surfaces, carpets, bedding, and let sit for several hours before vacuuming. It can also be left in open dishes around the home.
White Vinegar
White vinegar helps break down odor molecules and cuts through urine smell. Mix with water to clean floors and dab on fabrics. It also works well in laundry.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers with activated charcoal or HEPA filters remove airborne odor molecules and allergens. They continuously filter the air to keep smells at bay.
Essential Oils
Natural essential oils like lemon, lavender, and peppermint help mask unpleasant pet odors. Use in diffusers or lightly spray diluted oils onto surfaces.
Odor Absorbing Products
Odor absorbing gels, powders, and bags contain activated charcoal or zeolite to trap smells instead of covering them up. Place them where your pet sleeps and hangs out.
Antibacterial Cleaners
Disinfecting cleaners and wipes kill odor causing bacteria on surfaces. Use them for accident clean ups, litter boxes, crates, toys, and beds.
Grooming Supplies
Frequent bathing, teeth brushing, paw wipes, and ear cleaners keep your dog’s coat and body smells to a minimum.
Odor Removing Candles & Sprays
Specialized pet odor eliminating candles and sprays neutralize lingering smells between deeper cleanings. Look for natural enzyme based formulas.
Tips for Deodorizing Specific Areas
Some spots tend to collect stronger doggie odors than others. Here are tips for deodorizing these common problem areas:
Carpets
- Shampoo carpets and rugs at least twice per year and let completely dry.
- Sprinkle liberally with baking soda before vacuuming to draw out smells.
- Spray or blot carpet stains with white vinegar or enzymatic cleaner.
- Use a carpet steamer to deep clean and deodorize carpets.
Tile, Vinyl & Hard Floors
- Mop frequently with dilute white vinegar or enzymatic cleaner.
- Squeeze lemon juice onto smelly spots before mopping.
- Place bowls of baking soda around to absorb odors overnight.
- Disinfect floor using antibacterial spray or wipes.
Furniture & Bedding
- Spray or blot upholstery stains with vinegar or enzymatic cleaner.
- Sprinkle baking soda and vacuum off after a few hours to deodorize.
- Steam clean or shampoo upholstered furniture regularly.
- Wash dog beds and blankets in hot water with odor fighting detergent.
Dog Crates & Carriers
- Scrub crate tray and panels with antibacterial cleaner and rinse well.
- Spritz crate bedding lightly with white vinegar between washings.
- Place open container of baking soda or air purifying bag inside.
- Let crate dry fully in the sun occasionally to kill odor bacteria.
Litter Box Areas
- Scoop waste daily and fully replace litter 1-2 times per week.
- Disinfect box weekly with antimicrobial cleaner and rinse thoroughly.
- Sprinkle baking soda under and around box to control odors.
- Place open box of baking soda or air purifier nearby.
Garbage Cans
- Empty garbage frequently to prevent smells.
- Coat bottom with baking soda before placing in a new bag.
- Spray vinegar solution inside can to disinfect.
- Use an odor controlling garbage bag.
- Place can in an out of reach spot so dogs can’t access.
When to Seek Professional Help
No matter how diligent you are, sometimes dog smells can become too overpowering on your own. Here are some signs it may be time to call in professional help:
- Odor is noticeably strong to you or guests
- Smell persists despite your best cleaning efforts
- Accidents from an untrained/senior dog are frequent
- New pet stains are discovered under furniture or carpet padding
- You need pet urine or feces removed from subflooring or building materials
- About to move and want your home thoroughly deodorized
Professional cleaners have industrial strength equipment, chemicals, and techniques to eliminate even the toughest embedded pet odors. Here are some pros you may want to call in:
- Carpet cleaner – Professional carpet steam cleaning
- Janitorial service – Deep clean hard floors, walls, vents
- Upholstery cleaner – Sanitize furniture and fabrics
- Odor removal service – Treat subflooring and vents
- Disaster restoration – Remediate odors from urine, feces, vomit
How to Prevent Dog Odors
A little prevention goes a long way when it comes to stopping dog smells before they start. Here are some top tips for preventing dog odor in your home:
- House train your dog to avoid indoor accidents
- Bathe and groom your dog frequently
- Brush teeth and clean ears weekly
- Keep dog items and areas clean
- Scoop litter box and empty garbage daily
- Limit dog access to smelly areas like trash
- Clean up messes right away with enzymatic cleaner
- Wash dog bedding and fabrics regularly
- Open windows and run fans to increase airflow
- Use air purifiers and baking soda around the home
Stopping those smells before they have a chance to settle and spread will keep your home refreshed.
Conclusion
While having a dog does come with its fair share of smells, there are many effective ways you can eliminate that bothersome dog odor from your home. Understanding what causes the smells, using the right cleaning products, focusing on problem areas, calling in professionals when needed, and preventing odors in the first place will help any dog owner keep their house fresh. With some consistent effort, you and your furry friend can enjoy your time together without offensive pet odors. Keep these handy tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to a odor-free home.