Pets make the best companions. They are willing to listen, they put up with you, and they are more empathic than some people. Unfortunately, there’s one big drawback when you have pets at home – the smell.
Owning a pet is not just fun and rainbows, you need to get your hands dirty and this means dealing with their poop and the odor that comes with it. Pets also have a natural odor that tends to stick to your home. So, if you don’t want your guests to associate your home with a “wet dog” smell or any other pet’s smell, you need to pay extra attention to cleaning your home.
How to get pet odor out of house?
Luckily, there are ways to keep the odor at bay without spending millions in cleaning products. Here are some of the products that can help you get rid of the stink.
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Baking Soda
If there’s one thing that you absolutely need at home, it would be baking soda. Considered to be natural deodorizer, baking soda can help with stinky problems and it is useful not just for cleaning but also for numerous hacks around the house. Baking soda is also perfect for removing the stinky smell from fabrics and it becomes highly useful during those moments when your pets act mischievous and pee on laundry and rugs.
If you plan to clean carpets and rugs, you can sprinkle a bit of baking soda and leave it for a few hours before going back to vacuum. Although baking soda does not harm fabrics or cause discoloration, it would be better to check for compatibility.
For fresh stains or when your pet just had an accident and it is all over the carpet, soak up all the urine with paper towels. Then, sprinkle baking soda in the area. Leave baking soda for a few minutes or until the area dries up completely and pat it with a towel. This should help in removing the smell from the carpet and don’t forget to vacuum once you are done.
Another great idea for keeping odor under control is to add baking soda to the litter box. This is especially useful for cat litter. You can line the litter box with baking soda before you pour the litter and you can also pour it on top if your felines don’t mind.
White Vinegar
Another great choice when you are dealing with dog stains is a vinegar solution. Just like baking soda, vinegar is known to be a natural deodorizer and it can also kill bacteria. In fact, there are many vinegar-based solutions that you can try if you sense that your home is overrun with the stinky dog smell.
You can use vinegar on its own but you can add vinegar and baking soda for a more potent solution. Knowing how powerful baking soda is with odors, you can combine that with vinegar’s deodorizing and antibacterial properties to create the perfect homemade cleanser.
All you have to do is mix two cups of white vinegar with two cups of lukewarm water and about four tablespoons of baking powder. You would also need a spray bottle for this since the solution is easier to apply when you just spray it on the problem area rather than pour the solution.
The process of using a vinegar solution for cleaning up accidents in the house is quite similar to using baking soda. You need to spray the solution on the area that needs cleaning. If it’s a new accident, you need to blot out the area before spraying the cleaning solution. It’s always necessary to blot the area before you start cleaning.
Once you are done with the initial step, spray the vinegar and baking soda solution on your rug or carpet and leave it for about five minutes. Keep in mind that vinegar can cause color fading so if you have a fancy rug, you may rethink this homemade solution. You can blot the solution afterward and vacuum the area. You might notice an overpowering smell of vinegar and that’s one of the consequences of using his deodorizing solution.
If you don’t have white vinegar at home, it’s also possible to use apple cider vinegar for the solution.
Citrus Cleaners
If you spend a lot of time scouring through the shelves, you might notice that most of the commercial cleaners use enzymes to remove the smell. However, if you are one of those people who love to DIY, you can create the same cleaning solution at home. All you have to do is mix lemon and orange peels with sugar. If you have citrus peels at home, gather about 1 ½ cup and add seven tablespoons of brown sugar and mix both in a liter of water. You would also need a bottle where you can place the solution.
However, it may take some time before you can use this citrus cleaner since you need to leave it for about three months before it’s ready to use. You also need to loosen the cap since the bottle could blow up if the gasses are trapped inside. You can transfer the solution in a spray bottle to make it easier to use.
Commercial Enzyme Cleaners
If you are not up to using homemade solutions or those just don’t work for you and you can still smell a hint of your dog’s urine, it might be time to succumb to using commercial products. However, you need to be careful with these solutions since they can have strong fumes and they can smell a bit too strong.
When using these products, it’s important to read the labels and the instructions to make sure that you are using them properly. Aside from that, you need to wear gloves since the solution can be a bit too strong.
The Challenge of Living with Pets
The best solution when it comes to stink is not allowing your pets inside the house. When you are used to having those creatures afoot, this may not even be an option and you have to learn to accept your pets for what they are bad odor and all.
If nothing seems to work, you can also hire a professional cleaning company. This can save you a great deal of trouble although it can be a bit expensive depending on the service provider you chose. Needless to say, the best way to make sure that you won’t suffer from repercussions linked to stink inside the house is to potty train your pets. If your pets know what they are supposed to do when they feel the call of nature, you won’t have to deal with accidents all the time.
You should also consider restricting your pets to a certain part of the house so the stink won’t be all over your home. If your pet is suffering from a certain medical condition which would make it unavoidable to poop or pee all the time, look for ways to make sure that they will have access to an area where they can do the deed. Having a litter box or a dog door would be a good idea too.
Having a pet is a big responsibility and although it can be frustrating to deal with odor and such, having a companion that gets you is worth it.
You should expect accidents from time to time but if your pet is constantly peeing and pooping in the wrong places, you might have a brewing problem at your hands. Either your dog needs another potty training lesson or you need to consult your vet since this could be a sign of a medical condition.