-
5 Tips for Removing Pet Odors
Pets are family, but nobody loves the odors that accompany them. Wet dog smell, damp fur, litter boxes and whatever the cat dragged in (literally) can all leave your home smelling less than fresh. Here’s a roundup of tips for removing pet odors.
-
1. Groom frequently
The most effective way to keep odors at bay is to treat the source of the odor: your pet. Wipe your dog’s paws every time he comes in from outside, brush his coat weekly and take them for a professional grooming at least once a month. Even cats benefit from the occasional bathing.
-
2. Keep pets off furniture
Everyone has their own opinion about allowing pets—dogs in particular—on furniture. It can be hard to resist those puppy-dog eyes, but if you’re trying to remove pet odors from your home, it’s best to have a strict “no pets” policy on beds and couches to prevent odors from seeping into the materials.
-
3. Properly clean up pet accidents
Your pet is bound to have an accident inside the house (or outside the litter box) at some point in their life. But if the area is not properly treated, it can leave behind a terrible smell—and actually attract return visits. Rather than clean the mess with a regular household disinfectant, use a product with an enzymatic formula that will break down the proteins in cat and dog urine, permanently removing pet odors.
-
4. Raid your pantry
Some of the strongest tools to eliminate pet odor may already live in your kitchen pantry. Baking soda is a natural odor-absorber. Sprinkle the powder over carpets, rugs and furniture, let it sit overnight and vacuum it up the next day. Likewise, apple cider vinegar can be used with laundry detergent in your washing machine to remove smells from blankets, cushion covers, curtains and other linens. Read here for more tips on how to control pet odors with common household items.
-
5. Purify the air
For an ongoing solution, use a Filtrete™ Air Purifier in rooms you and your pets spend the most time. Just like HVAC filters, be sure to change the filter regularly—either when prompted by the filter life indicator on your device or per package instructions. Add a Filtrete™ Odor Reduction Carbon Pre-Filter for extra help with those pet odors.
-
