A Pleasant-Smelling Home: 6 Tips for Reducing Pet Odor

We love the furry companies that share our homes with us, but that doesn’t mean we love the odors they produce. From kitty litter to wet dog hair, the aroma of a household filled with pets isn’t something that’s going to be made into a signature candle scent anytime soon.

If you have a home full of love and paws, you probably also have a home that suffers from some less than lovely smells. Keeping your house clean and fresh-smelling is a goal for most homeowners, but how do you do that if you have pets?

To keep your home smelling great for yourself, your family, and your pets, follow these six tips:

Use an air purifier

Air purifiers are indispensable if you have pets. Air purifiers use HEPA filters that filter the air of 99.9% of particles and bacteria, expelling fresh, clean air free of smells. Not only are they helpful with people who have pet dander allergies, but they also remove the bacteria that make your home smell less than fresh when you have pets.

Learn the value of baking soda

Baking soda, that simple pantry staple, can do wonders for a stinky home. Sprinkling baking soda on furniture and rugs helps to neutralize unpleasant odors. It does this by lowering the higher pH level that most unpleasant smells have and drawing it down, neutralizing the nasty smell. To use, sprinkle some baking soda on the offending piece of furniture or rug, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then vacuum it away. To get the best results for your home, use specialized vacuum cleaners designed to remove pet urine stains and smells.

Air it out

Do you know how nothing smells better than laundry air dried on the line? Use the same concept in your home by opening the windows to encourage fresh air to circulate throughout the home. Fresh air can help disperse pet dander, which can contribute to unpleasant odors in the home.

Wash your pet’s things regularly

The things our pets love tend to smell like them, which is why they should be washed regularly and thoroughly to make sure they’re not holding onto unpleasant smells. Dog beds, kitty litter trays, and well-loved blankets and toys should be run through the laundry on a regular basis to rid the item of any dander or bacteria making it smell stale. If you don’t relish the idea of deep cleaning your cat’s kitty litter on a daily basis, consider a cat littler box like those discussed on animalcorner.org.

Get an odor-eliminating candle

Candles aren’t just for covering up bad smells. There are many candles that are specially made that help neutralize unpleasant odors. These can be cooking smells, paint drying, or pet smells. While these fragrant candles can certainly help dispel unpleasant odors, they are a bit more dangerous so it’s important to keep an eye on your candle and make sure no curious pets get close.

Wash your pet

This last piece of advice is pretty dog-specific since cats and birds don’t have any interest in you washing them. However, your dog can get into some nasty smelling things that it finds perfectly pleasant. They will then track those scents into your home. To avoid this, consider having your dog professionally groomed or washing them yourself on a regular basis. Just make sure you dry them completely after the fact.