How to Get Rid of Dog Odors

Here you will find all the answers you need to get rid of pet odors. Dogs are usually the main culprit of pet odors. Cats are cleaning themselves constantly and don't usually smell. They do cause other odors though, such as spraying and litter box smells. Getting rid of pet odors can be a big job. We have a medium sized dog and a large dog and I've learned some tips for keeping a pleasant smelling home. I'll share with you the tricks I use to keep pet odors out of the house.

A few people like the dog smell. My husband does because it brings back good memories of his pet dog Lassie he had when he was a boy. I for one and most other people prefer not to have a home smelling like a dog or any other animal.

If your male cat isn't neutered, it can spray on doors and furniture. This leaves an unpleasant smell all its own. Some cats can urinate on floors too. Those are strong odors. I'll cover dealing with these too.

Giving your dog regular baths helps. It is recommended to only bathe your dog once a month, if it has normal skin. If the dog has skin problems, you can bathe the dog once a week. Using moisturizing products helps if you feel you need to bath more often. For the shampoo, use baby shampoo or dog shampoo. There are special products that are gentle on a dog's skin and medicated shampoos for those with problems.

Products to give your dog waterless baths help. This is what they use at vet offices to spot clean dogs. You should be able to find this at the pet store or ask your vet about it. Deodorant sprays are also available. You can even get doggie breath mints. My dogs never liked them though.

If the odor is from dog urine or feces the best thing you can do is clean it up immediately. Then blot the dampness up with paper towels or rags. Don't rub hard, because this can cause it to soak into the carpet padding. Just keep blotting until there is no dampness. Using a shop vac can help get it out of the carpet.

Special cleaning products are available to get rid of the odor. Some are just sprays and others are used to clean the spot. I recommend these, because even though you have done a good job, the dog is still able to smell it. A dog has a much better sense of smell than we do. This is a sign to him that it is alright to use the area again.

If your dog hasn't been trained to go outside, use a dog cage until it is trained. A dog doesn't like to soil its sleeping area and will wait until you take it out. The only time they would urinate or have a bowel movement in the cage is if you aren't there and the dog is in an urgent condition.

Some femaile dogs do have a problem urinating when they get nervous. You'll just have to try to keep the dog calm and clean after them.

If possible use different flooring than carpet, they are much easier to clean. Some pet hair sticks in the carpet even after vacuuming. We have laminated floors in all the rooms in our house, except the bedrooms. These floors are easier to clean than the carpets, because once you clean them, you know all the pet hair is removed. Just a squeezed out mop with a little water and vinegar and cleans all the hair and odor.

Sprinkling baking soda on carpets prior to vacuuming can help. You can buy large boxes in the laundry detergent aisle in most stores at a reduced price. Just sprinkle it on beforehand and let it stay in the carpet for as long as you can wait. Baking soda is good at absorbing odors. Then vacuum it up. You can use it on the furniture too and then vacuum. Arm and Hammer offers a product that has baking soda that is scented. You may prefer to use that.

When purchasing a vacuum cleaner, make sure it has brushes. This will help pull the hairs out of the carpet and furniture. I've tried several brands of vacuum cleaners and those with brushes do the best job. Don't purchase a cheap one. You want one that has a high powered motor.

Use a carpet shampooer that is a water extraction type. This will clean the carpet better than one that is just a steam cleaner. The carpeting should be cleaned with special carpet shampoos for pets. Almost all brands have one available. From my experience they work better than the regular carpet shampoo. If the odors have gotten into the padding, shampooing might not work. You'll have to purchase new padding and possibly new carpeting. This would be rare if the odor isn't from dog urine.

Wash the dog's bedding often. If you can still smell animal odors this may be the problem. Use vinegar during the rinse cycle. Vinegar is good at absorbing odors. You don't need to worry about a vinegar smell if you use just a half of a cup in the rinse.

Candles are good at getting rid of odors too. The smoke absorbs them. If you use scented candles, you'll get to enjoy the pleasant scent. Air fresheners and keeping windows open are helpful too.

Getting rid of cat urine smells is one of the hardest odors to get rid of. The odor is strong! First clean the area as soon as possible. Blot it up, so you don't get the urine into the padding. A popular product is "Nature's Miracle" to remove really strong smells. It can be purchased at most pet stores. Use it immediately. Pat the area and lightly scrub.

If Nature's Miracle doesn't work, sprinkle baking soda on the carpet or furniture and allow it to sit awhile. This should help absorb the odor. The longer you leave it on, the better. Arm & Hammer also offers a product called "Pet Fresh." It has baking soda and is scented. This works well also. Vacuum this. If this doesn't work, you may need to shampoo.

If these ideas don't work, "Odor Ban" is another product that is highly recommended. It comes in large containers, so can be used over and over. Others report that an ozone machine will work. These costs about $350.00. Another option is calling in a professional.

If the odor is older, you may as well plan on replacing the carpeting and pad. If it has gone through the pad, you may even to need to seal the subfloor. This is one odor that is hard to eradicate. No matter what you do, the odor will just be covered up and never totally gone. The odor is caused by bacteria and if you can still smell it, it isn't healthy.

My son and his wife just purchased their first home. The previous owners let the dogs urinate on all of the carpets. Ashley hired a professional carpet cleaning company. Even though they were one of the best, the smell remained, because it was in the padding. After pulling it up, we all gagged. It was covered with stains.

If even that doesn't work, a product can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot that seals the wood, so odors are sealed and can no longer be smelled. Sometimes this is the only solution. They were fortunate that hardwood floors were underneath.

My sister had a rental house that someone let a dog urinate on the carpets. They used a company that guaranteed to get odors out. It worked. This wood be cheaper than replacing them.