How to Eliminate Pet Odors

Our pets have body odor. As a result, most homes with pets and furnishings in the home smell like the pet! You might try the suggestions below to keep odors down.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pet
• Pet shampoo
• Cleaning accessories and agent
• Baking soda (optional)
• Vacuum cleaner
• Air sanitizer/deordorant
• Dehumidifier (optional)

1. 
   German Shorthaired Pointer; Retriever

   Frequent bathing and grooming of your pet. Also washing and laundering of your pet's things - food/drinking trays, bedding, toys... etc.

2. 
   Persian cat

   Clean frequently and keeping litter boxes, cages, crates, and boxes out of living areas and in well ventilated rooms. Excellent ventilation is very important. Change litter box several times in a week.

3. Letting your pet spend more time outdoors. But preventing pets from roaming where they may encounter skunks, decaying matter... etc.

4. 

   More vacuuming and shampooing of carpets than might otherwise be necessary. If your pets sit on the furniture, clean those upholstery often as well.

5. Try keeping the humidity in your home lower with air conditioning or a dehumidifier. Odors are exaggerated when the air is moister.

6. 

   Commercial products are available for reducing pet odors. One I like most is Febreze - which works superior well with all types of fabrics. Visit your local pet supply store or find on the internet to search what suits you best. You can consult your friends who own pets or clerks in the pet shops for suggestions for what they recommend cleaning the upholstery. Keep in mind, though, that most pet odor removing sanitizers are rather expensive. A cheaper way is to just sprinkle baking soda or baby powder on the carpet, upholstery. Wait 15-20 minutes for it to work, then vacuum it up. Many have had great success using just baking soda alone.

Tips & Warnings

• Textiles (i.e. sofa, carpet, curtains) in home hold pet odor. Periodically spray them with antibacteria/allergen sanitizer like "Febreze".
• Pets, like people, need social and physical (private) space to be healthy. Too many pets living in an apartment, particularly in cities is one common cause of pet odor in homes.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/3/2009 Great tips. Thanks for the article. We have a new pup and every since she came to us, our house has lost it's fresh smell. 5*

[sneedc]

on 12/9/2008 I will follow your endorsement and invest in some febreze, their commercials crack me up. I have one dog, Lucy, but of course I don't think she stinks up the place....it's my FAMILY THAT DOES! hahahahaha thanks for the tips

[Kmarie923]

on 12/7/2008 These are nice tips. 5*

[brandy1123]

on 12/4/2008 great tips

[Mindee94]

on 12/2/2008 The scented products are our best friends. Great tips and much appreciated! ~Mindee