How to Neutralize Dog Odors

Man's best friend can leave dog odors in your home.

While dogs can make wonderful companions and add to the quality of your life, even clean dogs can leave an odor in your home after awhile. While regular bathing helps to cut down on unpleasant dog odors, pet accidents and dog fur cause dog odors to accumulate. To restore the freshness of your home, you need to neutralize the smells and remove any odor-causing substances or bacteria.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Baking soda
• Pet odor neutralizer
• Laundry detergent
• 1 cup white vinegar

Instructions

1. 

   Accumulating dog fur causes odors in the house.

   Vacuum all surfaces where your pet spends time. Include carpeting, upholstered furniture, pet bedding and draperies. Removing dog fur will help remove the accompanying odor.

2. Sprinkle baking soda over non-washable upholstery and carpeting to absorb odors from your dog. Use pet odor neutralizer on pet accident areas where odor lingers from your dog's accident. The pet odor neutralizer breaks down and absorbs odors from urine, feces and vomit.

3. Allow the baking soda and pet odor neutralizer to sit on the surfaces overnight. Vacuum up the next day.

4. Launder washable upholstery and rugs, as well as pet bed covers. Add laundry detergent and 1 cup white vinegar to deodorize and freshen the fibers.

5. 

   Hang your rugs and other washables outdoor for further freshening.

   Hang all washable fabrics and textiles outdoors. Fresh air and sunshine helps remove stubborn odors.

Tips & Warnings

• Place bowls of white vinegar in rooms with heavy dog odor. Leave the bowls overnight as they neutralize the odor.

• Soak up liquid from dog accidents as quickly as possible so there's no time for it to absorb into the floor or carpet.

References

• Sacramento SPCA: Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
• The Humane Society of the United States: Removing Pet Stains and Odors
• Reader's Digest: 8 Ways to Naturally Boost Laundry Detergent: Vinegar