Key Points

• Bathe your dog regularly and wash their bedding every few weeks to prevent lingering odors.

• Vacuum floors, furniture, and curtains often, using baking soda or vinegar to neutralize smells.

• Use enzymatic cleaners for accidents, steam carpets when needed, and run an air purifier with a HEPA filter.

While we love our furry friends, there’s no denying that pets can cause odors in your home. If you’re hoping to discover how to get dog smell out of the house, read on.

Dander, dirt, pet hair, and outdoor pollens all can contribute to your beloved pup bringing in a stinky smell that seeps into your home’s furniture and carpet. Follow these tips to get rid of the dog smell fast and keep your home smelling clean and fresh.

Wash Your Dog

The first line of defense to get rid of dog smell fast is to bathe your dog. A general rule is that the more hair your dog has, the more frequently they’ll need to be bathed.

Medium to thick-coated dogs need to be bathed about every four to six weeks, but it may need to be more frequent if your dog is visibly dirty.

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Wash Pet Bedding

Dog beds and other bedding will start to smell the fastest since these are spots where your pup spends most of their time.

Wash your pet’s bedding frequently—about every four to six weeks. If your pets sleep in your bed, wash your sheets and blankets every week.

Furniture and upholstery should also be cleaned often, since smells tend to seep into the fabric. Use an upholstery cleaner or follow the label’s instructions to clean the fabric without damaging it.

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming often will keep unpleasant doggy smells at bay by removing pet dander and hair around your home.

Don’t leave the vacuuming just to the floors—make sure to vacuum furniture, curtains, and mattresses. Replace your vacuum filter regularly to ensure your machine is working effectively, too.

Sprinkle Baking Soda

Baking soda is a household essential that can neutralize odors. Simply sprinkle baking soda on your smelly upholstered furniture or carpet. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then vacuum it up. 

Tip

Check your furniture labels and test baking soda in a small area first before applying it on larger fabric surfaces, so the baking soda doesn’t cause any damage.

Try Vinegar

White distilled vinegar is another household item that works great for cleaning and neutralizing odors. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the solution on hard surface floors, carpets, or upholstery.

Wipe up the solution with a clean cloth or blot with the cloth if the surface is soft. You can also soak pet bedding or clothing in a vinegar and water solution to remove stains or smells. After soaking, wash the materials as normal to get fresh smelling bedding and clothing.

Use Enzymatic Cleaners

If your pup has an accident in your home from time to time, an enzymatic cleaner is your best pick to clean up the mess and smell.

The natural enzymes break down the ammonia and bacteria in the urine to eliminate the smell and remove the stain. These cleaners are also effective against vomit and feces. 

Spray the product on the stain and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Blot with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain is lifted.

Steam Your Carpet

In addition to vacuuming, carpet steaming can be an effective way to remove dog odors from your carpet.

Carpet steamers combine hot water, a cleaning solution, and suction to remove hair, dander, and dog smell from your carpet. Depending on the model, you may also be able to use it on upholstered furniture, too.

Check the appliance and upholstery cleaning instructions before trying it on your favorite armchair. 

Tip

If you don’t have a carpet steamer, you may be able to rent one at your local home improvement store. Or, you can call a carpet cleaning company.

Use an Air Purifier

Air purifiers are known to remove dander and bacteria in the air, which may help your home avoid the dog smell and stay smelling fresh. Look for an air purifier with a HEPA filter for the best results.

Research how much space your air purifier will cover and strategically place it near areas where pet odors are strongest like in your bedroom or near the dog bed.

Frequently asked Questions

Which scents cover dog odor best?

Various natural scents and essential oils are known to assist in covering dog odor, including lavender, eucalyptus, and most citrus fragrances.

What removes pet urine smell best?

While there are lots of ways to remove pet urine smell, enzymatic cleaners are often the most effective. As for a natural solution, baking soda and vinegar can be effective as well.

Will dog urine smell go away?

It is unlikely that dog urine smell will go away on its own, especially if the issue has been compounding. A small pet incident may fade over a few months, but there is no guarantee that the smell will go away on its own.

Why does my carpet still smell dog urine after shampooing it?

Removing dog urine smell from carpets can be particularly tricky, because sometimes, the dog urine gets into the carpet pad. When treating, attempt to clean the entire carpet, including the pad.

Read the original article on The Spruce