Our family loves our pets!  All four dogs, the fourteen year old cat, Dezi, the white dwarf rabbit, Mask, and even the Beta fish, Jeffrey.  The flip side of that, having pets can really make your house smell bad and be very unwelcoming to visitors.  This post is about the steps I take to eliminate pet odors in our house.

June 6, 2017  I wrote this post over a year ago and since I am always looking for new ways to combat the problem of pet odors in my house, as naturally as possible, and as effectively as possible, I have decided to update this post about what I have changed and what I am doing now.

How We Fight Pet Odors In Our Home

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The commercials are true, we get nose-blind to the true smell of our home because of our pets.  That is until you are gone for a few days, and it hits you straight in the sinuses when you walk in the door!  I’m fully aware of this and worry that no matter how comfortable and welcoming I try to make my home appear, the dog smell will detract from how the house actually looks.

There are several things we do in our home on a regular basis to try to combat the overwhelming bad smell of our pets.

Steps we take to eliminate pet odors in our home

1. We treat our carpets often for odor and stains.

We vacuum our carpets and furniture every week.  I try to add carpet powder every other week to help eliminate any odors.  I also rent a carpet cleaner at least once a year.

Recently I purchased the new BISSELL® Pet Hair Eraser®.  You can read my full review of this fabulous new vacuum here.  I have wanted one of these vacuum cleaners ever since I saw the first commercial on it and I have to tell you it doesn’t disappoint!  I can easily clean the carpets, rugs, furniture, and even the dog kennels with this easy to use vacuum.  And cleanup is so easy with the hands free canister.  I just dump out the dog hair with one click.

2.  Wash the kennel bedding.

The kennel bedding gets washed at least every other week if not sooner.  We don’t buy expensive dog beds (they usually end up shredded to pieces anyway) but instead use several layers of old towels or old blankets for the dogs to sleep on in their kennels.  It is so much easier just to put those in the wash to refresh them. As an added boost I usually add Oxyclean detergent to the wash cycle to help remove the odors and stains. While the bedding is in the wash the kennels get cleaned and wiped down. Afterwards I also use a product to clean the washing machine.

When I think the towel or blanket is beyond hope of getting rid of the smell, I just throw it out and start with a new one.  To keep the cost down, I purchase Christmas throws after the holiday season.  The dogs don’t care what pattern is on their blanket.

3.  Wash everything else too.

I wash the all the throws and blankets every week as well.  I keep blankets and throws year round in our living room.  They are great to have not only for decor but for those quick naps when you find the time.  And no matter how many times I may say “These are not dog blankets” somehow a dog will find their way on them while snuggling with someone on the sofa.  I wash these at least once a week.  It just makes them so much more welcoming for a nap too when they are fresh smelling. I may also throw the small decorative pillows in the dryer with a fabric sheet or small washcloth treated with essential oils to refresh them.  Every surface that a dog rests on needs to be treated.

4.   Dog baths are a must.

We bath the dogs regularly.  They either get a full bath several times a month (at the least) and more in the summer, even sometimes a towel bath in between if the weather outside is too cold or damp.  This also helps to keep the flea population down.

5. Air Fresheners, Candles, Essential Oils, and Febreeze

I can’t say enough about using these types of products.  Some people may not prefer to use air freshener sprays or essential oils and I totally understand that.  When it comes to our homes and how we fight odors, I believe it is a personal decision and you use what works for you.  No judging here.  I have tried them all and will continue to use these different products as needed.

I use Febreze products as a quick refresh when company is coming over on the furniture, carpet, and pillows.  It is nice to have that immediate reassurance that the sofa and pillows won’t smell like dogs when they sit down.

And then I plug in my candle melts warmer.  I discovered these products last year and love how I don’t always have to light a candle to freshen the air in the room.  I purchase my favorite candle waxes from a local candle company in Pigeon Forge where they are made right in the store but you can find them in most stores these days too.

Isn’t my miniature frying pan warmer just adorable!

I still burn candles nearly every day when I am at home.  I even buy a brand from my vet that is a pet odor eliminator brand and purchase another from a local fundraiser company that has a similar formula.  Love love love these candles.  I think the secret to using candles is to find a brand that does not have an overwhelming or overpowering scent but just adds a subtle, more inviting scent to a home.

Even more recently I was introduced to essential oils and diffusers.  I am not here to promote one brand of essential oils over another, that is not what this post is about.  But I will say that I’m learning more about the benefits of essentials oils and have found that using these oils in a diffuser around the house has not only refreshed the inside air of our house, but it is eliminating odors.  I am also experimenting with these oils in the laundry to eliminate odors there as well.  So far I am having great success with the oils and removing pet odors.

Other items to consider:

I love my pets, but I don’t love the smells that come with them, so I work hard to fight the build up of odors in my home because of them.  If anyone has any suggestions that I haven’t tried or mentioned I would love to hear them.

“Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” Colossians 1:11