For centuries, dogs have been man’s best friend. Their unwavering affection and playful spirits bring love, joy, and loyalty into our lives. But some people don’t like dogs because of the nasty smells they bring with them.
And yes, tackling dog odors is a challenging task, but with the right strategies it gets easier than you think. We'll show you how to track dog odor sources, take preventive measures, and effectively remove dog odor from your house.
So let’s dive in!
Understanding the Sources of Dog Odor
Without knowing the source of the odor, it’s impossible to isolate the smell from the house. Other than urine and facets, dogs naturally produce various odors from their skin oils, hair, and saliva. Sometimes they can dig up something smelly from the outside and hide it somewhere inside the house.
So, knowing the source is the first step to eliminating dog odors from your house.
Urine and feces
Urine and feces are the most common dog odors in the house. Urine contains ammonia acid and has a strong pungent smell. Whereas feces, as you know, naturally have a bad smell.
Find out where your best friend is marking their territory or check if they have stepped in or rolled in feces while playing outdoors.
The best place to look for it is behind furniture, baseboards, and corners of the house. These places are often overlooked during regular cleaning.
Skin Oils and Saliva
All dog breeds produce oils called sebum to keep their coat healthy and skin moisturized. However, some skin conditions such as allergies or infections can lead to overproduction of the oil and can cause a distinct, musty odor in the house.
Saliva is another factor that can cause a smell in the house. Saliva contains bacteria, and when it dries it can produce an unpleasant smell.
Check your dog's toys and other objects that they love licking or biting. Also check your carpets and rugs because these materials are highly absorbent and can trap oils, hair, dander, saliva, urine, and other smelly substances.
Hair and Dander
Hair and Dander (tiny flakes of skin) don’t produce smells as much as urine, feces, and saliva does, but they can also contribute to overall dog odor in the house. So check out the place where your dog loves spending time the most.
If your dog loves watching your movie sitting on a sofa or loves sleeping with you, make sure to check the fabrics. Bedsheets and sofas' fabric similar to carpets are highly absorbent and can capture oil, hair, and saliva, making it smelly over time.
Preventive Measures for Dog Odor
We all have heard of the quote, “Prevention is better than cure”, and the same goes for eliminating dog odor from the house. Here are a few preventive measures you can take to keep dog odors at bay.
Groom Your Pet
Make a regular bathing schedule for your dog. Give them a good bath every 4-6 weeks or more frequently as per their outdoor activity and need. Use a dedicated dog shampoo that not only removes odors but also adds fragrance to their body.
Clear their ear and brush their teeth often to prevent unwanted infections. Infections are known to cause unpleasant smells. Use a vet-recommended ear and teeth cleaner to prevent allergies and other health issues.
If your dog is a long-haired breed, brush their hair at least once in two to three days. Some dogs might need daily brushing.
Dogs Food
The food that you give your dog also plays a crucial role in how strong their poop will smell. If the food is high in fish oils or has poor-quality ingredients, it can contribute to a stronger poop odor.
Feed your dog foods that have whole meats and vegetables as primary ingredients. Add some plain yogurt to their diet, or if possible give them a probiotic supplement to improve digestion and reduce gas. Make sure to give only fresh water whenever possible because bad water can contribute to stronger urine smells.
Tips for Eliminating Dog Odor in Your Home
You have won half the battle if you understand the source and take the preventive measures mentioned above. Here are a few more tips to completely eliminate dog odors from your house.
Utilize Air Purifiers
One of the best ways to effectively tackle pet odors is to use an air purifier. There are many air purifiers in the market designed for different needs and uses. For removing pet odor, you have to especially look for a purifier that has an activated carbon filter.
The MSA3 HEPA Pet Air Purifier by Membrane Solution is one of the best-recommended products on the market right now. The reason why people love this air purifier is because of its 3-in-1 filter solution.
You get a pre-filter that captures pet hair, dander, and debris. The HEPA 13 Filter removes home pollutants by trapping up to 99.97% of small particles (0.3 microns), including pet dander and hair. And lastly, activated carbon removes bad smells from the air.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural odor absorber, which is less expensive yet highly effective. All you need to do is sprinkle baking soda on the areas where the smell is coming from and let it sit for overnight. The next morning, vacuum the areas.
Placing an open box of baking soda in different areas of the house can also help absorb bad smells from the atmosphere.
White Vinegar
Vinegar is another powerful solution that can help fight pet odors. What you need to do is mix vinegar and water equally in a bottle and spray it on the affected area. Let it settle down and absorb the smell and then wipe it away with a dry cloth.
How to Get Dog Odor Out of Carpets
Carpets are highly absorbent and can trip oil, dander, hair, urine, and dark. Either train your dog not to spend time on the carpets or you clean it regularly. Here are a few steps you can take to get your dog's odor out of your carpets.
- Regularly Vacuum the Carpet - Whenever you clean your home, make sure to give it a quick cleaning. You can use HEPA filter vacuums to capture even the finest particles that can cause bad smells.
- Use a High-Quality Carpet Cleaning Detergent - If removing pet odor is your goal, opt for pet-specific detergent. Make sure to follow the instructions given in the product manual.
- Use Enzymatic Cleaners for Stubborn Odors - Sometimes even after deep cleaning, the smell might not go away completely. In this case, you can use enzymatic cleaners. Make sure to use it as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Steam Cleaning - This one can be a little tricky and time-consuming, but it helps clean deep into the carpet fiber and leaves no trace of nasty smells.
- Professional Help - If the home remedies did work out or if you don’t have the time to do so, you can get help from the professionals. You can visit your nearby laundry and a professional to do a deep cleaning.
Removing Dog Odor from Upholstery
After carpet, upholstery furniture like sofas, chairs, and pet beds absorb pet odors the most. If you want to keep your home odor-free, you can’t effort to miss out on these areas. Here's how you can clean these fabric-covered items effectively.
- Step 1 - Similarly to how you vacuum your carpet, give your upholstery a deep and thorough vacuuming. Don’t forget to vacuum beneath the cushions and in the crevices where pet hair and particles can accumulate.
- Step 2 - Sprinkle baking soda on the upholstered items and let it sit to absorb the orders. Vacuum up the baking soda thoroughly. You can also use white vinegar and water to absorb the smell.
Maintaining an Odor-Free Home
You can only maintain an odor-free home if you opt for the long-term solution. So, what are the long-term solutions?
- Invest in Air Purifiers - If you’re a pet owner, a purifier is the best investment you’ll ever make. It not only remove odors but also make the air cleaner, which is good for overall well-being.
- Improve Your Home Ventilation - Keep your home’s windows, doors, and ventilation wide open as much as possible. This allows the air to move freely in and out of the house, removing smells from the air.
- Regularly Clean Your House - This is the best way to keep your home fresh and beautiful. Additionally, regular cleanings help you spot the source of the smell before it develops into a bigger problem.
Odor-Free Way to Love Your Dog
Tackling dog odors might seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategies and a little bit of investment in time and money, it is manageable. The air purifier makes it even easier to eliminate the odor.
So, what you're waiting for, go give your dog a tight hug. Let the bond between you and your furry friend remain strong, untainted by unwanted smells.
For more information about the MSA3 HEPA Air Purifier, click here.
