Do you sometimes feel like you are living inside a kennel? Have your friends stopped coming over or ask if they can sit outside when they visit, even if it’s raining? Having dogs does not mean you need to live with their smells! Here are 10 simple ways to keep your house from smelling like a kennel.
#1 – Get an odor-resistant bed
One of the places smells lurk is in your dog’s bed. Buying a bed that has anti-microbial properties and resists orders is a good way to start. PACK&DEN beds have easy-to-clean, machine washable covers and can be used with odor trappers to keep the scent in the pouch and out of the air in your home.
Related: 12 Best Dog Beds
#2 – Use an air purifier
Air purifiers are a great way to cut down on allergies and odors in the air – keeping your house fresher. I have the Febreze Air Purfier and really like it. It has a HEPA-type filter that traps up to 99% of airborne particles and you can use it with or without the air fresheners.
#3 – Put baking soda out.
Baking soda absorbs odors, so put an open box in the cabinet where you keep all your dog’s treats and toys, or on the shelf where you hang his collar. It’s a simple way to help cut down on doggy odor. Also, sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and let it sit overnight to absorb odors, then vacuum it up the next day.
#4 – Wash once a week
Pick a day and mark it as “doggy wash day.” Gather up all those stinky toys, beds, blankets, clothes etc. and wash them. This is a great day to rotate toys out – putting away the toys clean (and DRY) cuts down on smells in the storage area and prevents mold, mildew, etc. from growing.
#5 – Between bath freshening
Don’t forget the dog! You can clean your house until the cows come home but if your dog smells, than your house will too. Waterless shampoo and bath wipes can help keep your pup fresh between baths. Project Paws® Aloe & Oatmeal Grooming Wipes will feed shelter dogs while keeping your buddy smelling sweet.
Related: The 9 Best Beds for Senior Dogs
#6 – Use an enzymatic cleaner
Enzymes in cleaners attack the particles that cause staining and odors, helping to rid your home of both. Sunny & Honey brand use a natural bio-enzymatic formula for urine, feces, vomit and drool that is safe for kids and pets. You can use it on practically anything: carpets, floor, furniture, etc.
#7 – Get rid of that old collar
Ever smelled your dog’s collar? YIKES! You probably had no idea that it smelled that bad! You can wash it, but if it’s a couple years old, it’s time to just toss it and buy a new one. Look for collars (and leashes!) made of non-odor absorbing material, like the Ruffwear Headwater Collar.
#8 – Wipe those paws
Keep a super absorbent door mat and towel by the door and clean off your dog before he enters, minimizing what he tracks in. Soggy Dog mats and towels are perfect for this.
#9 – After a bath, dry your dog completely
Are you prone to just toweling your dog off and then letting him go after a bath to “air dry”? While your dog may prefer that, he is instilling that lovely “wet dog smell” in your carpets, air, couch, and anywhere else he goes while drying. It’s best to completely dry him using a cool hair dryer or lots of toweling.
#10 – Wash everything with vinegar
Wash any furniture coverings, pillows, curtains – basically anything that can be washed that your dog comes in contact with on a regular basis with a combination of an oxy-powered laundry soap and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.
Toledo, United States.
