Eliminate Pet Odors
with
Debbie Anderson
Love your pooch but tired of her smells? Try these simple but effective ways to get rid of pet odors in your house for good.
Transcript: Eliminate Pet Odors
Hi, I'm Debbie Anderson for About.com Home.Cats and dogs are wonderful companions that can enrich your life and the home environment. Unfortunately, pet odors can also turn your nice home into a smelly and offensive place to live.
So today I'm going to cover a few tips on how to remove those odors and maintain your home to make your home smell nice again.
Vacuum Often to Remove Pet Odors
Whether you own a cat or a dog, carpet is one of the primary sources for trapping pet odors in the home. Vacuuming on a bi-weekly basis can often times alleviate the smells created by your pets.Before vacuuming, lightly sprinkle baking soda over the areas where your pets lounge out the most, and this will dramatically improve the smell of your home.
Steam Clean Carpets to Remove Soil Stains
Carpets that have experienced wetting or soil stains from your pets can create some pretty vicious odors if the carpet isn't cleaned properly on a regular basis.To alleviate smells coming from heavily soiled carpet areas, steam clean the carpet using a mixture of one half cup of pet carpet cleaning solution with one half cup of regular carpet cleaning solution, and fill the rest of the solution compartment on the steam cleaner with water.
Run the steam cleaner over the carpet in a slow and forward motion pattern until the stains lift from the carpet. Be careful not to over saturate the carpet, and allow the carpet to completely dry before walking on it.
Regularly Change the Litter Box
Indoor cats are wonderful companions to have around the home. Unfortunately, the cat box isn't near as pleasant.To reduce pet odors coming from the kitty litter box, be sure to scoop away any new waste in the cat box on a daily basis and completely change the kitty litter in the cat box on a weekly basis.
Use a Filter With the Litter Box
Using a top cover with filters over the cat box will also dramatically improve pet odors around the home. Change the filters in the top of the cover on a monthly basis or as necessary.If smells from the cat box persist, consider sprinkling a little baking soda over the kitty litter and mixing it in during each change to help neutralize odors during and after use.
Fight Pet Odors With Air Fresheners
Strategically placing air fresheners that are designed to absorb pet odors will dramatically reduce the offensive pet odors near pet beds, kitty litter boxes, and other areas in the home where your pets spend a lot of time.Clean Your Pet's Toys
Next, because play and chew toys can become really dirty and offensive-smelling over time, reduce the odors coming from these toys by occasionally washing off the toys in water once they start to smell.Not only will this improve the pet odor problems in the home, but it will also remove the bacteria that accumulate on the toys over time.
Remove Pet Hair From Surfaces
Finally, be sure to remove pet hair from the furniture, baseboards, and other surfaces where pet hair can accumulate, as this will help reduce the amount of dander and pet odors floating from room to room around the home.Thank you for watching. To learn more, please visit us on the Web at homegarden.about.com.