Getting Rid of that Pet Odor at Home

CEBU, Philippines — It is often a major family matter deciding whether or not to keep pets at home. There are benefits to have, of course – but there are disadvantages, too. The cleaning up after pets, alone, is already a main task.

A cuddly pup, for example, would be allowed to roam free in certain sections of the house. In that case, there’d be pee and poo here and there at times. These would be cleaned up quickly, for sure.

But after some time, it doesn’t take a sense of smell like a dog’s for house residents to notice something. There’s a distinct odor that seems to pervade everywhere – and it smells like puppy. The worse thing is that the moment the house residents themselves notice the odor, the visitors that come to the house now and then have already long sensed it.

It’s embarrassing indeed when the house begins to smell like the house pets. First of all, it’s non-hygienic. And there’s a technique to what Dr. Marty Becker, DVM calls a “smell neutral” environment: fresh and clean, smelling neither like pet odors nor like cleaning products.

In an article at the website www.vetstreet.com, Dr. Becker shares simple tips to keep the house clean and smelling fresh even with pets around:                  

Assemble your supplies. You’ll always want to have an enzymatic cleaner on hand. Buy a large bottle if you have a very young pet – or an old one – because accidents happen. The enzymes in these cleaners attack the components of pet waste, neutralizing odors along the way (but be sure to follow the instructions to avoid any damage to rugs or carpets).

You’ll also want bleach (dilute one half cup of bleach to a gallon of water; it’s a fantastic disinfectant) to clean up wet messes, and baby wipes to wipe down your pet. Since pet odors start with the pets themselves, make sure you have pet shampoo, both regular and no-water varieties (your veterinarian can recommend a good one).

Save battered towels for pet duty, and have other regular cleaning tools on hand.

Get into a clean routine. Regular cleaning, especially of areas where your pet likes to spend most of his time, will keep smells from building up and digging in. Wash pet bedding often (weekly is ideal), and sweep, Swiffer or vacuum a couple of times a week or more. Bathing your dog weekly – yes, I said weekly – with a shampoo formulated for pets will not only keep him cleaner and better smelling but it may also help with some skin problems. Keeping long-haired pets cut short will lessen the volume of shed fur and provide less refuge for odors. For in-between clean, swipe your pet with a baby wipe. (Bonus: This may help your own allergies too.) And don’t forget to make time for a regular deep cleaning. Hire someone or rent power equipment, but get in there deep and get it truly clean.

Don’t wait for mess to dig in. The longer a pet mess sits, the more difficult it will be to completely eradicate the smell. Get on it immediately: Pick up what you can, blot off the liquid elements, then get the enzymatic cleaner working. If you can’t clean right away, spray water to keep the problem area moist.

Since you want the enzymatic cleaner to have its best chance, apply as directed (always, always read directions!), and then keep the area moist longer by covering carpet with plastic wrap and putting a heavy book over the spot. Make a schedule for routine, preventive cleaning to help prevent the buildup of mess and odors.

For getting past the smell of cleaning products, Dr. Becker suggests:

Rinse, rinse and rinse some more. Water takes everything away, both the remains of the mess and the products that vanquished it. Run your rags through the washer and toss one-use products, such as electrostatic wipes, in the trash.

With the right tools and the right cleaning products, the pet smells you’re waging war on will soon be waving the white flag of surrender – until next time, that is. It takes continuing effort to keep the house clean and odor-free.

Many passionate pet lovers wouldn’t exchange their pets for a clean home, no matter what.  Fortunately, there’s no need to make a difficult choice. Those ideas from Dr. Becker are sure to help. - Erlinda Ornopia