10 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Pet Odor (And 5 Pet Cleaning Hacks)

Are you looking to get rid of pesky pet smells in your home? Great, because this guide should help you do just that, so you can live with the scents you truly want!

You can’t really put your finger on it…but it’s a smell…

And it’s not just in one room, but throughout the home!

Maybe the people before you had a smelly pet, or maybe it’s your pet that’s the culprit.

Whatever the case, understanding how to get rid of pet odors is essential for any renter or homeowner to know.

So we put together the ultimate guide to help keep your home fresh year-round!

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• What Causes Pet Odor in the First Place?
• 10 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Pet Odor
• 5 Great Cleaning Hacks All Pet Owners Should Know
• Beat Pet Odor With Ease by Calling Park Avenue Cleaning

What Causes Pet Odor in the First Place?

Pet odors aren’t too fun — knowing what causes them (especially if you’re an owner) can help a lot.

Pet odors are caused by bacteria and yeast that populate in dark and damp areas in your pet’s body. Most healthy pets will have bacteria, but it could be health-related if it’s an overwhelming smell.

Often, your pet may transfer these smells onto places in your home, for instance:

• Mouth to pet toys on the floor
• Paws on your hard floors
• Pet urine on carpets

The outdoors can also be the cause of your smelly furry friend. If you own a dog, it’s important to understand that they sweat through their paws and slightly through hair follicles. On top of that, small particles and smells from the outdoors can cling to their fur.

So with all that said, what’s the answer to eliminating pet smells?

Let’s go over these 10 game-changing methods!

10 Ways To Get Rid of Pet Odor

1. Wash Your Pet’s Bed

If your pet has a bed it enjoys snuggling upon, that could be the cause of your odor woes. Pet beds tend to carry dander, saliva, dirt, hair, and yes…even urine.

If your pet’s bed has a cover, simply remove it and toss it into your washing machine for a thorough wash.

Figure out how your pet’s ENTIRE bed is supposed to be cleaned. (These days, that’s easy to do by looking online to check out the manufacturer’s directions). Some have to be air-dried, while others can be machine-washed and -dried.

2. Clean Pet Items

Pets can have tons of items of “their own:” things like toys, collars, pillows, and bowls. So it’s crucial to clean these items from time to time. Some items can be washed by hand (pet bowl). But some things won’t even be machine washable, so you can adopt a nifty old-fashioned trick and use baking soda.

How does it work?

Create a simple cleaning mix of baking soda and white vinegar. Spray this mix onto non-machine washable times. This will help remove odors (more on this later.).

3. Use an Enzymatic Cleaner for Problem Areas

Enzymatic cleaners are a pet owner’s dream. They are a category of cleaners that contain potent enzymes in their ingredients to get rid of stains.

One highly recommended brand is Rico & Roxie Professional Strength & Stain Remover. This product is versatile in dealing with different surfaces, including pet urine on carpets.TriNova Pet Stain & Odor Remover Eliminator is another excellent choice if you’re looking for an all-natural alternative.

Enzymatic cleaners are ideal for those problematic stains or smells that just don’t seem to go away. If you’re just moving into a place, it’s important first to figure out the source of the smell, then use an enzymatic solution to handle it.

4. Wash Your Pet

This one is a tried-and-true way of keeping your pet clean and fresh.

Wash your pet on a regular basis to get rid of dirt and dander that hides in your pet’s fur/coating.

The Spruce Pets, a pet education company, recommends washing and drying your dog at least once a month and not going longer than 3 months without doing so.

When it comes to felines, you may think their cute fur licking habits do the trick.

But not quite:

It turns out their self-pampering still leaves some dirt behind. Because of this, The National Cat Groomers Institute of America recommends bathing your cat every 4-6 weeks. Of course, this number is an average, and other factors like health conditions and cat type (indoor or outdoor) also play a role.

5. Invest in an Air Purifier

Air purifiers are designed to improve air quality by taking harmful dust, dirt, and debris from your home’s air. It’s natural for pet odors to contain these elements in the overall smell, so air purifiers help a lot.

If you’re a non-pet owner just looking to get rid of pet smells from a previous renter or homeowner — a regular air purifier can do the trick.

If you’re a pet owner, look for an air purifier specifically designed to get rid of odor-causing pet matter. As of right now, the air purifier that pet owners recommend most is the Levoit Core P350 Air Purifier.

6. Vacuum Your Space Consistently & Well

Vacuuming (and doing so well) is one of the best ways to keep your space’s floors clean and its air quality better.

Vacuuming helps get rid of pet dander, dirt, and hair in your carpets, rugs, and hard surfaces. Also, go over areas multiple times and from different angles to get the best results.

Another thing about vacuuming is the vacuum itself:

We recommend you go for a vacuum that has a HEPA-certified filter. In our “5 expert ways to reduce dust in your home” post, we spoke about how these sorts of vacuums get rid of a whopping 99.97% of bacteria and other allergens from the home.

This will include dirt and other odor-causing factors that are contributing to smell. 

Lastly, look to replace your filter every 3-6 months to maintain the quality of your vacuum’s performance.

7. Use Scents & Air Fresheners Consistently

This should be a cherry on top when it comes to keeping your home smelling fresh.

Be sure to adopt scented candles and air fresheners like a simple Febreze or the Febreze: Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator to keep your home smelling great (other odor neutralizing sprays can work well too).

You can also keep your candles or oil diffusers in rooms your pet visits the most.

8. Broom & Mop Hard Floors

As smooth as your hard floors may feel, they tend to collect dust, pet hair, dirt, and other unwanted particles from your pet.

That’s why it’s crucial to sweep the floors on a scheduled basis and even go over them with a Swiffer or a simple mop.

Mopping helps sanitize your floors and get rid of things brought from the outside via your pet’s paws (or shoes worn indoors).

If you’re using a mop, it’s vital to keep it as clean as possible before and after use.

And what’s one great way to clean your mop?

Soaking it in a gallon of hot water along with half a cup of bleach or 1 cup of vinegar.

It’s advised to mop high traffic (where people frequently walk) hard floors at least once per week.

9. Steam Clean Your Carpets

Steam cleaning is a great way to beat dirt, debris, and even potential pet urine that lies dormant in your carpets. Steam cleaning machines are a great tool to get rid of pet stains at the source as well.

If steam cleaning is something you only need once or now and again, then hiring a company specializing in it is a great idea.

10. Open Windows for Fresh Air

Lastly, keeping windows open to allow fresh air to enter is a simple addition to everything. Fresh air helps to ventilate your place and dilute pet odors naturally.

When away from your home for long hours, look to keep some windows open with a window screen in place to keep rooms fresh.

5 Great Cleaning Hacks All Pet Owners Should Know

1. Citrus & Hydrogen Peroxide

This mix is known as an “all-purpose” cleaner. Pet owners should know about this because it can be used with a cloth to clean pet items, litter boxes, and many other things.

The recipe is simple: 2 cups of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and ¼ lemon juice.

The lemon ingredient brings a great citrus scent while hydrogen peroxide deep cleans as needed.

2. Baking Soda Is Your Best Friend (After Your Pet)

Baking soda is known as a universal odor eliminator.

If you’re not familiar with where a pet odor is coming from, putting baking soda in the vicinity of the smell can help reduce it very well, as you figure out where it could be coming from.

If you’re looking to make a spray solution containing baking soda, white vinegar & baking soda are a great combination (as mentioned earlier). This solution can be applied to pet stains and urine spots for a thorough clean.

3. Use a UV Blacklight to Find Stained Areas

Did you know that a black light can help you find stains?

Pretty cool, right?

And it’s easy:

Purchase a UV blacklight, and simply turn off the lights in your home. Then, scour your different rooms for spots on your floor, countertops, and furniture. Be sure to bring the light close by for an accurate read of potential stains.

Once you identify stains, you can apply one or some of the cleaning methods mentioned to take care of them.

4. Clean Paws When They Enter the Home

As mentioned earlier, if your pet is outdoorsy, they tend to bring things outside into your home.

So if you own a dog, for instance, it’s a great practice to clean their paws once they enter the home. This will help eliminate the dirt and sweat found on their paws.

Dexmas Mudbuster is a great paw cleaning tool if you’re looking for a reliable helper.

5. Eliminate Odors by Hiring Cleaning Experts

Cleaning professionals know the details and nuances that come with cleaning homes effectively.

This is also true when it comes to pet odors. Professional cleaners have an incredible arsenal of cleaning tools, and they put thorough effort into keeping your home smelling great and squeaky clean.

With that said, what cleaning company should you hire to help eliminate pet odor?

Park Avenue Cleaning is happy to be your answer!

Beat Pet Odor With Ease by Calling Park Avenue Cleaning