Pet Odor Removal: We Love Pets, But Not the Smell

Pet Odor Removal: We Love Pets, But Not the Smell

 Many of us have a pet in our households. Families commonly even have more than one. We love our pets. Whether, it’s cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, hamsters, or even some of the more exotic kinds of pets, they’ve each made their way into our homes and hearts.  In fact, most people consider their pets part of the family. That being said, as much as we love our furry friends, we don’t love the odors that are associated with them. Pet odor removal is a tricky problem, so how do you handle it?

Tough Pet Odors

When it comes to odors, pet odors are some of the most difficult to remove. This can be one of the more frustrating parts of owning an animal and no matter how much you clean it never seems to fully go away.  Pets leave odors in your home any number of ways.

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Pet Odor Causes

Your dog could come in after a walk or outside play and track in dirt, mud, and grime that absorbs into the upholstery the like to sit on.
Odors from litter boxes or small animals with litter trays can absorb into the room they sit in.
There’s the occasional pet “accident” on the carpet that almost seems impossible to fully remove the odor.
Pet fur and dander gets left behind and trapped in sofa upholstery and carpet.
Or after bath time when your pet decides to dry off on the sofa, leaving behind the musty smell of wet dogs.
Even taking them on a weekend trip in the car, you will probably notice that your vehicle still has that well known “dog smell” several days later.

These can all be frustrating odor causes. Sometimes they become so consistent that we don’t even notice them anymore, but our guests sure do.

Pet Odor Removal Solutions

There are many tricks and cleaners promoted for pet odor removal.

Home Remedy Solutions

Vacuuming is a good first step as it removes the trapped fur and dander from the carpets. Afterwards, Baking soda sprinkled over the carpets, rugs, and upholstery, then left to sit can help neutralize odors that have been trapped. After a few hours, the baking soda can be vacuumed up.

Sunshine and fresh air is another good way to help with pet odors. Portable fabric items can be moved outside or hung on a clothes line on a dry, non-humid day. Sun and airflow assist with removing odors trapped in fabric fibers.

A spray bottle of equal parts water and vinegar is a common suggestion for dried odor spots on carpet. However, with this suggestion it is also encouraged to test the spray first to ensure it does not discolor carpeting. It is not common for vinegar to cause discoloration, but it is always advised to double-check.

Cleaners

Apart from home remedy suggestions, enzymatic cleaners are a common odor removing method.

It is also recommended to wash any hard surfaces, such as walls and floors. Odor molecules can spread and attach to these hard surfaces as well, so this helps ensure you are covering as much of the problem area as possible.

Resilient Pet Odors

However, sometimes pet odors persist and you need more of a solution than home remedies or basic cleaners can provide. That is where odor removal experts come in. Odor removal services specializes in eliminating the toughest odors at the source and can provide a more thorough result than other solutions.

 

Resources

How to Get Rid of Pet Odors, August 22, 2016