How to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Part of pet ownership is having to clean up more. It just comes with the territory- cleaning up after food spills, inside accidents, scooping the litter box, and sweeping up hair. But spot cleaning and quick touch-ups only do so much good and occasionally a deep cleaning is in order. If you’ve been noticing a persistent whiff when you come in the front door, it may be time for a whole house scrub down. Here are the areas you’ll find odors and dirt tend to accumulate.
Pet Beds, Blankets, & Pillows : Washing these on a regular basis will keep the stink down; it’s a good idea to launder them when it’s bath day for the dog. That way you’re not putting fresh bedding down for a dirty dog to sleep on. If your pet sleeps with you, wash your own bedding.
Crates, Carriers & Kitty Condos: Did you cat pee in his carrier on his last vet visit and you forgot about it and threw the carrier in the closet? Yep, it’s probably stinking. A good wash outside with the hose will eliminate any smells.
Litter Box: Cleaning out the litter box daily is a must if you don’t want a urine smell waifing through your house. But check the surrounding area for urine that ended up outside the pan. Occasionally scrubbing down the pan will help keep odors from building up.
Furniture: Upholstered furniture needs vacuuming to get rid of clingy pet hair. Vacuum underneath as well. If you detect an odor, find a pet-safe odor eliminating spray. Just keep the pets away until it dries.
Hiding Places: Does your dog like to hang out under the bed? Is you cat’s favorite spot in the closet? Check these areas for any lingering odors. Also, check for any secret spots where your pet might eliminate without you knowing. Once the odor is there, they will return to that spot again and again.
Toys: Toss doggie toys in the washer with baking soda to freshen them up; make sure they are dry before giving them back to the dog or storing them.
Floors: Carpets in homes with pets need regular cleaning. Avoid using fragranced carpet fresheners as they can be irritating to pets. Sprinkle baking soda and let it set for 15 minutes before vacuuming should do the trick. Keep pets away until you’re finished. Tiles, hardwood, and laminate floors are much easier to clean with a mop and don’t hold odors.
Curtains: Since these can absorb odors, take down curtains and run them through the washer.
Air vent covers: These are great traps for pet hair. Unclog them and you’ll find your system works better too. Clean air filters/purifers if you have them. If you don’t, consider getting them as they make your home cleaner and improve the air quality for you and your pets.
To keep you home smelling fresh:
Open the windows: Nothing will make your house smell better than fresh air throughout.
Skip the aerosol air fresheners. They’re no good for you, your pet, or the environment.
When buying cleaning products look for pet-safe non-toxic options. Avoid products with “fragrance” as our pets have a stronger sense of smell than we do. What is pleasant to us can be noxious to them.
And don’t forget to bathe the dog! Cleaning your home top to bottom won’t do much good if you’re pup is running around stinking.
After all that cleaning, if you still are detecting a smell you might want to consult with your vet. Some skin and ear infections can create a bad odor and is a signal that treatment is needed.
