Photo by Henry Majoros on Unsplash
Pets enrich our lives and complete our families. Unfortunately, their natural smells aren’t always pleasant to the nose. However, if you find that pet odors have sunk into your carpet or upholstery, don’t despair. There are things that you can do to remove the pet odor yourself — and if you can’t, a professional can.
Keep Your Pet Clean
The best way to stop odors is before they get grounded into your carpets and upholstery is to keep your pets clean! Pet fur can be oily, which is the source of the odors that get transferred to your house. Regularly bathing your pets is a great way to keep everyone smelling fresh! If you start when they’re babies, it’s easier to bathe them when they get older.
If you can’t teach an old dog (or cat) the trick of loving the bath, turn it over to someone who can. A periodic grooming can be pricey, but you’re going to get that money back in household freshness! It’s worth it.
Tackle Accidents Immediately
Every pet will have an accident in the house at some point. It’s not intentional, and typically it’s the fault of illness or simply not being able to avoid it. When an accident does happen, don’t let it sit. Clean it up as soon as you find it. The longer you let it set, the more the scent will stick to your carpet, furniture, and even the paint around it! It’s tempting to leave a mess for the morning, but taking the time to clean it now can reduce the amount of odor you have to remove later.
Cleaning vs. Covering it Up
It’s all well and good to say that it’s easier to prevent odors than to remove them, but sometimes that ship has sailed. If you’re noticing a distinct pet odor problem, it’s too late to prevent it. Pet odor removal is different than just covering pet odor up. If you think the couch smells funky twenty minutes before company arrives, reach for the fabric spray! You will probably be able to cover up all but the most pungent pet odors with a spray. That will last an evening… but it won’t fix your underlying problem.
Pet odor removal is more difficult than temporarily covering it up. Start with a gentle vinegar spray in which you mix white vinegar with water in a spray bottle. Mist the area that needs odor removal. The vinegar will work to break down the oils that trap smells in fabrics. Then either let the vinegar evaporate in the sun or vacuum it off the floor or upholstery with a strong wet/dry vacuum. If that doesn’t work, you can try applying and sponging off a paste made from vinegar and baking soda. If that doesn’t work either, you should turn the problem over to the professionals. Taking extreme measures could result in damaging or discoloring your fabrics.
Pet odor removal isn’t easy. If you can’t stop odors from creeping up, tackle them as soon as you discover them. If your gentle measures aren’t doing the trick, reach out to a professional company. Heavy duty cleaners need to be handled properly, or they could damage your furniture or carpet. A professional pet odor removal company can use technologies and cleaners you don’t have to get your home smelling fresh again.