Use Scented Oils or Diffusers
Another strategy for how to keep house smelling good with pets is to use scented oils and diffusers. Unlike traditional air fresheners, which only cover up the odor, diffusers and essential oil products can help reduce the odor-causing bacteria in the room.
Dog hair, dirt and debris can make carpets and rugs smelly. Vacuuming is the number one way to keep your carpets and floors clean and eliminate the causes of those nasty odours. Some dogs will shed more than others but keep your carpets fur-free by vacuuming at least once a week.
Citrus scents top the list of smells your dog probably hates. The scent of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits is strong and unpleasant for your dog. For this reason, you can use citrus scents as a dog repellant in off-limits parts of the house. Their noses are irritated by the strength of citrus.
HEPA air purifiers can remove pet smells, allergens, pet dander, and other harmful substances from the air that can affect your health and the odor inside of your home.
Some dogs make excessive amounts of sebum and it gets onto everything in your house.” Bonk says these oils and other things, like dog dandruff, are often difficult to remove from certain fabrics and carpets. “Bacteria and yeast that are normally present on your dog's skin and in their ears can cause odor,” she says.
Carpet fibers trap pet dander, mud, dirt, vomit and feces, making them difficult to clean. They also retain odors, so your house smells even when you've thoroughly cleaned. Replacing carpets with hard floors instantly solves this problem. As a bonus, removing carpets can relieve dust or pet allergies.
Generally speaking, a healthy dog with a short, smooth coat and no skin problems doesn't need to be bathed often. In most cases, dog baths are more for the benefit of their pet parents than for the dogs themselves. Even so, it's a good idea to bathe your pooch at least once every two to three months.
Baking soda is one of the best items you can use to absorb bad smells. You can leave an open box or bowl of baking soda in your refrigerator and sprinkle some in the bottom of your trash cans to neutralize foul odors that tend to develop in these places.
Some of the best odor eliminators are coffee grounds, tea, vinegar, oats, and baking soda. Leaving a bowl of any of these odor absorbers out in a room that's due for a little freshening up will help clear out the less-than-pleasant smells from the air.
Several common household items (most notably baking soda and white vinegar) contain powerful properties that eliminate smells without the use of chemicals. But less-commonly known products like coffee and vodka can do wonders when it comes to eliminating, not simply covering, bad smells.
Baking soda is a natural odor-absorber. Sprinkle the powder over carpets, rugs and furniture, let it sit overnight and vacuum it up the next day. Likewise, apple cider vinegar can be used with laundry detergent in your washing machine to remove smells from blankets, cushion covers, curtains and other linens.
“In between wet shampoos, baking soda may be used for dry shampooing dogs and cats,” says Pickard. “Start by brushing your pet to remove any dirt or loose hair. You may want to do the next step outside. Rub baking soda into your pet's fur and massage it into their skin, making sure not to set it into their eyes.
Since dogs have a very good sense of smell, the lavender oil should always be diluted, otherwise, it is too potent for any dog to enjoy. Although most dogs seem indifferent to the aromatic smell of lavender, some dogs appear to actually like it a lot even though it is quite rare.
Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
What scents make dogs go crazy? Pungent herbs like rosemary, mint, and basil are enough to make a dog crazy. Despite their distaste, these scent aversions can come in handy when reinforcing good behavior–especially when you want to keep your dig-happy dog out of your garden.