Did you know that May is National Pet Month? Yep! This month is all about celebrating our little fur babies and showing them just how much they mean to us!
Pets bring so much love and joy into our lives, but, unfortunately, they also tend to bring a lot of pet odors and messes. Dirt, dander, pet accidents, and, of course, that lovely “wet dog” smell – there are definitely some stinky scents that come with being a pet owner! Although pet messes and odors are pretty much impossible to completely avoid, there are a few simple tricks to stop them from taking over your home. It is possible to have a clean, fresh smelling house AND pets!!
HOW TO GET RID OF PET ODORS
If you have a pet, you’re probably very familiar with the messes and pet odors they leave behind. Unfortunately, they’re just one of those things that comes along with owning a pet. Not to worry though – there are lots of simple ways to help prevent and eliminate those unpleasant pet messes and scents. Depending on the type of pet(s)you have and where you live, you might need to tweak a few of the suggestions, but they’re all pretty quick and easy to do.
KNOW YOUR PETS’ FAVORITE HANGOUTS.
To cut down on cleaning time, know your pets’ favorite hangouts and target those areas first. Focusing on these higher pet traffic areas can help the mess and odors from spreading to others area of the house. Plus, if you’re short on time, even cleaning these few areas can go a long way in freshening up your home.
If your pet always likes to lie on a specific chair or a certain spot on your bed or sofa, consider putting down a blanket for them. When the spot starts to take on that pet smell, just switch out the blanket and toss it in the wash with the rest of your laundry. Quick and easy!
CLEAN PET MESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Cleaning up pet messes quickly and effectively is definitely a must for a fresh smelling home. For a thorough clean every time, follow these steps:
Pick up any solid waste first and throw it in the garbage.Blot (don’t scrub!) the mess with a dry rag towel to absorb any excess moisture. To help completely remove the odors and any remaining mess, lightly saturate the area with an enzyme cleaner. This will work to break down the proteins in any biological stain and provide a more effective cleaning. Be careful not to use too much cleaner, however, as it can be hard to remove the residue. It’s always better to add too little and repeat a second time than to oversaturate. Let the cleaner sit for 30 minutes (or as directed on the packaging) and then blot the area again with a damp rag or cloth. I like to use a white rag so I can see when it starts to come up clean with the blotting.Repeat the last 2 steps until the stain is completely gone.
DO A DAILY SWEEP.
A quick daily sweep of your floors will gather up all of that fine dust, fur, and debris, and will help to cut down on how often you will need to deep clean. Just a 5 minute sweep of those higher traffic areas is all it takes to keep things tidy. You can even get wet pads for those muddy paw prints or stuck on dirt or grime.
Don't forget to reach under furniture pieces and other tight spots that are hard to reach with the vacuum.
VACUUM
Dirt, dander, fur balls, and other debris tracked in from outside can quickly build up around your home and start to create that “not-so-fresh” pet smell. Regular cleaning with your vacuum helps to pick up a lot of those pet messes and it can actually tackle a lot more than just flooring. Play around with the different attachments to clean the following areas as needed…
floors – be sure to get into all of those corners that fur balls like to collect
carpets and area rugs
furniture (be sure to get under those cushions and in all of the little crevices)
throw pillows
dog beds
curtains
floor vents
For a little extra freshness, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your vacuum filter.
USE AN AIR PURIFIER.
An air purifier will help to pull out dust, dander, and other household allergens from the air. Look for ones with a charcoal filter to further help eliminate those pet odors. Place your air purifier close to those areas that your pet tends to spend the most time or any areas of your home that are particular troublesome (like a basement that’s harder to air out).
CLEAN ALL OF YOUR PET’S ACCESSORIES.
Gather up any soft pets toys, blankets, and pet beds and throw them in the washing machine. Try to schedule a regular time to do this so it just becomes part of your regular washing routine. Check the labels for any special washing instructions and use the hottest water possible for extra disinfecting. For extra smell removal and to keep beds and blankets fluffy, add 1 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.
DEVELOP A REGULAR CLEANING ROUTINE.
We found that having a regular cleaning routine helps to keep you on track and make your cleaning routine much more manageable. Here’s a quick summary of what you should add into your cleaning schedule to keep the house smelling fresh and clean!
Daily: 5 minute sweep of the high traffic areas and any specific trouble spots. If there are any muddy prints, you can also do a wet sweep. Do a quick check to make sure there aren’t any unexpected pet messes that you might have missed.
Every Few Days: Vacuum the carpets and other high traffic areas. Use the sweeper under furniture that fur balls, dust bunnies, or other debris tends to accumulate.
Weekly: Dust all hard surfaces. Freshen up fabrics as needed. Spot clean floors where required. Clean food and water bowls.
Monthly: Wash soft toys, bedding, and dog beds. Remove cushions from sofa to vacuum underneath. Wash floors.
And there you go! We hope that helps you tackle all of your pet odors with confidence!
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