The companionship that animals offer humans can’t be compared to anything. There’s a reason that dogs are called man’s best friend, and cat owners can attest that their feline friends are the perfect solution for entertainment on a slow Saturday at home. But with all of the upsides that animals provide, they leave behind traces of their presence that aren’t so welcome—their odor.
Pet odor is a nuisance for guests and homeowners, though some homeowners may become so accustomed to their pet-smelling atmosphere, that it might be difficult for them to admit that their adorable companions have some not-so-adorable downsides.
Regardless of how troublesome pet odors are, they can always be removed, but prevention should begin long before a problem arises. What’s important is to find solutions early and often, so removing a pet never becomes an option. That’s what is most important. Pets and humans are more than capable of co-existing, humans simply need a strategy.
Why Removal Matters
Even if pet odor doesn’t bother you or your family, stenches may prevent guests from wanting to visit the home.
Many people aren’t as pet-friendly as their pet-owning friends, and their accommodation is important to consider. When odor situations become extreme, some homeowners assume that the best solution is to stay away from their own homes, which should never be a solution.
Prevention Steps
Frequently Groom Your Pets
All pets should be frequently groomed. This includes washing, brushing, and constant cleaning to maintain smells.
Keeping pets clean doesn’t only contribute to a pet’s well-being, but it aids the health and cleanliness of everyone in the home. Simply remember not to bath pets too often, because too much bathing can dry out their skin and take away their much needed natural oils. Pets with dandruff or dry skin can also benefit from a shampoo with oatmeal in it. For the ideal number of times to bathe and clean animals, speak with your groomer.
Consistently Clean Pet’s Toys and Personal Belongings
An entire pet’s environment should be kept as clean as possible. This includes washing pet’s bedding, toys, and other items every week. Homeowners should even clean areas where animals frequently lounge, and the plates they use for food.
Pet bowls are especially important to sanitize, because the smell can linger. Pets should also have their teeth brushed and mouths cleaned to get rid of germs.
Clean All Furniture
To clean the furniture in the home, take apart all pieces, including pillows, blankets, cushion covers, sofa chairs, and any other materials. Once furniture is taken apart, vacuum thoroughly, and finish by washing each piece of furniture.
For complete cleaning, get deep into furniture cracks and crevices to remove all hair and other traces of your animal. Once you’ve completed cleaning, you can flip around furniture pieces and place them on their other side.
Clean Cages
If you have pets like rats, mice, gerbils, ferrets, rabbits and others that live in cages and have bedding, these cages could stink up your entire house. Start by removing animals from their cages to thoroughly clean them. A thorough cleaning includes removing everything from the cage, cleaning all toys and bowls in the cage, and using soap and water to clean the bottom of the cage.
Cages should be filled with fresh bedding, and you should replace every pet item in the cage with a new or clean option. Once the cleaning is complete, you can safely return your pets to their cage.
Install Air Fresheners and Purifiers
Air fresheners and purifiers keep the home smelling fresh and take away most traces of pets. Visitors will hopefully remember your pets for their adorable looks rather than a lack of cleanliness or an odor.
Always remember to clean a purifier, because fur can collect in filters and exasperate persistent odors.
Keep Pets from Marking Territory
Tools can be sold so pets don’t attempt to mark their territory in the same spots. Sprays can be used to keep cat’s litter boxes as fresh as possible, but constantly changing a litter box is just as important. Baking soda is another crucial tool that absorbs odors and removes stenches.
Remember Common Home Maintenance Tips
Always vacuum the entire home. Pets leave behind fur, dander, mud, and traces of urine and feces around the house. Vacuuming can remove some of these traces in the home, but remember to vacuum every area: Floors, baseboards, carpets, rugs and mats, furniture, under furniture, cushions, and any area where a pet may spend time, like children’s room, living room, and garages.
For a really thorough cleaning and job, a carpet cleaning company that has an attachment for furniture may be the best solution. Cleaning companies are great at completing jobs that homeowners might not have been able to finish themselves.
Use Enzyme Cleaners for New Messes
Enzyme cleaners can clean new messes made by pets. Let cleaners soak for about 30 minutes, then use a clean cloth to blot dry the area. Enzyme cleaners are able to break down the proteins that are left behind in animal urine, bodily fluids, and biological stains.
Bigger Project: Homeowners can remove their carpets for deeper cleaning. Rugs and the padding beneath carpet retain a lot of pet odor.
Hardwood floor is easier to clean, but the process of replacing home flooring is costly and will take some time. Removing carpet, however, can make the home stench free.
Common Everyday Steps Make a Huge Difference
Many of the everyday cleaning procedures we embrace are useful for pet maintenance as well. Staying on top of their toys and personal items around the house, as well as monitoring accidents and pet activity can allow you to clean trouble areas when they arise.
Keep Windows Open
Fresh air can help send out bad odors. This small prevention measure is especially useful in the spring, summer and fall when open windows throughout the house create a breeze that blows fresh airs into the home and bad smells out. This step is also useful, because along with the fresh breeze, you can save on electricity.
Have a Cleaning Routine
Stay on top of messes that pets create, including frequent vacuuming, floor washing, laundry, and dusting. The more on top of pet messes you are, the better you’ll be able to take care of them when they happen and prevent them from building up. You never want to let a pet’s mess sit around before you clean it up.
Maintain Well-Groomed Pets
Along will simple steps to keep the home clean, follow simple steps to keep pets clean. Keep them well-groomed by bathing, clipping nails, and brushing their teeth. Remember that dirty fur, dirty nails, bad breath, and any traces of such can stink up a home.
Clean Pets Before they Return Inside
If a pet has been outside, always wipe their paws before they return into the house. Leaving a towel at the door can make this process easy. This process is especially important on snowy, and rainy days, or days where your animals get dirty while they are playing outside.
Reminder: Pet Odor Can Prohibit a Home Sale
If you intend to sell your property, take care of these issues from the start, and never allow them to accumulate. Always clean the home extensively once you’re getting close to your move-out date. Proper cleaning may even mean removing pets from the home for a few days, along with hiring a cleaning company to help with the job.
Pet odors are often pungent, linger, and prospective buyers looking for a home will lose interest if a property has hints of animals. Always beginning cleaning sooner than later, so that you never lose any value on your property.
