How to Keep Your House From Smelling Like Dog

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We Love Our Dogs, Just Not Our House Smelling Like Dogs

Have you ever gone home to greet your lovely doggy and gotten a waft of smelly dog? Our beloved dogs bring so much joy to our lives every day. Yet, they also bring a serious smell.

We have a black Labrador, and she loves to swim and roll in anything that stinks. Keeping up with her has made us change how we make our house smell fresh. 

Making your home smell fresh with dogs requires a balance. You need to fight the odor, but also clean up to prevent any odor. We know we can buy Febreeze, duh! But how do you keep your house from smelling like a dog? Let us show you!

5 Tips For Making Your House Not Smell Like Dog

1. Wash and Groom Your Dog

One of the first places to start is making sure your dog is clean! Make sure to regularly groom your pet. Washing your dog, depending on the breed, about every 4-6 weeks.

We use this delicious-smelling shampoo and deodorizing spray from Hempz. This is the best dog shampoo for odor. Our dog smells so good after this! Also, regularly brush out their fur to keep dirt and dander from building up.

You can also spot clean your dog with a cloth and water in between baths. Just wet a microfibre cloth or facecloth and clean the muddy spots.

How to Get Rid of Pet Odor with Grooming

• Wash your dog every 4-6 weeks (depending on breed)
• Regularly brush your dog
• Use a scented dog shampoo
• Try using a deodorizing fur spray
• Spot clean fur with a cloth and water

2. Clean Your Home

Regularly cleaning your home will reduce the odor of dog smell. If you have a dog that sheds, daily vacuuming and sweeping are essential. I try to mop every other day. First, clean the floor with hot water only. Then go in with a second round of mopping with a floor cleaner.

One of the best tips I have is using powder Tide detergent as a floor cleaner. It doesn’t have a chemical smell. This makes your house smell like fresh laundry and really takes away any dog odor. I do 1/4 cup tide detergent per mop bucket. Always use the powder version not the liquid!

Also, you do not want to use too much detergent powder, it will make your floor feel tacky with film.

How to Get Rid of Pet Odor with Cleaning

• Daily vacuuming and sweeping
• Mop every other day
• Clean upholstery regularly

Two big items that collect dog smell are couches and carpets. Make sure to have a little carpet cleaner on hand that can wash away the smell. If you have a dog that is not potty trained, this tool is essential!

*Tip- If you have kids, buy play mats that are machine washable. This one is my favorite and fits in my washer easily.

3. Clean Up After Your Dog

If your dog has gone and played in the mud, wipe their paws before they come back inside. This may seem like a no-brainer, but trust me and follow through on it. Try to reduce the amount of dirt coming into the home. This will decrease how much your house smells like dog.

If your dog has gone swimming, this creates a serious pet odor. Try to dry them off as much as possible. We have this hilarious fish towel we put on our dog. It’s microfiber and dries her coat well.

One thing my dog LOVES to do is rub against the side of our door frames. Especially if she is wet or has mud on her. Make sure to take a microfiber cloth and wash down the frames. You can use the same mop bucket solution from above on your cloth.

(Related Post: 13 Easy Cleaning Habits That Actually Keep Your Home Spotless)

4. How to Make a House Smell Good with Pets?

Quality Scented candles

• Try Sand + Paws scented candles.. smells great without giving you a headache. These are specifically designed to target smelly dog odor and neutralize the scent.

Odor ELIMINATING spray

• Febreeze odor eliminator spray (I use this during cleaning sessions)
• Use on couches, curtains, and rugs

Scent Booster

• Wash your clothes and bedding with a scent booster
• Downy Unstoppables make my linens smell fresh for weeks!
• This is seriously a miracle product for removing dog smell from your house

Essential oils

• These add subtle scent without overpowering a room
• Use an aromatherapy diffuser (I have mine on everyday – 3 hour setting- in the kitchen)
• Put essential oils into the inside of toilet paper rolls
• Add essential oils to a cotton ball and hide around your home (out of reach of your dog)
• My go to scent is sweet orange

5. How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in House Fast

To make your house smell fresh from dog before company comes over, check out this guide on making simmer pots. Simmer pots can add a great scent last minute to your house.

The scent won’t overwhelm your home, but be subtle and fresh.

Bonus Tip: Dog Bed Smell

Best Products for Smelly Dogs

Post Recap

This post is all about how to keep your house from smelling like dog

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Traveling with your Dog?

If you are traveling with your pet, check out this beautiful hotel in Oregon that is pet friend! Also, a beautiful ocean view. They even give you a special dog towel for beach visits!