How to Rid Your Home of Pet Odors

Pets are really adorable to have as companions. Most people prefer small furry animals like rabbits, cats and dogs. The issue of course, is that when these pets are untrained, they can dirty the home in more ways than one. It’s especially difficult when they get their waste onto spots that are difficult to clean, like carpets, curtains, rugs and drapes.

Often, these smells can last a long time and be very persistent. Even if they’re well trained, pets can leave odors with their drooling saliva and natural body oils. If you’re a pet owner, make sure you keep your home clean for everyone using these tips:

Wash All Your Coverings

Take apart the coverings from your sofa cushions, pillows, bedspreads, blankets and everywhere your pet has been on. Wash them normal detergent mixed with one cup of apple cider vinegar. You can also put one cup of Oxygen bleach into the washing machine for one full load. Oxygen bleach is effective against animal smells and is safe against colors. You should wash these fabric coverings at least once in two weeks.

Once you’re done washing them, use a dryer to dry your fabrics. Drying them out immediately will ensure that no germs grow on them and cause a musty smell that’s the result of slow drying.

Vacuum and Brush Your Carpets and Furniture

Pet hair gets caught in many places in the home, especially your soft seats and carpets. If fur is allowed to stay for long on these surfaces, you may find that they attract dust mites and other insects.

That’s why the first thing you should do is vacuum your carpets, rugs and sofas on a weekly basis. Make sure you cover all the hard to reach places by moving obstructing pieces of furniture and cushions. Once you’re done vacuuming, take a brush and go over these places one last time. If you don’t have a brush, you can always use a lint roller. Both these methods will help you get fur that’s stubbornly stuck to your fabric.

Buy an Air Purifier Specifically Targeted at Odors

In order to help clear up any lingering smells in the air, your first consideration should be to get an air purifier specifically targeted at odors. For this, you’ll need to know the best air purifiers for pet odors.

These air purifiers are fitted with special HEPA filters that can catch any minute particles of unpleasant odor that your pet releases at home. They’re also designed to filter out pet dander and germs that may cause allergies and diseases.

Bathe Your Pet More Frequently

This may sound like common sense, but there are pet owners who believe that bathing their pet is bad for the natural oils on the animal fur. Well, if you use proper pet shampoo, you can be assured that it won’t strip your pet’s fur of its natural sheen.

Pets should be bathed at least once a week, and more if they like to roll on the ground outdoors. Bathing will help remove dirt and any traces of pee and poo that might have gotten stuck to their fur. As long as you use cleaning products that are designed specifically for pets, you can be assured of your pet’s health and safety.

If your pet doesn’t like taking a bath, you can try distracting them with their favourite chew toy, or reward them later. This way, you’ll be able to train them to at least tolerate frequent baths.

Replace the Litter in Your Litter Box

The frequency of litter replacement depends very much on the size of your pet. Larger animals tend to soil the litter box much faster than tinier pets. This is one area where you’ll have to use your nose and not allow the litter box to get soaked.

After you throw away the used litter in a garbage bag, make sure you give the litter box a good rinse with soap and warm water. If the smell lingers, rub a layer of Apple Cider Vinegar on it and leave it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Once the litter box is dry, lay a fresh layer of litter and sprinkle some baking soda for some extra odor protection.

Launder Your Pet’s Bed

Nowadays, most pet owners have a special bed for their pets to sleep in. These beds come in many shapes and sizes. The smaller ones can just be tossed into the washing machine for a regular wash. However, if you have a larger pet bed, you’ll have to remove the coverings and wash those.Any stains and dirt on the fillers will have to be cleaned with soap and water too, using the blotting method. Laying down baking soda or other moisture absorbing powders like Diatomaceous Earth (DE) will be effective on stubborn odors.

Having pets can be a wonderfully comforting experience. However, you do have to take the necessary steps to make sure that your family’s health and that of your pet is not compromised by germs that can proliferate in your home. The best ways to keep track of these germs is to follow the odors that come with them and eliminate them completely. Pet Express is your one-stop certified pharmacy for cheap pet meds online without prescription from the vet.