Pets are like babies, as any pet owner will agree! Dogs and cats will leave their slightly unpleasant odor on couches, carpets and mattresses, even pee and poop on these places resulting in even more offensive odor. This is true even when these pets are given regular baths because their bodies are different from ours.
But don’t sweat over the small stuff for, after all, pets are also great companions in life. You have to accept the good with the bad and it can start by keeping these tips in decreasing pet odors in mind.
Give Regular Baths and Grooming
Pets who have regular baths and grooming sessions are least likely to have bad smells for obvious reasons. But if your pets still smell bad even with these steps, you should consider other sources such as infections or illnesses. Bring your pets to a veterinarian to check for these things.
Vacuum Floors, Carpets and Mattresses Weekly
Pets, sadly, will leave behind their hair, dead skin cells, and detritus picked up from outside on your floors, carpets, and mattresses, among other places. You must then regularly vacuum these places so that these sources of offensive smell can be removed.
Besides, their removal means lesser risk for allergies and asthma, among other skin and respiratory diseases, caused by pet dander and the like. You also don’t want to be in direct contact with these icky things all the time.
Regular Washing of Linens
As much as possible, wash all linens that come into contact with your pets. These include removable sofa covers, linens on beds, and curtains, all of which are likely to have pet dander sticking to them. The more pet dander present, the more malodorous these soft furnishings will be.
But don’t just wash them with detergents and fabric conditioners since these may be insufficient in removing pet-related odor. Instead, we suggest adding ¼ to ½ cup of plain vinegar to the linens – the amount will depend on the severity of the smell and the number of linens – when washing them; it will neutralize the offensive smell.
Deodorize the Furniture
No, deodorizing sprays aren’t the most effective for the job. We recommend generous sprinklings of baking soda on the sofas, mattresses and other pieces of furniture instead. Baking soda is more effective in absorbing and neutralizing pet odors, aside from being budget-friendly, eco-friendly, and safe for your health.
Let the baking soda sit overnight or for as many hours as possible. Then, vacuum off the excess baking soda.
Most important, you should engage the services of cleaning professionals from the likes of Chem-Dry, Servpro, and Stanley Steemer. You will find that the Chem-Dry prices are also affordable so you don’t have to end up with a clean wallet afterwards.
