Home Made Pet Odor Removal Solutions
One of the major drawbacks of owning pets is the odors that can literally overwhelm your home and penetrate every room. Odors can emanate from carpets, pet bedding, your own bedding (if your pet is in the habit of climbing onto your bed) and also the animal itself especially when its coat is wet. Odors are also created when dogs and cats urinate and when male cats spray to mark their territory.
There are many products on the market that make varying claims from effective to miracle but many of these are expensive. Home made pet odor removal ideas abound, some of them quite bizarre.
Two of the most effective and inexpensive products that you can use are white vinegar and baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda).
Baking Soda
Whole books have been written on the subject of uses for baking powder. It seems to be particularly effective in helping to eliminate and neutralize household odors, amongst them pet odors.
Baking soda is completely non toxic to animals, in fact many vets recommend using baking soda to clean your dog’s teeth, so there need be no concern about its use around your pets.
- For pet bedding, carpets and furniture – baking soda can be sprinkled over the area and left overnight. It can then be either vacuumed or shaken to remove the excess.
- For your own bedding or removal/washable covers on pet bedding add baking soda to your normal wash cycle in your washing machine.
- Baking soda can be sprinkled directly onto an animals coat to use as a dry shampoo. Brush out afterwards.
- Some people recommend mixing baking soda into a paste with water to act as a neutralizer to get rid of pet odors where they are more intense and confined to a specific spot. This can be applied directly to the area in question and then rinsed with water.
White Vinegar
Another miracle household item that has a myriad of uses is distilled white vinegar. It is important to note that vinegar is not a stain remover, in fact it will set stains rather than eradicate them. However, in the battle to get rid of pet odors white vinegar is reported by many to be the only thing that works. It is a powerful odor neutralizer and has antibacterial properties.
Vinegar has in itself quite an odor but when used on fabric, carpets, linen and laundry the smell will dissipate after a couple of hours at most and will often not be detectable at all.
- For use on carpets mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water to make a solution that can be applied directly. If your carpet has a thicker pile then make sure you have worked the solution well down into the fibers.
- For use on furniture and soft furnishings the same method as above can be applied. Alternatively place the mixture into a spray bottle and apply in this way.
- Add a small amount, about ½ cup, to your washing machine when washing soft furnishings, covers and bedding. People who use this method claim that there is no odor traceable on your laundry afterwards.
Cat Spraying Odors
Many pet owners report the worst of all pet odors is that of spraying cats. Male cats will spray, often over and over in the same spot, to mark territory. Neutering cats will not always eliminate the problem. An effective way to combat this is to mix baking soda, white vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray over floors, walls, furniture, in fact anywhere that your cat uses. Not only will this get rid of the odor but will discourage your cat from returning to that spot. Vinegar is highly disagreeable to a cat’s sense of smell.
With all the methods listed above it may prove necessary to repeat the process a few times before the smells are totally eliminated. Home made pet odor removal techniques are advocated by many pet owners who swear by their effectiveness not just as alternatives to specifically made products but as improvements on them.
About the Author: Article by Outofstress.com expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton’ All rights reserved. Do not reproduce this article.