Create Your Own Pet Odor Eliminator with These Hacks

If you have a pet, you know that they're more than just a furry creature that lives in your home - they're part of the family. While we love our cats, dogs, gerbils, lizards, or other animals you've welcomed into your family, they can make our homes smell not so fresh.

Since we spend so much time at home, we can also grow nose blind to our pet odors, but our guests get a waft of it as soon as they walk through the front door.

The last thing you want is for your best animal friend to stink up your home and make it unbearable for you, your family, and your guests.

You can try every pet odor eliminator on the market, or you can use these simple DIY hacks to keep your home smelling fresh and free of unwanted pet smells.

Common Causes of Pet Odor

While your pet can be smelling bad from something as simple as poor grooming habits, you might want to consider why else they might be exuding an odor.

If you noticed an unusual smell coming from your mouth, armpits, or anywhere else on your own body, you might see a doctor to figure out the cause. The same goes for your pet. Be sure to seek out a vet if you notice unusual odors or behaviors.

You can try to give your pet a bath or brush their teeth, but there are other reasons that could require a visit to the vet.

Skin Conditions

Skin allergies and conditions like dermatitis can lead to unpleasant odors. When the skin's protective barrier is compromised, bacteria and yeast can overgrow, causing a musty or "doggy" smell.

Dental Issues

Poor dental hygiene can result in bad breath. Plaque and tartar buildup can create a fishy odor. Regular teeth brushing and professional dental cleanings are essential to prevent this.

Ear Infections

Ear infections or otitis media can produce a variety of unpleasant smells, ranging from yeasty to a more severe, sewage-like odor. This is often caused by a buildup of earwax or pus.

Anal Gland Issues

Anal sacs are small glands near your pet's anus that produce a marking scent. When these glands become impacted or infected, they can cause a musty odor and discomfort for your pet.

Digestive Problems

Excessive gas can make your whole house stink. Your pet's diet, eating habits, digestive upset, medications, parasites, or stress can all play a role in flatulence.

Poor Grooming

Regular bathing is important for maintaining good hygiene for your pet. Accumulated dirt, oils, and dead skin cells can cause them to smell bad.

DIY Pet Odor Eliminator

Your home might be a happier place with your pet around, but that doesn't mean it's a cleaner place. Chances are your pet likes to run around outside, get into the trash, drink the toilet water, or anything else that might contribute to their odors.

If that air freshner just isn't working enough or your favorite candle isn't doing the job, there are hacks you can use to help keep your home smelling fresh without an expensive pet odor eliminator.

Use Vacuum Carpet Freshner

When you pets in the home - especially furry ones - it's important to vacuum regularly to keep pet hair away and the smell that might come with it. However, just using the vacuum might not be enough to get rid of all the odors.

Carpet is porous and fibrous, meaning it acts like a sponge for odors. It absorbs spills, pet accidents, and airborne particles carrying scents, trapping them within its fibers.

Over time, these odors can become embedded, making them difficult to remove. Factors like humidity and moisture can make the issue worse, creating the perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to thrive.

To help eliminate odors from your carpet, you can use a vacuum carpet freshner like Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Carpet Odor Eliminator.

You can also make your own with your favorite scent by putting 10-15 drops of essential oil in one cup of baking soda.

To use a carpet freshner, sprinkle some on your carpet and leave it on for about 15 minutes - one hour. Keep your pets away from the area until it's clean. Be sure to vacuum in different directions to help remove it all.

Mop the Floor

Whether you have carpet or hardwood floors, it's important to keep them all clean. You might not think your hardwood floors contribute to pet odors, but they can. Hardwood is a porous material like carpet and can absorb smells too.

Maybe your dog ran inside with wet paws or your cat had an accident on the floor, but a simple paper towel clean up might not do the trick.

Mopping your floors regularly cannot only help freshen up your home, but they can help keep your floors looking nice and in good condition.

The Swiffer Wet Jet is one of the more convenient and quick ways to mop your hardwood floors with bringing out the old fashioned mop and bucket.

If you want to use your own cleaner, invest in a regular Swiffer with dry cloths, spray your solution, and leave your home smelling fresh.

Don't Forget the Walls

Vacuumming the carpet and mopping the floors are important, but you don't want to neglect the walls of your home either. Just like carpet and hardwood, drywall is porous and can absorb odors, so you could clean all day and still not know where that smell is coming from.

To clean your walls, you can use paint-safe wall cleaning wipes or a gentle sponge with soap and water. For stains, try to Magic Eraser.

Make a Designated Pet Area

Of course we want our best friends to share our living spaces with us, but they can also make it smell. Cats especially could benefit from having a designated area, so their litter box doesn't stink up your whole home.

If you have the space, dedicating a room to your cats is ideal, so the odors aren't floating around in communal areas. However, you might not have enough space to do so.

In that case, try to store it in a closet where they can easily get in and out, and where you don't store any clothing. Sprinkle some cat litter deodorizer after cleaning to help it smell fresh.

When it comes to dogs, you might love when they sleep with you in bed or cuddle with you on the couch, but that could be contributing to the pet odor. Buy your pup its own bed and make sure to wash it regularly to keep odors at bay.

Keep Your Pet Clean

In order to keep a clean and fresh-smelling household, you'll want to stop odors at their source. While your pet is bound to pick up some smells, you can help by bathing and/or grooming them regularly.

Be sure to use a pet-friendly shampoo as human shampoo can be harmful to animals. The shampoo we use can strip your pet's skin of their natural oils that help keep skin hydrated and protect against bacterial or fungal infections.

Although bath time can make your pet smell fresh, it can also be a hassle and shouldn't be done everyday. Instead you can opt for a deodorizing spray to help eliminate odors and keep their coat shiny.

Be Your Own Pet Odor Eliminator

While you love having your pets around, you likely don't love the odors they can sometimes bring with them. Create a regular cleaning schedule for yourself using these hacks to keep your pet-friendly home smelling fresh all the time.