You love your furry buddy and enjoy having him around, but that doesn’t mean you have to love the odors that come along with him. Whether you need to tackle accidents on the carpet, a run-in with a skunk or that gross wet-dog smell, homemade odor neutralizers can work wonders in your home.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is the basis of many homemade pet deodorizers, and, in fact, you can use it all by itself to get rid of pet odors quickly and safely. Shake dry baking soda directly on your pet and rub it in well, then brush it out of your pet’s fur to deodorize him. Sprinkle dry baking soda on your carpet and furniture to handle pet odors in your home. Let it sit for a bit, then vacuum it up to leave everything smelling fresh and clean. Baking soda added to a load of laundry helps to remove pet odors from clothes, too.
Vinegar
Use vinegar full-strength or mixed half-and-half with water to remove just about any pet odor from your home, including urine. Test a hidden area of carpets or furniture, to make sure they're colorfast, then spray a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water on any smelly spots. The vinegar smell takes over at first, but when it fades, the pet odor is gone as well. You can also add a cup of vinegar to the wash if you have clothes or towels that have picked up pet smells, and the odors will wash away.
Detergent Blend
A simple solution of dishwashing detergent and distilled vinegar provides a two-pronged attack on really strong pet odors such as skunk spray. Add one or two tablespoons of detergent to each gallon of vinegar and pour the mixture directly on your pet. Rub it in well, all the way down to his skin. The vinegar removes the smell, and the detergent cuts through grease to help the clingy skunk spray wash right out. This also works on pets that have a strong body odor. Wash your pet with his regular shampoo once he’s had the vinegar treatment.
Borax Mixture
You can use a mixture of equal parts borax, vinegar and salt to clean really tough spots on your carpet. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to house-train a puppy. Stir the ingredients together to make a paste, rub it well into the soiled area and leave it for a few hours until it’s dry. Vacuum well, and the stain and odor will both come up with the powder. While this mix is usually quite safe, always test on a hidden part of your carpet before you apply it, just in case.