smelly house - help

[Dieselsmom]

OK so this is getting embarrasing. I wash the dog blankets weekly in detergent and vinegar after they soak in natures miracle for 1/2 hour. I vacuum every other day, wash the carpets biweekly, spray febreeze or natures miracle on the furniture like mad, and my house stinks.

Its really embarrasing, i had people over last night and we stood outside talking and when we opened the door to go inside all I could smell was dog. The dogs themselves dont stink so I am at wits end.

The dogs haven't made any messes in the house so I dont know what the heck is going one.

The only thing I haven't tried is an air purifier. Anybody use one, do they work. I really dont know what to do and where the smell is coming from but its driving me nuts, my house is not filthy.....argh

 

[sandy's mom]

I know I am the same way, I can't stand for my house to smell.

Have you tried moving your upholstered furniture outside to sit in the sun.
I know my mom used to do that with mattresses and they always smelled fresh.

There may be something in your carpet that is holding an odor. Maybe you should have professionally cleaned.

Sorry, I know I am not much help

 

[Simmons99]

Carpet pad is probably the culprit - when you clean your carpets the water gets down into the pad and if the machine isn't powerful enough to pull up all the water (or there was too much water applied) it can stink - similiar to the smell of dog.

Also - check on top of door frames/window frames/cabinets/etc. I know when we do a "spring" cleaning every few months - there is always dog/cat hair up there.

Then you can check your central air system - the ducts need to be cleaned like once a year and also the filter should be changed more often (like every 30-60 days)

Then you can check drapes and have your upholstered furniture professionally cleaned (preferably with a dry-chemical process).

BUT - I am the same way about the smell. Every week we wash the bedding, clean out crates with disinfectant, vacuum thoroughly, spray all absorbant surfaces with febreeze, scrub the hard floors with natures miracle and/or vinegar solution.

 

[BaconBits]

I completely understand! I feel embarrassed because if I can smell it, someone else definitely can too. I use febreeze. That seems to work for a while. I am constantly washing blankets/beds as well. I've heard that it's their saliva that smells, not necessarily their body. That's why it sometimes smells when your dog has been playing outside and comes in panting. At least that's what I've noticed.

When we were feeding the dogs Pedigree, you can literally smell the corn coming out of them. Maggie smelled like Doritos!

I have air wicks, febreeze and candles everywhere too and they only work for a while. For some reason, the house will smell like a mixture of dogs AND whatever scent I'm using! Maybe plugins will work?? Or powders on the carpet.

 

[Kirby Kirb]

Love to CLEAN!!

I am sure we all have these problems!! With a house full of animals 2 dogs, and 2 cats, I am in constant battle of cleaning, and keeping the smells away! luckily I love to clean so its not too bad! I normally wipe my floors down daily (dog saliva causes smells), and vacume (shedding) I wash my mats (infront of doors) weekly or biweekly, the cushions on the couch come off so I wash them bi-weekly. Kirby's bedding gets washed weekly when I do laundrey, as well as his crate cleaned out. I use bissel carpet cleaner for animals, I put some into a old febreeze bottle (hate febreeze such a waste of money!!) and dilute it with water, and spritz everything down, such as couch, stair, curtains etc!! I also use it if there are drool spots on the carpet or couch. Also since I just have area rugs, i fill up a tupperware container with some bissel, and laundry soap, with water, and wash my carpets by hand, and the whole couch) (maybe once a month with a good scrubbin!)). Also Kirby gets a bath maybe 1-2 times per month, just to freshen up!! After he is done drinking I try to dry his face, cause i could slip on one of his puddles!! Also I keep a small towel by the patio to wipt his toes, cause god only knows what he steps in when he is outside!!! haha!! So thats my cleaning in a nut shell..i am so worked up talking about it, I can't wait to get home!!

 

[ladyluck_t]

Try using the Vinegar for a spray around rather than febreeze and NM. it will smell of vinegar for a little bit but the scent will go away. Alot of scent sprays have oils and alcohols in them, they may get sticky enough to collect new scent. Candles will leave a residue as well (think the hood of your stove, grease issues)

Anyhow, vinegar doesnt have any of these side effects. Try it, test it first for color fastness on your furniture, I use it 100% strength but you can dilute with water.

 

[ozzy's mum]

Its normally doggy saliva that creates the doggy kind of smell. I find wiping Ozzy's mouth frequently with a wet cloth(esp after eating and drinking) and washing bedding frequently really works.

 

[Kirby Kirb]

I have air wicks, febreeze and candles everywhere too and they only work for a while. For some reason, the house will smell like a mixture of dogs AND whatever scent I'm using! Maybe plugins will work?? Or powders on the carpet.

Plug ins are good, I find that if you use different scents in each outlet, the smell will be better, carpet fresh sucks! I would not recomend it. It can kill your vacume, and I dont believe its good for anmials if they lay on it, or rub there face in it. My pug loves to rub his face all over, and when i used carpet fresh, he broke out!!! I sometimes put some in containers and keep them under the sink, and in the laundrey room... OHHH also I use dryer sheets in my registers, keeps the fresh smell blowin, and keeps fur and crud from going into the vets!!! I change them 1-2 weeks!!!!

 

[adobeboxers]

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one. We had our carpets cleaned in August for the 2nd time this summer and I made the mistake by going with a some place new. They left my carpets REALLY wet. Now it stinks and I probably waited too long to say anything to the cleaning place.

I try to clean my baseboards and the edge of the carpet as well and use baking soda on the carpet to get up the smell...it helps a little!

 

[FletchersMom]

I am sure we all have these problems!! With a house full of animals 2 dogs, and 2 cats, I am in constant battle of cleaning, and keeping the smells away! luckily I love to clean so its not too bad! I normally wipe my floors down daily (dog saliva causes smells), and vacume (shedding) I wash my mats (infront of doors) weekly or biweekly, the cushions on the couch come off so I wash them bi-weekly. Kirby's bedding gets washed weekly when I do laundrey, as well as his crate cleaned out. I use bissel carpet cleaner for animals, I put some into a old febreeze bottle (hate febreeze such a waste of money!!) and dilute it with water, and spritz everything down, such as couch, stair, curtains etc!! I also use it if there are drool spots on the carpet or couch. Also since I just have area rugs, i fill up a tupperware container with some bissel, and laundry soap, with water, and wash my carpets by hand, and the whole couch) (maybe once a month with a good scrubbin!)). Also Kirby gets a bath maybe 1-2 times per month, just to freshen up!! After he is done drinking I try to dry his face, cause i could slip on one of his puddles!! Also I keep a small towel by the patio to wipt his toes, cause god only knows what he steps in when he is outside!!! haha!! So thats my cleaning in a nut shell..i am so worked up talking about it, I can't wait to get home!!

Wanna come to my house?!!