smelly house - help

[kscoleman]

It's funny because we have this same problem with the smell! I found the culprit in my house though...blankets. Paris had taken to sleeping on the pile of blankets next to the couch and while I religiously washed HER bedding, I never thought about those blankets. So off to the laundromat we went and $10 later I had 15 clean blankets and no doggy smell! Yay!

Also, a good quick tip is to put the dryer sheets in your a/c vents. It doesn't get rid of the smell by any means, but it covers it up for when you know you have people coming over

 

[SorcasMa]

We don't have a doggy smell, hardwood floors don't seem to hold the odor. The blanket he can lay on when he's on the bed, smells his Boxer smell (you know that smell that no other breed seems to have, just Boxers?)

And please, don't use the carpet fresheners if you have pets. I had a GS, and he became really sick and had nose problems after I used it on the carpet one day. At the time, I had no idea that it would affect him, otherwise I would never, ever used it.

Little side note, I had received an email a little while back about watching what you clean your floors with because the chemicals on the floor can be absorbed through the pad on animal's feet. Since I am getting my puppy on Friday, I am now looking at alternatives to cleaning the floors with something natural. I do not want to be the cause of my pup getting sick or dying because of chemicals entering his system.:(

 

[gunnersmom]

The only time carpet cleaners work is if you have a high pile carpet. If you don't its recommended NOT to wash them at all. They are not made to have water put on them. This especially with industrial carpet or indoor outdoor. Its very inexpensive and just for that reason. I had to take a cleaning course once for a job and this is what the instructor told us!

For me I find keeping the windows open as much as possible keeps the pet smells and skin kid LOL smells out. Also i vaccumm everyday (mainly because the skinkids are good at getting crumbs everywhere) and febreeze daily. As well as the usual washing bedding and what not.

 

[K_J's Dad]

I cheat.I spritz the a/c filters with the oil concentrates I use for candle and soap making.My house always smells like a bakery although I haven't baked in months.
...don't ask about how it looks though.

I use Pam Cooking Spray on my filters, it helps "grabbing" the dust, dirt, pollen and hair, smoke also. You'll have to change them more frequently but worth it. Buy the cheap filters, the ones that say "For Allergies" are a load of crap.(They don't "breath" well) I even do this for my customers.

 

[kljarvis]

Yeah we know "The Smell"! I use plain baking soda on my carpets, and suck it back up good. Do the weekly bed pillow cleaning,etc. We have good days and bad days...!

 

[Oscar&Champ]

We don't have a doggy smell, hardwood floors don't seem to hold the odor. The blanket he can lay on when he's on the bed, smells his Boxer smell (you know that smell that no other breed seems to have, just Boxers?)

And please, don't use the carpet fresheners if you have pets. I had a GS, and he became really sick and had nose problems after I used it on the carpet one day. At the time, I had no idea that it would affect him, otherwise I would never, ever used it.

Little side note, I had received an email a little while back about watching what you clean your floors with because the chemicals on the floor can be absorbed through the pad on animal's feet. Since I am getting my puppy on Friday, I am now looking at alternatives to cleaning the floors with something natural. I do not want to be the cause of my pup getting sick or dying because of chemicals entering his system.:(

I think I know that e-mail you are talking about. If it was something about the Swiffer Wetjet mops or Clorox mops or the ones like it that e-mail is a hoax. They won't hurt your pets. I use one and they are just fine. I mean of course don't let your dog lick your floors after you've just moped with like Pine Sol or something but other than that I don't think the cleaning solutions are going to soak up through your dogs feet and make them sick.

And on another cleaning note I know the smell you all are talking about. Not a bad smell but just that "boxer smell" that they have. I recently bought one of the new Glade Wisps air fresheners. It's a sented oil that lets poofs of fraderance off every few sec or min how ever much you set it to. It has really helped the smell around our house. And they last for up to 2 months and come with 2 refills and it is only like $7. I think is was worth the $$. Might wanna check it out.

 

[RonaldMM]

I wipe Drake down every night with an aloe disposable wipe. I really does help keep the odor down. He smells great.

 

[pmari3]

Little side note, I had received an email a little while back about watching what you clean your floors with because the chemicals on the floor can be absorbed through the pad on animal's feet. Since I am getting my puppy on Friday, I am now looking at alternatives to cleaning the floors with something natural. I do not want to be the cause of my pup getting sick or dying because of chemicals entering his system.:(

Fortunately, that email was a hoax (one of the thousands in circulation) - there have actually been several postings on BW about that. Search Swiffer I believe. Also, snopes.com is a great site for checking the validity of those kinds of emails. A friend told me about it after a forwarded her a bogus email

Hardwood floors are the way to go with animals! So much easier to clean and no smell!

 

[EMWAZ]

Okay, I guess I'm not that unique.. I have 3 dogs, 4 cats now, 4 birds. I vacuum weekly, shampoo my carpet every so often, I wash their rugs, and the futon bedding they sleep on on a regular basis. I use the Renuzit fabric freshner I think its way better than febreeze, I think febreeze smells like wet dog by itself... I use candles, I have three littter boxes I clean approximately once a week. I also have no curtains, only blinds, they don't collect odor..

I think what helped get rid of some of the dog smell in our house is the leather furniture, it doesn't keep the smell in like the cloth furniture. I really do get compliments on my house even though I have a lot of pets. I have always believed that just because you have animals doesn't mean your house has to show it.

For all you know though, you were probably the only one that smelled the dog smell, I'll bet your guests didn't... I also think it helps to live in a dryer climate like AZ because the moisture brings out smells too.. All my pets are indoor pets and are only outside to go to the bathroom and play, I think that keeps everyone cleaner too..