13 Ways To Get Rid Of Unwanted Dog Smells In The House

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If you have a pet, you need to know these ways to get rid of unwanted dog smells in the house. If you keep a clean house, sometimes you just can't seem to get rid of dog smells. It's true that pet oils, fur, and dander really do seem to linger. It's easy enough to go nose-blind to a stinky dog when you are around it every day, but your guests are definitely going to notice — even if your pet is the cutest there ever was.

These are the things that you need to clean, plus how to clean them ... and more importantly, how to clean them in a way that doesn't involve backbreaking work or cause you to lose hours of your life. With a few strategic habits and the right products, you can cut down on odors dramatically, refreshing your space without turning cleaning into an all-day project. Small changes can make a big impact in how your home smells day to day.

Even after it's shed, dog hair still holds onto oils and bacteria, which means every little tumbleweed drifting across the floor can still stink. The tricky part is that staying on top of daily vacuuming often feels endless, especially if you have a heavy shedder or multiple pets. That's why adding a robot vacuum to your cleaning routine can make such a noticeable difference. A robot vacuum keeps pet hair under control automatically, running on a set schedule or with a quick tap on your phone. Plus, sweeping up loose hair before it settles deep into the carpet can prevent that stale, doggy smell from building up in the first place.

With less hair sitting around and more consistent cleaning, your home will smell fresher and feel easier to maintain. And you don't have to buy a big-name or high-end model to see results. There are plenty of reliable, budget-friendly robot vacuums that can quietly handle the daily upkeep for you. For example, the roborock Q7 L5 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is only $130 against the Roomba® Max 705 Vac robot + AutoEmpty™ dock, which can be almost $900 when not on sale.

These fabrics absorb the dog's body oils, saliva, and dirt ... plus whatever else your dog tracks in from outside. Over time, all of that builds up and releases a strong, unmistakable smell. It's enough to drive you crazy. To keep your home smelling clean, make it a habit to wash your dog's bed and toys regularly. A good rule of thumb is to wash your dog's bed when you refresh your own. If you don't know how often you should replace your sheets, you can extend their life significantly by washing them every two weeks or so. If this seems like too much, at least once a month is the minimum before things start to get pretty funky (but more often is always better).

If the dog bed has a removable cover, toss it in the washing machine on a hot cycle. Heat helps break down oils and kill bacteria, while a cup of white vinegar in the rinse works wonders at neutralizing odors. You can even use stronger options for more oomph, like Harris 30% Vinegar. The active ingredient is acetic acid, which helps dissolve the compounds that cause stubborn pet smells. It's the simple kitchen ingredient that will banish dog odors from your home. For stuffed toys, check the labels, as many are machine washable. For toys that can't go in the wash, a soak in warm, soapy water followed by thorough air drying is usually enough.

When your dog has an accident, the smell comes from proteins, fats, and bacteria left behind in urine, vomit, or drool. Standard cleaners may sanitize the surface or mask the smell temporarily, but they can't fully remove those odor-producing compounds. That means the scent often returns. However, enzyme cleaners contain specialized enzymes (like proteases, which break down bodily fluids, and lipases, which handle oils) that digest these organic molecules. Think of them as tiny workers that break apart the odor-causing particles until they're no longer detectable.

Because the mess is broken down at a molecular level (and not just diluted!), the smell from your dog's accident will disappear completely instead of lingering or returning. This makes enzyme cleaners especially effective for older stains (like in a place you just moved into!), or for repeat accidents if you have a puppy or older, incontinent dog. If you want to replace the stink with another scent, try Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator with Natural Orange Oil, as it leaves behind a citrus scent. For a neutral scent, try Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Stain & Strong Odor Eliminator.

A thorough steam clean helps lift embedded dog odors and refresh the carpet fiber because of its heat, whether you rent a machine or hire professionals. If you are going to DIY steam cleaning, remember that temperature is more important than most people realize. You might have heard that carpet fibers only melt at very high temperatures, but many carpets can actually be damaged by much lower temperatures. Experts say that professional cleaners usually avoid going above around 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius). However, damage can start even before reaching that temperature. In fact, when things get hotter than about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius), the glue holding the carpet in place can soften. Once the glue starts to melt, the fibers can become warped, stick together, or even burn. Once that happens, it can't be fixed.

To keep things safe, choose a steam cleaner that operates under 200 degrees Fahrenheit or has adjustable heat settings. Slow, even passes and proper ventilation help the carpet dry fully, preventing lingering damp smells. If you have your own machine, you can spot-clean accidents. Experts recommend a full-house steam clean one to two times per year.

A good HEPA air purifier can make a huge difference in how fresh your home smells. HEPA filters actually work by pulling in the air, then trapping tiny bits of dander and hair in their filters. Then, they push cleaner air back out into the space. Having a HEPA air purifier is especially helpful in smaller rooms where dog smells tend to linger, like bedrooms, offices, or dens where your pup naps the most. They can also work in place of cleaning out your HVAC system, as a temporary fix while you wait for service, or more permanently if you're renting and your landlord won't do the maintenance.

For best results, run your purifier daily and change the filter every six to twelve months because a clogged filter won't do much good. If you've got multiple pets or a heavy shedder, consider placing purifiers in a few key areas to keep the whole house feeling fresher. The machines come in different sizes, which impacts their price points. For example, the GermGuardian 4-In-1 HEPA Air Purifier for Home can cover 743 square feet and retails for about $80, while AROEVE Air Purifier covers 287 square feet and is about $40.

Is your beloved dog secretly sabotaging your expensive AC unit? Maybe! Leftover dog fur and dander can accumulate deep in your HVAC ducts, turning the entire house into a hidden scent factory. Over time, those particles can build up on duct surfaces, then get stirred into the air every time the system runs. Swapping your HVAC air filters regularly helps, but sometimes that's not enough. In that case, a professional duct cleaning can help. Cleaning is especially worth considering when there's visible mold growth inside ducts or on HVAC components, ducts are clogged with excessive dust or other debris, or there's an infestation by pests. That said, routine duct cleaning isn't strictly necessary for every home. There's no conclusive evidence that regular duct cleaning prevents health problems if the ducts don't show heavy buildup or contamination. Instead, sometimes it's just about making things smell better.

If you decide to clean vents, inspect the system first. Make sure any cleaning covers all HVAC components (registers, coils, fan housing, etc.), not just visible vents. Ask potential service providers for proof of thorough cleaning, avoid automatically accepting claims about dramatic health improvements, and consider contacting professional providers with good references, like being a member of the NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Association. The cost is typically in the range of $450 to $1,000.

Your tile, laminate, and vinyl floors may look clean, but they can still trap invisible residues from your pup's paws and drool. Using the right cleaning solution helps break down those odors instead of just covering them up. A simple 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and warm water is one of the most effective, budget-friendly options. Vinegar's natural acidity helps neutralize the odor-causing compounds left behind on hard floors, leaving the room noticeably fresher once it dries. Don't worry, the vinegar scent disappears quickly, even if you use a more industrial-strength option.

You can also choose stronger products like diluted bleach or OxiClean. These can work well, but they must be used carefully. That is, never mix them with other chemicals, ventilate the room, and always keep pets out of the area until the floor is completely dry. Dogs may lick recently cleaned surfaces or out of the bucket, which can harm their stomachs, or walk through them, which can be irritating to their skin or paws.

Fabrics naturally absorb dog smells. They really seem to take on everything from body oils to drool to that faint "wet dog" scent that settles in after a rainy walk. Over time, these odors build up quietly and spread through the room, even if you're diligent about vacuuming and mopping. That's why keeping up with washing your household textiles is such an important part of controlling pet odors, too.

Aim to wash throw blankets, cushion covers, and even curtains about once a month. Most of these items can go straight into the washing machine. Using a hot or warm cycle helps pull out oils and eliminate lingering smells. For items that can't be tossed into the washer, like couch cushions, upholstered furniture, or even your mattress if Fido sleeps in your bed, you can still refresh them effectively. Portable carpet cleaners, like the BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, let you bring the washing to the fabric. These tools lift dirt and neutralize odors right at the source.

Instead of just masking stinky dog smells with something like candles, baking soda actually absorbs them, pulling the smells out of the fibers so they're gone for good. To use it, sprinkle a generous, even layer of baking soda across your carpets. Don't be shy about it! More coverage means better odor absorption. Let it sit for at least six hours, or ideally overnight (up to about 12 hours). During that time, the baking soda works like a natural deodorizing sponge, binding to the odor-causing compounds in the fibers.

Once it's had time to do its job, vacuum your carpet thoroughly to lift away the powder along with the trapped smells. It's completely safe, non-toxic, and won't damage carpet fibers, but you should still try to keep your dogs away from the area so they don't make a mess. You can use this trick weekly on high-traffic areas or whenever your home starts to smell a little too "doggy."

To keep your house free from stinky dog smells, sometimes tackling your stinky dog first is your best bet. Veterinarians agree that regular brushing is just as important as bathing, so start there. Brushing a few times a week helps remove loose fur, dirt, and any excess body oils before they spread all around the house, causing bad smells. Plus, many dogs enjoy the bonding time. Although for each that does, there is a dog that will hate it. If this is the case, try a different brush, like the Lilpep Dog Grooming Brush with rubber bristles. Sometimes, metal bristles might feel uncomfortable for your pet, which is why they keep moving away.

When it comes to baths, more isn't always better. To properly clean your dog, you must know that bathing is highly breed-specific, with some dogs needing a bath every few weeks, while others only a few times a year. Ask your vet about the perfect schedule for your dog. Bathing too often can strip their skin of natural oils, which can lead to dryness. Which, ironically, makes them stink even more. Use a gentle dog shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and make sure they dry completely to avoid that damp-dog smell. Yet in between baths, you can also wipe your dog's paws and clean out their ears with a warm rag, as these are two places that tend to hold onto lots of stink.

One often-overlooked source of lingering dog odor isn't the dog or the things your pet uses; it's the very tools you use to clean up after them. Things like vacuums and steamers quietly trap pet hair and skin oils on their rollers or inside their filters. Over time, that buildup starts to give off a distinct doggy smell, and every time you switch the machine on, it releases that odor right back into the room.

To keep your home genuinely fresh, make it part of your routine to clean the cleaners themselves. Empty vacuum canisters frequently and rinse them at least once a quarter, more if things are really smelling. Remove the vacuum's roller brush and wash it with hot, soapy water to break down any oils and grime clinging to the bristles. If your vacuum has reusable filters, rinse them thoroughly and let them dry completely before reinstalling. For steamers and carpet cleaners, flush the internal tank with a vinegar-and-water solution, then rinse with warm water to prevent mildew and odor buildup.

If pet smells keep lingering even after you clean your floors and fabrics, one surprisingly effective hack is to use odor absorbers. These aren't air fresheners that mask smells, but materials that actually pull odor molecules out of the air. One option is bags filled with activated charcoal, like the Inmilly Activated Charcoal Odor Absorber 6-Pack. Charcoal is processed to be extremely porous, with millions of microscopic holes. As air circulates, odor-causing molecules get physically trapped inside those pores. The result: the smell is removed from the air, not just covered up.

These odor absorbers are chemical-free, non-toxic, and safe around pets and people. This is a big advantage when you share your home with a dog. You can place them anywhere: near pet beds, in living rooms, closets, or even by vents. You can also use sprays like Febreeze, which contain cyclodextrin. This molecule is round with a hollow center, so it can literally "eat" the stink as it surrounds it. This is good for a quick fix for your couch, your dog's bed, etc. In addition, your home will smell fresher than ever with just one affordable Dollar Tree DIY, which is to fill sachets with scent beads for a nice boost.

Over time, dried urine becomes nearly invisible, but the smell lingers and can continue to rise whenever the area gets humid or warm. You might even become noseblind to this over time, but guests in your home certainly won't be. This is where a simple, inexpensive UV flashlight like the Vansky Mini Pet Urine Detector becomes a game-changer for pet owners. When you turn off the lights and shine a UV beam across carpets, baseboards, and upholstery, any old urine spots will glow, making them easy to identify.

Once you know where the problem areas are, you can actually treat them instead of just masking the smell. You can mark the areas with masking tape or just put something like a shoe next to them, so you remember where they are when the lights are back on. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated for pet urine, since these products break down the odor-causing compounds rather than covering them up, something like Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Stain & Strong Odor Eliminator. Let it soak in fully, blot the area, and repeat if the stain is older or particularly stubborn.