6 ways to get rid of animal smell in your apartment

How to get rid of pet smell in an apartment is a question that all pet owners face at some point. One small dog, like a Yorkie, will not affect the aromas in your home in any way, but a German shepherd or a harmful cat that leaves marks will do so. And this topic is especially relevant for those who have several animals living in their apartment or house. This is how it is for me, for example. And today I will share with you my valuable experience in the fight against animal odors.

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Fortunately, dealing with dog odor in your apartment is not difficult. In this article, you will learn how to get rid of dog and cat odor naturally .

1. Clean dog or cat fur
2. Regular washing of bedding
3. Correct treatment of floors
4. Bacteria in the service of dogs and cats
5. Homemade “chemistry” against the smell of dogs and cats
6. Air ionizer

Clean dog or cat fur

One of the easiest ways to remove the smell of an animal in an apartment is regular bathing and grooming. It is generally recommended to bathe your dog no more than once a month. In principle, this is the most optimal time period, but if it seems to you that the scent in the apartment has increased precisely because the wool smells fragrant, then carry out the bath procedure immediately, do not wait for the allotted time, you will not harm your pet in any way. By the way, short-haired dogs can emit an odor no less intense than shaggy ones.

How much does it cost to get rid of animal smell in an apartment? Prices

Regular washing of bedding

The first step in figuring out how to get rid of dog or cat smell in your apartment is identifying the source. Check carpets and floors for pet urine odors. Odors eat into fabrics and become concentrated in them, so your dog should have at least two changes of bedding, and you need to wash them before they start spreading “vanilla scents.”

To wash dog bedding, you can use any powder if the dog does not have allergic reactions, but again, our universal laundry soap will work here too. Children's hypoallergenic powder is also quite suitable. Heavily soiled bedding can be washed periodically with the addition of chlorine-containing products. I add ordinary Domestos - it works great, doesn’t damage the fabric and perfectly removes stains from dirty paws. But remember that systematic cleaning of the bedding, litter tray or cage is often not enough to remove the unpleasant smell of dogs and cats in the apartment.

Rules for using funds

Your pet's waste can be a nuisance, so you need to know how to remove dog odor quickly and effectively. Remember that it is necessary to remove the smell of dog urine before the stain has become ingrained and the “aroma” itself has not acquired a persistent ammonia tint after exposure to oxygen. This is why the speed of getting rid of traces of dog urine is so important. In addition, dog lovers very often do not attach much importance to the need to promptly eliminate odors that a shaggy pet leaves behind everywhere. But believe me, persistent ammonia “fragrances” will not go unnoticed by your guests.

In addition to studying the most popular methods for cleaning dog waste with a characteristic odor, you must adhere to the key rules for caring for the dog and the room in which he lives. For example, if you are the happy owner of a small puppy, try to take him outside more often. An adult must be accustomed to correcting its needs in the fresh air. There are situations in which the unpleasant smell of your dog’s fur occurs during a period when the pet is sick and under no circumstances should you take him outside. However, here is a solution to the problem: make sure you have special diapers or put an absorbent diaper on your dog. There is, of course, plenty of fuss, but such measures will prevent the spread of stench throughout the apartment and private house.

In addition, the dog can “favour” other fabric surfaces, for example, a sofa or pillows. Therefore, all this should not appear on the floor. If troubles could not be avoided and your personal belongings were damaged, add a small amount of baking soda to the powder during washing, so you can get rid of the dog smell without much difficulty.

You need to be able to remove dog smell without harm to yourself, your apartment, or your household. Remove dog waste with rubber gloves; there are many effective means of combating unpleasant odors, but some of them can even harm the skin of your hands. To be sure there is no risk, apply moisturizer to your hands before putting on gloves. Remember that not all anti-discharge products are universal; never apply iodine or potassium permanganate to fabrics, and varnished surfaces may be damaged by hydrogen peroxide. Knowing about the most common methods of getting rid of strong dog odors today, you thereby maintain comfort in your home, even despite the presence of a four-legged friend in it.

However, even the most effective folk remedies and professional preparations will not be able to constantly ensure freshness in a cleaned room

Therefore, pay special attention to the causes of this kind of trouble. If your puppy is still small, he should be toilet trained as soon as possible

But such behavior in an adult dog can signal illness and lead to bad consequences. In this case, you should contact a specialist.

Correct treatment of floors

Floors are the main source of odor. It is better if in the apartment where animals live, the floor is tiled with glazed tiles. This coating is easy to clean and wash; it can be treated with active substances containing aggressive detergent components without fear of damage, which cannot be said, for example, about parquet, laminate and some types of linoleum.

Wooden floors are the least susceptible to odor treatment; parquet flooring, which has not been updated for a long time, also belongs to the “risk” group; well, I won’t even talk about carpeting - this is generally not an environmentally friendly and unhygienic covering, even if there are no animals in the apartment.

Read also - 7 unconventional ways to get rid of unpleasant odors in your home

So, what should you use to clean your floors to avoid the smell as much as possible? I’ll say right away that it is possible and necessary to treat with chlorine-containing products, because they are excellent at fighting microorganisms, but, unfortunately, they are practically useless in the fight against odors. All sorts of products like “Mr. Proper” won’t help you either - they only “mask” the smell without eliminating the causes of its occurrence. And the combination of lemon scent with the smell of ammonia, which is contained in dog urine, is a killer cocktail for the sense of smell, so feel free to cross all those expensive bottles out of your budget.

In the fight against odors of organic origin, only enzyme (enzyme) preparations help, the action of which is based on protein compounds that accelerate chemical processes in organic matter.

The assortment of pet stores is full of such products - there are liquids that need to be added to the water for washing floors, and sprays, and powders, and drops. All of them are created taking into account the specifics of animals and their waste. Most of these products come in spray form, they are pretty good and do the job, but sprays and powders are intended for local use, so choose those that can be used to wash the floor by adding a concentrate to the water. An important point, very important! In chlorinated water, the effect of enzyme agents is neutralized, and so that you don’t sigh in disappointment: “It didn’t help!”, let the water for washing floors sit for 24 hours - the chlorine will disappear in 24 hours.

The disadvantage of these drugs is that they are very expensive and not very economical. And I set out to find something that would help me, with 8 animals in the apartment, maintain a normal smell and not groan when looking at the prices.

Choosing a trusted company

A cleaning service will help you carry out high-quality dry cleaning of your sofa from urine at home in Moscow and St. Petersburg. For more than 10 years, the organization’s employees have been cleaning premises.

You can order cleaning of a private home, office, or retail space, regardless of the layout and size of the room. Equipment from European manufacturers helps remove dirt not only from furniture, but also mattresses, parquet and all types of surfaces. The company offers services at a wide range of tariffs without loss of quality; the current cost is specified on the website.

Bacteria in the service of dogs

Enzymes - they are enzymes in Africa, so I just started looking for and researching various enzymatic preparations and was surprised to realize that products intended for septic tanks (cleaning) sewers, cesspools, dry closets, ponds, soil, can do an excellent job in this matter. wastewater and technological equipment of the food and processing industries, and in general from all types of organic pollutants, including oil. You can easily find such products in Garden and Vegetable Garden stores and on specialized websites, you just have to search for “Enzyme preparations for cleaning.” Such drugs cost around 50-80 UAH and are available in the form of a concentrate. A 30 ml bottle lasts me at least 3 months - I dilute just a couple of milliliters in water according to the instructions and wash the floors with this solution. Don’t forget - chlorine and other chemical compounds destroy enzymes, so it is advisable to use these products no earlier than 24 hours after washing with chlorine.

In addition to washing the floors, a solution of enzyme preparations can be poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the places that are most favored by animals - armchairs and sofas. One of my friends, whose cat regularly goes to the toilet on her and her husband’s bed, pours an enzyme solution into a syringe and gives an “injection” to the mattress. The smell disappears quickly, and the cat no longer bears the nickname Infection!

To summarize, I will say: the action of enzyme products is based on the dissolution of organic matter, which means that along with traces of urine, excrement, saliva and vomit of animals, helminth larvae and eggs, spores of fungi and bacteria are destroyed, which is very important when there are children in the house. Treat cat litter boxes with this solution, soak bowls in them, spray all hard-to-reach places - baseboards, especially at the joints, radiators, windows, paying special attention to the bathroom, toilet and kitchen area - where the trays and bowls are located. However, I use enzymes not only to destroy animal odors - after all, human odors are also very persistent.

General Tips

It is better to select a cleaning agent in accordance with the material of the upholstery or floor covering. To prevent deformation, do not forget about the recommendations:

1. It is better not to clean fluffy and delicate materials yourself. Only a cleaning expert can completely remove odor from silk or velvet.
2. Do not scrub with sponges, rags or brushes with great force. This may cause the stain to deepen.
3. Do not flood the affected areas. Poor drying can not only leave urine particles behind, but can also be the start of mold.
4. When choosing household chemicals, check the effect in advance on inconspicuous areas of the carpet and furniture.

After cleaning, you need to thoroughly ventilate the room. Cats are not inclined to mark places that smell of unusual odors, so washing will benefit your pet and family members.

Homemade “chemistry” against the smell of dogs and cats

There are several other home remedies to help deal with odors:

1. Washing with potassium permanganate, known as potassium permanganate. A pale pink weak solution is used to wash and disinfect floors and any hard surfaces.
2. Vodka, vinegar and water. Add a glass of vodka and vinegar to 5 liters of water. Use this solution to wash floors and hard surfaces.
3. Cat urine has the most corrosive smell, so folk craftsmen have learned to destroy it with the help of cheap improvised means. If a cat or dog has pooped on the carpet, the first thing to do is to carefully collect the urine using any absorbent fabrics or wipes, without “working” the liquid into the carpet fabric. Then generously moisten the mark with vinegar mixed half and half with water, leave for about 15-20 minutes and remove excess moisture with a dry towel. Then treat the area of ​​the stain with baking soda mixed to a paste with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Rub a mixture of baking soda and peroxide thoroughly into the area of ​​your pet's crime. And leave until completely dry and vacuumed. Three substances - acetic acid, sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide - chemically decomposed the urine, and there is nothing left to smell! Old stains are not so easy to remove, but you can try, the main thing is that the entire “affected” area is treated - its borders can be seen in the light of an ultraviolet lamp. It is rare, but it does happen that peroxide will discolor the carpet pile, so be careful.

How to refresh your toilet and bathroom

In hygienic rooms, mustiness and dampness often appear, because water vapor constantly settles on the walls. Hence the mold. In addition, a clogged sink causes a stench.

Activated carbon

Activated carbon tablets are excellent at absorbing bad odors. You need to place 2 packages of 20 tablets on shelves in the bathroom. They change them every month.

Thorough cleaning

It is better to freshen the air in the bathroom by regular cleaning:

1. They start by washing the curtains over the bathtub.
2. Treat sinks, bathtubs, and toilets with a cleaning agent.
3. Tile walls are washed with water and ammonia, wiping immediately with suede.
4. The floor will shine if you go over it with a fringed mop or woolen cloth.
5. Mirrors are cleaned with a mixture of equal parts of chalk and vinegar or tooth powder and ammonia.
6. A neglected bathtub is washed with a rag with soda and a few drops of ammonia.

Even by washing the surfaces with warm water and washing powder and rinsing them, you can feel the freshness in the bathroom and toilet.

Air ionizer

Although the main source of unpleasant odors is on surfaces, additional air purification using ionization will make a significant contribution to your just cause. Absolutely any device that generates negatively charged oxygen ions is suitable for this, thereby purifying the air, ridding it of harmful impurities and the same fungal and bacterial spores. There are hundreds of ionizer models, for every taste and budget.

I hope that these tips will help you, and cat and dog “crimes” will no longer be a source of annoyance for you!

Actions to eliminate urine by company employees

Professionals from trusted organizations always carry out quality cleaning. They remove not only the odor, but also the smallest particles that can spread bacteria and germs.

First of all, cleaners determine the material of manufacture. This helps to influence a particular tissue in a special way without fear of damage.

Then specialists remove the remaining stains and stains. In this case, the stains are disinfected with an antiseptic to destroy possible harmful microorganisms.

In the final step, the specialist will use household chemicals to eliminate the odor. The composition of the product will not harm the inhabitants of the house and pets. The entire procedure takes from one to two hours, and as a result the sofa, mattress or carpet will be completely cleaned.

Cat urine smell: solution to the problem

Many are inclined to believe that the smell of cat urine is a plague that cannot be gotten rid of, believing that this substance is many times more odorous than the urine of any other animals. This myth can be easily dispelled by one look at the chemical composition of cat urine. It is no significantly different from the composition of the urine of most mammals. The question arises, why then such a violent public reaction, so many opinions, negative reviews about cats because of their supposedly inherent “incense”.

Firstly, the cat is one of the most common pets. Accordingly, a lot of people allow themselves to construct the statements of an “experienced cat lover.” It is also possible that, due to established national traditions and ideas about a cat that “walks on its own,” even modern owners living in comfortable apartments and town houses do not consider themselves obligated to provide proper care for the animal. The problem of the disgusting smell of cat urine in the house actually arises only due to negligence in cleaning and treating cat areas. Failure to properly clean urine stains gives bacteria a chance to multiply and, as a result, the odor gets worse over time. And if there are a lot of such spots... You are guaranteed a special spirit!

Before proceeding directly to a detailed review of ways to eliminate the unpleasant odor of cat urine, let us turn to the reasons that force an animal to defecate in unintended places. Understanding the psychology of your cat and eliminating negative factors will help you avoid many problems in the future.

Veterinarians and animal psychologists boil down all the main reasons why cats refuse to use a litter box to the following:

1. The cat doesn't like its own litter box.

Perhaps the tray is simply not the right size for the animal. The length of the litter box should be at least one and a half times the length of the cat, and it should be located in a secluded place. Cats, like people, like to fulfill their physiological needs in a calm atmosphere. Some particularly demanding individuals also do not like to share their tray with other representatives of their genus. And finally, the most common phenomenon is an unfairly washed tray. Don’t forget that cats are clean animals and their sense of smell is several times better than ours. Thoroughly washing the tray with detergents, preferably daily, in most cases helps both the cat and the owner feel good.

2. Unknown new objects or smells.

New unfamiliar objects and smells (for example, baby sheets or a guest's shoes) are perceived by cats as an encroachment on their own territory. Then the pet is simply obliged to remind you that he is the “king” in the house. This reason is easily detected, since the animal urinates on foreign objects.

3. Anxiety, stress and other behavioral problems.

Some cats are very sensitive emotionally. They do not tolerate insults, long absences from their owner, physical punishment, or simply changes in family routine. This type of problem requires a special approach, sometimes even the participation of animal psychologists. It is not possible to normalize a relationship with an animal right away; it takes time and patience. It is important not to go to extremes - from passionate love for a pet to hatred from the appearance of the smell of cat urine in the house. Most of all, cats value an even and stable attitude towards them.

4. Health problems.

Urinating in the wrong place can be a sign of illness in a cat, especially if it is of advanced age. In this situation, you will notice more frequent urination, as well as the cat's desire to defecate in front of you or in your presence. The veterinarian will definitely ask you to bring samples of your cat’s urine, so you can immediately collect them and go to the veterinary clinic.

5. Tags.

Marking territory or spraying is not urination in the truest sense of the word. The animal only slightly sprays different places with urine, and does not make a puddle. This behavior is aimed both at attracting individuals of the opposite sex during a “walk”, and at the same time as demonstrating dominance and reinforcing one’s own position. Unneutered and unsterilized cats are more prone to marking. The smell of cat marks is much stronger than the usual smell of cat urine due to the specific odorous secretion it contains.

There are several ways to solve this problem. The most common method is castration of the cat or sterilization of the cat. It is very important to do the operation on time, since if there is sexual experience or conflicts with other cats before the operation, the animal may remain in the habit of defending its territory in this way. You can also slightly expand the boundaries of the cat's territory by allowing him to leave the house. Then, in most cases, the cat will leave marks outside the apartment. Finally, a somewhat unconventional method is to establish your own dominance over the cat. Experienced cat breeders sometimes prefer to communicate with cats in their language. You can show the cat who is boss by lifting him by the scruff of the neck at the scene of the crime and holding him in this position, without taking your eyes off him until the final victory. The one who looks away first loses. The cat's pitiful squeak after a menacing hiss symbolizes his recognition of his own defeat. To strengthen your position, it is recommended that in the presence of the defeated person, wipe the mark with something of your own, preferably with the smell of sweat. The method is unique and controversial, but is gaining increasing popularity among cat lovers.