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Cleaning and Removing Pet Odors and Stains

Pets are an important part of the family, and you may not be able to imagine life without them. But as much as you love them, pets can be messy to live with. When stains and odors happen, tackle them as quickly as possible. Vigilance should help you keep your home clean and odor-free, even when you live with pets.

Cleaning Up Smelly Cat Hairballs

Allow a hairball to dry slightly for easiest cleanup. Once dried, remove and discard the solid debris. Blot the area with a damp cloth and then with a dry cloth. If soiling persists, dab a small amount of dish soap onto the stained area and blot with a wet cloth.

Cleaning Up Dried Dog Urine

Saturate the stained area with a wet vac if you have one, and then soak up the soiled water. If you don’t have a wet vac, saturate the stained area with a wet rag and blot up the excess moisture with a dry rag. Apply a pet odor neutralizer to the area to get rid of lingering odors. Never use vinegar or ammonia to clean up pet stains, as this may cause your dog to mark the area.

Cleaning Up Wet Dog Urine

Soak up as much moisture as possible with paper towels. Place several layers of clean paper towels over the stain and cover them with a towel; press firmly to blot up as much moisture as possible. Repeat the process until you don’t transfer moisture to the paper towels. Sprinkle the area with baking soda, allow it to sit for about 20 minutes, and vacuum.

Removing Cat Urine Odor

Saturate the area with an enzymatic solution to neutralize odors, following the product instructions. If stains and odors persist, consider hiring a professional to remove the stain.

Eliminating Lingering Litter Box Smell

Always removed soiled litter as soon as possible to prevent odors. Sprinkle baking soda over the litter instead of buying scented litter, which some cats don’t like. Throw out the litter once a month, clean out the litter box with an enzyme odor remover, and add fresh litter to the litter box.

Safely Cleaning Your Pet’s Bed

Removing fur from your pet’s bed is the best way to remove odors. Vacuum the bed completely to remove as much fur as possible. Machine-wash the bed, adding one pound of baking soda to the wash along with the detergent. Air-dry the bed to prevent shrinkage. If odors persist, wash it again with an enzymatic cleaner added to the wash cycle.

Removing and Cleaning Pet Odors From Your Furniture

Vacuum the furniture to remove excess fur. Sprinkle the furniture with baking soda, and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Vacuum the furniture again to finish cleaning.

Cleaning Your Pet’s Travel Crate

Remove the liner and any blankets and wash them in the washing machine. Wipe down plastic crate surfaces with an enzyme cleaner. Place soft carriers in the bathtub and wash them with warm water and an all-purpose enzyme cleaner, then allow them to air-dry.

How to Make a Homemade Pet-Safe Cleaning Spray

Make a homemade pet-safe cleaning spray by starting with two cups of warm water and one tablespoon of salt. Stir to dissolve the salt. Then, add 1/2 cup white vinegar, one tablespoon of detergent, and two tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol. Mix the ingredients well, and pour the mixture into a large spray bottle.

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