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How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in Your House

If the living room smells like dog even after you’ve washed the dog bed, check what’s underneath it. Take the cover off and smell the insert separately. Then lift the bed and check the rug or floor below it. You might find that the thing you’ve been washing every week is the one thing that already smells fine.

Start with the spot your dog sleeps in most

That might be the couch. If your dog has a favorite end, start there. Wash the throw, vacuum the cushion seams, and check the gap between the arm and the seat for hair. Before using a cleaner on the upholstery, check the furniture’s care instructions.

For the dog bed, read the cover and insert tags separately. A cover that can go in the wash may sit over foam that needs spot cleaning. Let both pieces dry completely before putting the bed back together. CDC guidance on cleaning pet supplies

Follow the route your dog takes after a walk

The doormat gets the obvious paw prints. The spots I’d check next are the floor where you unclip the leash, the path to the water bowl, and the spot where your dog shakes off. Lift the mat and wash the paw towel while you’re there. If the towel usually gets dropped in a pile, hang it open so it can dry between walks.

On compatible hard floors, sweep up the grit and spot-mop that little route. This is where I’d use Simple Elements Mop Soap. I’d choose something bright like Monaco Bay for the entryway and follow the bottle’s dilution directions. You can clean the path from the door to the bowl without moving all the furniture or mopping the whole room.

Give a stubborn spot its own treatment

If the smell is strongest in one patch of carpet, treat that patch separately. For a fresh accident, blot up what you can. For lingering urine odor, look for an enzyme cleaner labeled for the material and follow its directions. If the smell keeps coming back in the same spot on a small rug, check the backing and the surface underneath. Humane Society guidance on pet stains and odors

If you only have time for one thing, pick the spot that smells strongest when you get close. That’s a better place to spend ten minutes than the room you happen to be standing in.

If you prefer something warmer than citrus after the entryway is clean, Brazilian Bliss brings pistachio, caramel, and vanilla notes to the room.

Make a small station by the door

Keep a washable paw towel and a spare where you unclip the leash. After a wet walk, hang the towel open and check the mat where your dog stands while you dry their paws. If the mat gets damp every day, having a second one ready makes it easier to lift the first and let the floor underneath dry.

Once the dog’s usual spots are clean, check for other sources of stale smells with our guide to keeping your house fresh without candles.