How to eliminate dog odour?
We are a nation of pet owners - in fact there are approximately 54 million pets in the UK including everything from kittens to spiders, and a whole host in between. Within this figure are approximately 8.8 million dogs - and every single one of them is the world's best and most attractive (including mine who you see above - meet Jasper) :-)
Now we all know that, although they are lovely and great fun to be with, they do have their own aroma; the smell of wet dog pervades all! Feed them food they are not used to and 'beware' - gas mask required; or is that just my 'good lady'? ;-)
They tend to be with us in the household, laying pole position in front of the fire, on the rug, on the sofa(?), on your bed(??) - the options are endless. This means that, unless you keep on top of it, your carpets and furnishings will start to take on that distinctive smell, which isn't pleasant for us, nor our guests. So what are the ways of keeping that 'doggy smell' to a minimum?
It is all pretty straight forward really but simple things can make such a difference:
1. Make sure you dog is well maintained - brushed regularly to remove dirt and debris from walks etc. and also taken to the 'poodle parlour' every few weeks for that well-needed and deserved pamper. They come back smelling lovely and they 'know', you can see it in their demeanour, proud, tales held high, showing off! Contemplate setting up a nightly teeth cleaning regimen; I used to have an Husky who wouldn't go to bed until she'd had her teeth cleaned - speak with your vet!
2. Make sure bedding, blankets, toys, brushes, bowls etc are all regularly washed. It's no good having a 'spotless' (sorry Dalmatians!) dog, if where they go to bed every night smells 'doggy' and stale!
3. Vacuum regularly - every day preferably. I know it's an onerous task but THE best thing you can do if you are a dog owner. Tackle any little marks or stains straight away, don't leave them as they will only become more difficult to remove the longer they are left - use the scrambled egg analogy; wash it up straight away and it's easy, leave it and it becomes like concrete!
4. If your pet has an 'accident' please refer to my tips page for the best way to tackle it
5. Air fresheners. These are up to you and your preference - they mask doggy odours but don't cure the root cause.
If all else fails and my above tips don't cure the problem, contemplate calling in a professional carpet cleaning company to get the job done. If you live in Norwich, call Clean Living and leave it to us to give you that clean and fresh feel you wish for.
While having a clean carpet is important, there are huge benefits of getting a professional do the job? By definition dogs will be dogs:
- they don't wipe their feet, they bring in sand, grit, mud and sometimes worse on their paws
- fleas, all dogs will get fleas at some point
- dogs are territorial and like to lay in 'their' spot (invariably in front of the fire). Naturally occurring oils in their coats will stain and make your carpets/upholstery smell
- Dogs can also urinate on your carpet and this can become habitual if not stopped
- We've all seen dogs 'drag' their behinds on the ground. Do this on your carpet........ well you know!
- A professional carpet clean by us at Clean Living will remove stains and spills from your carpet or upholstery, eradicate bacteria and germs, deodorise your carpet/upholstery and improve air quality in your home
Clean Living are a professional Norwich-based company who pride ourselves on providing you with the best services for your carpets and upholstery. You won't find a company that offers a more professional cleaning service than Clean Living.
