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Getting the pet odor out of your home

Getting the pet odor out of your home
As much as we love our furry best friend, the truth is very few of us love their smell!There\'s nothing worse than the smell of wet dog when you walk through your front door!

Whether you have a dog, cat or parrot, their smell can linger in your home and become trapped in carpets, upholstery and furniture.Sprays, perfumes or plug-ins won\'t remove the smell, they simply mask them.Here are some tips for getting the pet odor out of your home for good, without upsetting your furry best friend.

• Find the source of the odor: even neutraliser sprays only remove the smell for just a couple of days.It\'s important to find the source of the odor to properly treat it.You may have housetrained your pet but they can still have an accident behind the sofa without you realising it.Or their smell could have penetrated through the cushion covers to the padding inside your sofa.By treating the odor at source this will help to remove smells permanently, rather than just a temporary measure.
  
• The power of baking soda or salt: these common household items are great for pet stains, particularly urine on the carpet.They prevent the urine from soaking in and absorb the liquid and odors.Sprinkle directly onto the spot straight away and leave it to soak. If you acted quick enough you should be able to simply vacuum the stain away.Baking soda is also a great odor preventer.Simple add it to cat litter, sprinkle it on carpets or add to pet bed stuffing.You can even put some baking soda in a bowl near the source of the smell.This simple household powder is incredibly effective at absorbing nasty smells.
  
• Use a product that contains enzymes: normal cleaning products won\'t help with pet odors and stains.You need a product that actually breaks down the molecules that give off odors.Such products are available in many pet stores and are the best option for older stains and smelly soft furnishings.
  
• Cleaning pet urine: if your pet does have an accident and the stain soaks in, do not steam clean your carpet.The heat of the steam can actually set the smell in permanently.A dry carpet clean is the best option by a professional carpet cleaner.
  
• Invest in an air purifier: this will remove toxins and bacteria which cause nasty smells.
  
• Cat litter boxes: keep the box as clean as possible and never use an ammonia based cleaning product to clean up cat urine.This in fact attracts a cat to keep urinating in the same spot!