How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in the House
We love our dogs. We just don't love the doggy smell! The tricky bit is that you stop noticing it in your own home, but your guests don't. The good news? Getting rid of dog smell in the house is mostly about knowing where it hides, cleaning the right things, then keeping on top of it.
In a hurry? Open the windows, hoover the carpets and sofa, then spritz the sofa, cushions and curtains with an odour eliminating room & fabric spray. Use an odour eliminating powder on carpets and rugs, leave it to work, then hoover it up. That's the quick fix. The steps below help keep it gone.
Why does my house smell of dog?
Doggy smell comes from natural oils in your dog's coat, plus a bit of dirt and damp after walks. It rubs off on everything they lie on or brush past, and soft things hold onto it the most: sofas, cushions, rugs, carpets and curtains. Air it out and it comes back, because the smell is sitting in the fabric, not just floating in the air.
Step 1: Find where the smell is hiding
Do a sniff test, nose low! Check the sofa (especially your dog's favourite spot), cushions and throws, rugs and carpets near the door, curtains, and the car. Anywhere your dog lies down regularly is usually the main culprit.
Step 2: Wash everything that's washable
Throws, cushion covers, blankets and your dog's own bedding all go in the washing machine, as hot as the care label allows. Do this weekly if you can. It's the single biggest difference you can make.
Step 3: Hoover properly
Dog hair carries the smell, so hoover carpets, rugs, the sofa and under the cushions, and don't forget skirting boards and the stairs. A pet-hair attachment helps.
Step 4: Treat the carpets and rugs
Carpets and rugs are where doggy smell builds up most. Our carpet deodoriser Multi-Purpose Powder goes straight onto carpets and rugs: leave it to work, then hoover it up. You can also use it on sofas, shoes and bins.
Step 5: Refresh the sofa and soft furnishings
Once everything's clean, spritz the sofa, cushions and curtains with an odour eliminating room & fabric spray. Ours use patented odour-eliminating technology to eliminate odours for up to 48 hours, then leave a gorgeous scent behind. That's no dog smell for days!
Step 6: Keep the air moving
Open windows for 10 to 15 minutes a day, even in winter, and let damp coats and towels dry outside the living room. Damp makes doggy smell much stronger.
Step 7: Keep on top of it
A little and often beats a big clean once a month. Wash bedding weekly, spritz the sofa every few days, and do the carpets every couple of weeks. If you'd rather not think about it, our odour kit sends a spray, a powder pouch and a hanging air freshener every month.
Don't forget your dog
Regular brushing and the odd bath (with a dog shampoo) keep the smell down at the source. Our sprays are for the air and your home's fabrics only, never for spraying on your dog. If your dog suddenly smells much stronger than usual, it's worth a chat with your vet.
Dog smell FAQs
How do I get rid of dog smell in my house fast?
Open the windows, hoover, then use an odour eliminating spray on soft furnishings and a powder on carpets. You'll notice the difference the same day.
How do I get dog smell out of a carpet?
Hoover thoroughly, put an odour eliminating powder on the carpet, leave it to work, then hoover it up. Repeat every couple of weeks in the rooms your dog uses most.
How do I stop my sofa smelling of dog?
Wash any removable covers and throws, hoover under the cushions, then spritz with an odour eliminating fabric spray. A washable throw on your dog's favourite spot makes keeping it fresh much easier.
Do air fresheners get rid of dog smell?
Most just cover it up. An odour eliminator works differently: ours use patented odour-eliminating technology, and 88% agree it eliminated odour after 48 hours.
Want everything in one place? Shop our full odour eliminating range, designed for pet-loving homes.