Keeping your home smelling fresh when you have a dog can be a challenge. The most important thing when it comes to removing pet odors is acting immediately. Getting the area clean while still wet will go a long way in helping to remove dog odors.

If your dog goes to the bathroom on your carpeted floor, use newspaper or paper towels to soak up any urine. Do not allow urine stains to dry, this will actually make the smell stronger. Use carpet shampoo to clean the area. Sprinkle with baking soda and allow to sit for ten minutes. Blot the area dry. If the stain dries on the carpet, use a commercial product that contains enzymes. The enzymes will break down the source of the dog odor. If the area still smells, sprinkle with baking soda and allow it to sit overnight. Vacuum the area the following morning. Spray with a concentrated solution of water and vinegar. Spray with plain water and blot with newspaper or paper towels. When the area is completely dry, the smell of vinegar will disappear.

Buying or renting a steam cleaner is also a great option for cleaning dog odor and stains out of carpet. The steam cleaner will basically suck the stain, the source of the odor, right out of the carpet. You will be amazed at how clean you can get your carpets with a steam cleaner.

Try using diluted liquid laundry detergent or a commercial upholstery cleaner if the dog odor is a problem on your furniture. Be sure to test the product on a hidden area of the furniture to make sure that it will not stain or remove the color from the fabric.

If the accident occurred on a hardwood floor, wipe the area clean. Use a commercial product for hardwood floor or clean with a solution of vinegar or ammonia. If dog urine is allowed to dry on hardwood floors, it may stain and actually require you to strip the area and re-stain the floor.

If you have dog odors in your clothing or washable items, place them in the washing machine with regular detergent and a pound of baking soda. If dog odors are a problem in your dog’s bed, sprinkle the bed with baking soda. You can also add baking soda to the bed’s stuffing.

The best way to handle dog odor in your home is to prevent them in the first place. Fabrics and carpet easily absorb odor so it may be wise to not allow your dog on your furniture or even in rooms that have carpet. Eliminate the source of the odor by giving your dog frequent baths. Use a dog shampoo that kills odor causing bacteria on your dog. Remember, if your dog does have an accident in your home, clean it as soon as possible in order to minimize the dog odor.