Scent of a Weimaraner.
January 13, 2010 2:35 PM
PetOdorFilter: What are your tips/tricks/ideas for eliminating/mitigating pet odor from your house and car?
I have a wonderful dog who doesn't smell overly doggie but he does have a distinct scent that I actually like. But I also know that, after nearly five years, I'm pretty inured to his scent so I have no idea how strong the odor is tho I suspect that my car and house probably smell stronger of him to others than I might believe. I am otherwise quite a scrupulously neat and clean person when it comes to my house and car. I have mostly dog-loving friends who've never seeemed to be bothered by any doggie odors that might be wafting around my house but I recently started dating an amazing man who has very little to do with animals and seems to be pretty sensitive to smells. I want him to not hate being in my car and, when he comes up to visit me, not be distracted by any doggie odor in the house.
So MeFites, please give me all of your tips/tricks/ideas for eliminating or minimizing the scent of dog in your house!!
I have a wonderful dog who doesn't smell overly doggie but he does have a distinct scent that I actually like. But I also know that, after nearly five years, I'm pretty inured to his scent so I have no idea how strong the odor is tho I suspect that my car and house probably smell stronger of him to others than I might believe. I am otherwise quite a scrupulously neat and clean person when it comes to my house and car. I have mostly dog-loving friends who've never seeemed to be bothered by any doggie odors that might be wafting around my house but I recently started dating an amazing man who has very little to do with animals and seems to be pretty sensitive to smells. I want him to not hate being in my car and, when he comes up to visit me, not be distracted by any doggie odor in the house.
So MeFites, please give me all of your tips/tricks/ideas for eliminating or minimizing the scent of dog in your house!!
Oh, PS: for those of you on the other side of this, how much does pet odor really bother you when you start dating someone new who has a pet? Assume you have a sensitive nose and are crazy about the person.
posted by violetk at 2:44 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by violetk at 2:44 PM on January 13, 2010
I've had good results using Citrus Magic products (solid and spray) and Baking Soda in my car and around kitty litterboxes. You can use the baking soda for "fridge & freezer" in your car - it has a screen on the box so the baking soda doesn't spill while you drive.
posted by yeoja at 2:46 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by yeoja at 2:46 PM on January 13, 2010
violetk: "Oh, PS: for those of you on the other side of this, how much does pet odor really bother you when you start dating someone new who has a pet? Assume you have a sensitive nose and are crazy about the person."
I would still hate the smell, sorry to say. I'd keep a bottle of Febreze in the car at all times. A spritz a little while before you take a ride, and the problem is solved. There is a specific version for pet odors; try to avoid the other scented versions, as they can be overpowering. You could also just ask him directly. :)
posted by runningwithscissors at 2:58 PM on January 13, 2010
I would still hate the smell, sorry to say. I'd keep a bottle of Febreze in the car at all times. A spritz a little while before you take a ride, and the problem is solved. There is a specific version for pet odors; try to avoid the other scented versions, as they can be overpowering. You could also just ask him directly. :)
posted by runningwithscissors at 2:58 PM on January 13, 2010
Two golden retrievers here...
Car: I get my car washed frequently and thoroughly vaccuumed out. Then I Febreeze the carpet in the back where they ride. I park in my own garage, so I leave the windows down after trips to the dog park to air it out.
House: I wash the dogs, their beds, and their collars regularly (about every 2 weeks). I also vacuum daily including the couch where they hang out. I Febreeze that too. And I have a Febreeze noticeables pet odor eliminator plugged in to the outlet in the living room.
I have polled my very blunt friends and have been told my house and car don't smell like "dog".
posted by cecic at 3:02 PM on January 13, 2010
Car: I get my car washed frequently and thoroughly vaccuumed out. Then I Febreeze the carpet in the back where they ride. I park in my own garage, so I leave the windows down after trips to the dog park to air it out.
House: I wash the dogs, their beds, and their collars regularly (about every 2 weeks). I also vacuum daily including the couch where they hang out. I Febreeze that too. And I have a Febreeze noticeables pet odor eliminator plugged in to the outlet in the living room.
I have polled my very blunt friends and have been told my house and car don't smell like "dog".
posted by cecic at 3:02 PM on January 13, 2010
Clean your carpets and steam clean your upholstery, floors, etc, regularly.
posted by wongcorgi at 3:02 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by wongcorgi at 3:02 PM on January 13, 2010
Our dog rides in a crate . . . much safer mode of travel . . . and I regularly wash the pad/towels he uses in the car. Voila, no dog smell in the car, and no noticeable hair either. We manage house odor with regular vacuuming and laundering of his dog beds, and the bed quilt he likes.
Since my husband was not a dog person when we met, but now is enough of one that he selected our current dog, my biggest suggestion is lots of activities with you, the dog, and the guy. My husband fell for one of my two dogs on our first weekend trip together, and the other dog after some fun hikes in the park.
posted by bearwife at 3:03 PM on January 13, 2010
Since my husband was not a dog person when we met, but now is enough of one that he selected our current dog, my biggest suggestion is lots of activities with you, the dog, and the guy. My husband fell for one of my two dogs on our first weekend trip together, and the other dog after some fun hikes in the park.
posted by bearwife at 3:03 PM on January 13, 2010
I would tend to skip the Febreze - that can smell kind of strong on its own, and then combined with dog...
Baking soda fridge and freezer pack in the car sounds like a good idea. I swear by odor absorbing sponges - I use this one (that is an average price for them, I usually buy mine in person at Whole Foods and I think it is about $6).
posted by KAS at 3:04 PM on January 13, 2010
Baking soda fridge and freezer pack in the car sounds like a good idea. I swear by odor absorbing sponges - I use this one (that is an average price for them, I usually buy mine in person at Whole Foods and I think it is about $6).
posted by KAS at 3:04 PM on January 13, 2010
The most effective and inexpensive thing you can do to get rid of doggy smells is to open all your windows and create a cross-breeze. This is easily done in a car, and a little more difficult in a house. If you've already done your dusting and vacuuming and general disinfecting of very doggy areas, a prolonged breeze is the best thing for routing out smells, in my experience.
posted by Mizu at 3:46 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by Mizu at 3:46 PM on January 13, 2010
Make sure you clean your dog's teeth regularly, or get his teeth cleaned at the vet. I like my dogs much better now that I've started regular dental care for them. Bad breath is as much a turnoff in dogs as it is in humans.
A tip for your car - invest in seat covers that are easy to deal with. The easier they are to put on in a hurry, the more likely you are to use them when taking the dog on a spur of them moment car ride. I have a Dura Gear cover [link to a different brand, but same concept] for the passenger seat of my car, and one of their hammocks for the back seat. Easy to put on and take off, and they're washable and extremely durable. Because they're waterproof, they won't absorb any liquids that could end up stinking up the car - obviously urine, but also drool, barf, mud, slush, and the drips from wet paws. They've even saved my seat from the occasional spilled coffee. And the material is so durable that claws can't dig in and wreck your upholstery. You can easily pull them off your seats and throw them in the trunk when you have [human] passengers.
Really, I don't get paid to do their marketing even though it sounds like it! I'm just an extremely satisfied customer.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:35 PM on January 13, 2010
A tip for your car - invest in seat covers that are easy to deal with. The easier they are to put on in a hurry, the more likely you are to use them when taking the dog on a spur of them moment car ride. I have a Dura Gear cover [link to a different brand, but same concept] for the passenger seat of my car, and one of their hammocks for the back seat. Easy to put on and take off, and they're washable and extremely durable. Because they're waterproof, they won't absorb any liquids that could end up stinking up the car - obviously urine, but also drool, barf, mud, slush, and the drips from wet paws. They've even saved my seat from the occasional spilled coffee. And the material is so durable that claws can't dig in and wreck your upholstery. You can easily pull them off your seats and throw them in the trunk when you have [human] passengers.
Really, I don't get paid to do their marketing even though it sounds like it! I'm just an extremely satisfied customer.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:35 PM on January 13, 2010
I've had far better luck with Simple Green than with any product that's specifically for pet smells. And it's far better than Febreeze, IMO.
posted by fairywench at 6:59 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by fairywench at 6:59 PM on January 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:39 PM on January 13, 2010