You love your furry friend. They make your rental a home, and your life is so much better with them in it. The one thing is, though…sometimes your apartment smells a little strong. Don’t worry––you don’t have to choose between your pet and having a fresh-smelling rental. There are plenty of ways to get rid of pet odors. Here are a few of the most effective ones:
1. Sweep and mop
This one seems obvious, but the order in which you do it can make a difference. You want to sweep first to get rid of most of the dirt and hair on your hard surfaces, and then go back with a mop to get anything you missed. There are pet-specific brooms and mops you can pick up, too.
2. Vinegar is your best friend
Vinegar is a multipurpose cleaner and odor neutralizer. This makes it one of the best ways to get rid of pet odors. If you’ve got a nasty stain, a solution of a cup of vinegar to a quart of water will do wonders; just let it soak for a few minutes and soak it up.
3. Fresh air.
This one is easy to forget. A few days with the windows shut in your rental will strengthen those smells like nothing else. If you can, leave the windows open as often as possible, and the circulation of air will help a great deal to help with the odor.
4. Make sure you’re vacuuming
Your carpet will hide tons of hair and dander deep under the surface, and odors will radiate from there, so you want to make sure you’re vacuuming as regularly as you can. Make sure you get your curtains and furniture, too. You can even get a vacuum which is for homes with pets.
5. Use baking soda on your furniture
Baking soda is one of the easiest ways to get rid of pet odors, because it’s probably sitting in your cabinet right now. Just sprinkle a little on a problem spot, let it sit, and it will suck the odor right out. You can also leave a little of it on plates around your apartment and it will help to remove the smell from the air.
6. Wash your pet’s bed
People often forget to wash their pets’ beds, so odors often emanate from there. Sometimes, pets will squirrel away smelly treats or sticks and stones from outside in their beds, and this can quickly create a smell. Washing your pet’s bed every week or so will eliminate this problem easily.
7. Air purifiers
An air purifier is another simple way to get rid of pet odors and pet-proof your rental. There are many different types of air purifiers, and you’ll be able to choose one which fits the size of your rental and your budget. You’ll just want to be sure that you get an HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) purifier, because those will be the most effective at combating your pet odors. There are air purifiers which are specifically geared to help with pet odors, too.
8. Try a black light
If smells linger and you can’t see where they’re coming from, it might be time to break out a black light. They’re relatively cheap and easy to buy, which makes them a very cost-effective way to get rid of pet odors. Using a black light will help you spot urine stains you might not see otherwise, and then you’ll know where you need to clean.
9. Clean toys, collars, and food bowls
Other lingering odors might come from things you might not think to clean. Maybe you clean your apartment constantly, but it’s been a while since you thought to clean your pet’s collar or food bowl. Cleaning these things regularly will help to remove some of your odors, since these are things your pet interacts with every day. By being creative and thinking through what your pet touches on a regular basis, you can make sure you stay on top of things.
10. Don’t forget the spots you clean less often
Your pet might love to hang out in nooks and crannies you might not get to in your normal cleaning routine. Some pets love to curl up in closets or staircases, so making sure that you’re keeping these areas clean is another way to get rid of pet odors throughout your rental.
Making sure your rental stays clean and fresh is a good move for you and your furry friend both. Hopefully with this simple list of tips, you’ll become an expert on ways to get rid of pet odors, and they’ll never give you problems again.
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