As much as we love our furry friends, we all know they can be stinky sometimes. Whether it’s a smelly dog bed or a stinky litterbox, it’s something we usually just live with and get used to. Unfortunately when you’re selling your house, the people walking through it and wondering if they could be the next owners of it are not used to those smells.

One of the top complaints we receive when we call showing agents for feedback is “there’s a strong pet odour” or “the house smells like dog”. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but it’s a lot easier for potential buyers to feel good about your house when they’re not focusing on the smell.

Here are some ways you can reduce the odours that inevitably come from having furry friends!

VACUUM: The first step is to vacuum EVERYTHING! Carpets, curtains, couches, anything upholstered. An extra step you can take is sprinkling baking soda over the area an hour before vacuuming, which is a pet-friendly way to deodorize the material. Make sure to also change or clean your vacuum filter regularly!
WASH: If the smell is still strong, wash any removable covers and steam clean what you can. Again, hit the carpets, curtains, couches, and anything upholstered. It may be that the stink is deeper into the material than you thought. Make sure to scrub any suspicious spots or stains you find while cleaning!
AIR FILTERS: One thing that can massively help in the battle for smelling fresh is making sure your air filters are changed out on a schedule. Once they get clogged up, they are not filtering the dander and hair that is in the air, contributing to the musty dog smell. Check out our Trusted HVAC Experts List to do an inspection on your air filters and make sure everything is working as it should.
AIR PURIFIERS: Along with air filters, air purifiers are your best friend! If you notice one room in particular is reeking, you can use a portable air purifier to help out.
ODOUR ELIMINATION: If all else fails, we have had great success with Gonzo Odor Eliminating Rocks strategically placed around the mustiest parts of the home. You can hide them in closets, under furniture, up above cabinets, etc., and they really do eliminate pet odours quickly.

Once you get your home smelling fresh with these tips, make sure to bathe your dogs and air out your home regularly for upkeep. If the smells start to creep back, start back at the top of the list until they are gone again.

Cat’s generally aren’t smelly animals, but their litter boxes sure are.

SCOOP: Scoop out the litter box as soon as you can. For absolute best results, you would need to do this as soon as they’re finished doing their business, but realistically at least once a day while your home is being viewed would be ideal.
BAKING SODA: For some extra freshness, sprinkle some baking soda on top of the litter box to help neutralize the smells.
NO SCENTS: Your cat might be sensitive to scented litter if you have not used it before, and might go find somewhere else to do their business, which will make the whole situation worse, And even if the scented litter smells alright, it will only draw the attention of possible buyers to the litter box.
CLEAN: If you do find pee spots around the house, immediately clean it with a carpet cleaner or an enzymatic solution. The longer it sits, the stinkier it gets!
VACUUM: Having a bunch of fur and dander around the house contributes to clogging up the furnace filter, and your cat definitely tracks litter and bacteria throughout the home after using their litter box. Stay ahead of this by doing a quick vacuum every day or two.
ODOUR ELIMINATION: If all else fails, the Gonzo Odor Eliminating Rocks also work great for stinky litter boxes. Just hide them nearby the boxes and the it really helps de-stink the room.