Believe it or not, the kind of food your pet eats can affect the way he smells. Giving him low-quality dog food can cause belches, constipation, and bad breath. You should also be careful about giving him table scraps.

It could be the basement or your bathroom. Putting the litter box in a closet might work, too.

If you’re having a hard time removing bad odors at home, you might want to try using a blacklight. It can help you spot old pet messes you’ve missed.

An essential oil diffuser can let you enjoy a nice smelling home even if you live with a dozen pets. Before you buy one, however, consider asking the vet first. This is because some essential oils are bad for pets.

Not everyone can afford to build a dog washing station, but if you can, it is great for so many reasons. In the image above, you can see a titled concrete outdoor shower where the pet owner can clean off any excess mud and dirt without it ever coming inside of the house. Of course, an outdoor shower really only works if you are bathing your dog in the summertime. Some people have even custom-build a dog cleaning area in their mudroom and laundry room indoors.

If opening your windows isn’t enough, you can buy an air purifier. It’s one of the most efficient ways to remove any unwanted odors at home.

High-quality dog shampoos and conditioners tend to have a nicer smell than cheap ones. Plus, they are often formulated with ingredients that can help keep your pet’s coats healthy and shiny.

Dogs will eventually grow very long nails. Many owners never bother to trim their toenails, because they aren’t’ sharp like cats. However, they can still accidentally scratch you. Long nails also mean that they will scratch up your hardwood floors when they run around the home. It also makes a loud clicking noise when they walk through the house. Trimming toenails can be done at home, or you can take them to a professional groomer. Be sure to watch some video tutorials online before you get started.

If your dog smells bad despite taking a bath regularly, you may want to consider taking him to a doggie dentist. This is to make sure that the smell isn’t coming from his mouth.

Is your pet scooting? This is when they drag their backside along the carpet. It’s more than just an itchy butt. This is a sign that your pets have impacted anal glands. When your pets scoot, they’re going to get your carpet dirty in the worst way possible. They’re trying to release their anal glands all over your carpet. Sometimes, it’s so bad that you will need to take them to the vet to have the glands drained. Otherwise, you should purchase a product online that’s made for healing their impacted glands. I’ve used this product for my cat, and it really does work.

Because your dog is wearing his collar 24 hours a day, expect it to stink eventually. To avoid that, try to wash it as you’re bathing your dog. Another option is to wash the collar in your washing machine, along with your dog’s towels and blankets.

When you walk your dog or cuddle with your cat, you are still coming in contact with an animal. So it only makes sense that your clothing will eventually begin to smell like dogs and cats. If you allow your pets to sit on the couch or the bed, the same can be said about your blankets and sheets. So be sure to do laundry as often as humanly possible.

Cleaning your dog’s toys won’t just help keep your home smelling fresh, but it’s also one way to ensure his safety. The last thing you want to happen is for your dog to get sick from playing with extremely dirty toys.

You never know what’s lurking behind your furniture. Whenever I move my dresser or couch, I am guaranteed to find multiple cat toys covered with dust that have been lost for months. If you have dogs, the same is probably also true. Not only is this contributing to the mess, but too much dust accumulation will make it more difficult to breathe in the room. Make sure to regularly pull back the furniture and get behind there as often as possible.

Don’t let your dog get inside your home without wiping his paws first. He might have walked through dog poop, mud, and grass and you wouldn’t want any of those things to get in your home.

Not all litter brands work the same way in putting unwanted smells under control. This is one good reason to try out a few brands to see what will work best for you, your home, and your pet.

This might seem like common sense, but if you want your home to be cleaner, it’s best to train your dog. If your dog is poorly trained, there are more likely to go to the bathroom anywhere in the house than they please. They might not know that there are negative consequences to going to inappropriate places. A lot of people will take their new puppies to a training school so that they learn very early how to behave. However, a dog is never too old to learn a new trick. Start looking up videos on Youtube on how to train a dog, or consider hiring a professional to help you.

If possible, try to do this multiple times a day to prevent odor buildup. If you can commit to that, then consider investing in a litter box that automatically does the job for you.

Just like you, your pet also needs good grooming. Bathing, tooth brushing, nail clipping, and brushing can have a huge impact on how your pet smells. If you have a problem doing all of those things regularly, then consider a grooming service.

When you clean out dog and cat bowls at the end of the day, it can be difficult to remove the residue from the canned food. One tip that pet owners use is spraying the bowls with cooking spray like Pam so that everything slides off easily. However, before you do this, make sure you read the bottle to see if any ingredients may be harmful to your pets. Do a test first to see if they react with an allergy or an upset stomach. More often than not, these cooking sprays are made from olive oil or butter and should be found for your pets to eat.

Scented candles, dryer sheets, and plug-in air fresheners can mask unwanted odors at home. You can use them as a quick fix during unexpected situations.

Your pet releases dander that can circulate inside your house and attach to any surface it comes in contact with. To remove the odor or cover the scent, you may need to give your walls a fresh coat of paint.

Nothing feels cozier than warm laundry when it first comes out of the dryer. Your pets think so, too! If you leave your laundry room door open with piles of laundry, you’re running the risk of your pets making themselves a little bed in your clothing. This might even happen when you aren’t around, and you’d never know that they soiled your laundry when you were away at work. Try to get your laundry done right away, and put your clothes in your closet or drawers when everything is clean. Or, keep your laundry room door closed so that your pets don’t end up inside. On top of that, some people have accidentally started the machine not knowing their pets had crawled into the machine itself. Always check first!

If you often give your pet some treats, there’ll likely be crumbs on your floor. Clean them up with a disinfecting spray or wet wipe to make sure that they don’t stink or attract the ants.

If you have a long-haired dog or cat, you already know that they shed like crazy. Even if you have a short-haired furry friend, they will still leave behind hair and whiskers. This can cause an excess of dust build up in your home, as well as bad odors. This is why it is so important to have a high-quality vacuum cleaner.

Some pets shed a lot. Their hair can get on everything they come in contact with. So, before leaving your home, make it a habit to use lint rollers. If you don’t have one, a piece of masking tape will do.

It doesn’t really matter how careful you are. If you have pets, you should expect accidents to happen. This includes spilled water and dropped wet food. So, instead of constantly cleaning your carpet, choose to go carpet-free. It makes cleaning up a lot faster.

If you have pets who frequently have accidents on the rug or carpet, you may want to consider purchasing indoor-outdoor materials. These are much more durable and easy to clean when they get wet or dirty. Obviously, it’s very expensive to completely redo your home with a new carpet. So consider buying smaller area rugs to place down in the spots where your pets hang out frequently.

Accidents can happen while you’re still potty training your pet. In case one happens at home, be sure to clean it up right away. Don’t let it sit on the floor for a long time as that will allow the odor to get into the floor.

Baking soda can neutralize bad odors. If your litter box isn’t containing the smell, you may sprinkle some of it into the cat sand. Make sure that it’s fully dispersed.

Sometimes, it’s possible to prevent messes from happening before they start. Take a walk through your house and look for objects hanging on the edge of a countertop, plants that could be pulled down easily, or products that are within reach of your pets. Most of the time, it’s easy to predict what could potentially happen. If you have cats that like to climb up to high places, you’re going to have to work a lot harder to prevent your pet from knocking things down, but it’s worth it in the end.

Some dog and cat foods, particularly the wet type, don’t smell too good. With that in mind, always remember to put the lids on any leftover pet food. You can use plastic lids before storing them inside your refrigerator.

Don’t let your dog run around the house while he’s still wet. Get a microfiber towel and thoroughly dry him up before you let him loose.

If your cat likes drinking out from the toilet bowl, you might find yourself dealing with muddy footprints often. Plus, he’s likely to spread bacteria all over your house, too. You can get a water fountain to discourage your cat from ever drinking dirty water again.

Before you start cleaning your house, it’s a good idea to put your pet in a separate area first. That way, he won’t get in your way while cleaning. You can put him in a leak-proof crane that has enough space to let her lie down and stretch comfortably.

If possible, leave your windows open. Natural fresh air can help get rid of any unwanted smell from your pets. Of course, always consider safety before leaving your windows open.

Even if your pet doesn’t actually pee or poop in his travel crate, it can still stink. To clean it, remove any liners and blankets and wash them. Clean every inch of the carrier using an enzyme cleaner and rinse after. Don’t forget to air dry the crate.

Sometimes, health conditions will cause bad smells in your dog or cat. This can come from yeast infections, open sores, teeth issues, and so much more. If you notice a strange odor coming from your pet, take your dog or cat to the vet to see if there is a medical reason for their stink. Regularly taking them for wellness visits is a good idea, as well.

If that’s inevitable, make sure that you choose the right furniture for your home. Skip leather and wood and go with metal and fabric because they are more durable and easier to maintain.

This one’s pretty obvious. If you want a clean home, you should consider dusting, vacuuming, and mopping on a regular basis. Don’t forget to wash fabrics regularly, too.

Last and certainly not least is that you should try to use all-natural pet-friendly products as often as possible. This is true for both inside and out of your house. For example, if your indoor-outdoor pet (or your neighbor’s pets) even brush up against weed killers, they will become violently ill. Always try to go with pet-friendly products first before you break out anything toxic. Vinegar and baking soda are two natural cleaners that work for even difficult cleanups. Try those before moving onto branded cleaning products.

Surprisingly, your dog’s ears are a common source of bad dog odor because of the scent glands in the area. Remember to clean the area regularly using a piece of cotton ball with a bit of hydrogen peroxide or water.

Instead of using toxic carpet deodorizers, you can use something safer and cheaper. Sprinkling some baking soda before vacuuming your carpet can help remove any lingering odors.

After finding the exact source of the odor, apply an enzyme cleaner. It’s helpful in breaking down smelly substances.

Every pet owner on the planet has to experience accidents on the carpet at some point. Foaming carpet cleaner is typically what you should reach for, but there is an obvious life hack- shaving cream! The foamy texture of the cream helps to break up anything that may be stuck in the fibers of the carpet. You may want to follow up with some disinfecting spray, like Lysol, to be sure that all bacteria and germs are gone.

As much as possible, choose rugs that are low pile. Make sure that they are easy to clean or replace if needed.

If you’re trying to keep your home fresh while you own pets, take a look around your house and ask yourself if the environment is appropriate for your pet. For example, if you have a lot of furniture that your pets need to navigate, they may be brushing up against the furniture and leaving their fur behind. And if your entire house is carpeted, the likelihood that they are going to have an accident and leave stain is much higher too. Look at the place where your pet usually eats or goes to sleep. And if you have a cat, where do they use the litter box? Try to figure out if there is a better setup for your pets that will also help keep your home fresh.

Try to give your dog a dental treat once a day. This is to help maintain clean teeth between brushing.

Get rid of bacteria in your home by cleaning countertops, tables, and other surfaces with disinfectant wipes. You can also use them to clean up your dog’s little accidents at home.

If your pets have a lot of accidents, it could be because they’re not on a regular schedule. Both dogs and cats thrive when they have a predictable schedule for them to use the bathroom and eat their meals. It helps reduce their stress levels and helps them to be healthier overall. This can also be good for you too because you’ll never need to set an alarm again. Cats and dogs will make sure to wake you up when it’s time to eat. This will result in fewer accidents and better-behaved pets.