Sunday, August 23, 2009

How to "un-dog" your apartment....


Living in a small apartment with a bigger dog can be a challenge in its own right, but one of the trickiest cleaning challenges is to "un-dog" the canine scent that has the tendency to loom. Here are a few pointers to help your space smell as fresh as possible.

First of all, you will want to clean up any unwanted mess from your pooch. Make sure to quickly blot up and clean any urine or vomit stains as quickly as possible, as this is the only true way to completely rid your carpet of potential permanent stains and/or smells. There are several products at pet stores that have enzymes that could be helpful. However, the important thing is to blot as much as the urine up, and then apply some kind of agent. I use vinegar when I have nothing else, and it tends to work well for me.

When your carpet is clean of urine and other doggy stains, generously shake baking soda all over the carpet. There are some vacuum powders made especially for pets available at Wal-Mart and other stores, but baking soda works very well on its own and is cheaper. Leave the powder on for at least 15 minutes. Leave it on even longer, up to 24 hours, for stronger smells.

After the time has elapsed, vacuum the powder off of the floor. If you are using a vacuum cleaner that is for specific pet use, it will more than likely get a great majority of pet hair up as well. If not, you may want to use a lint roller to remove excess hair from shedding. You can also use a wet washcloth for smaller spaces.

Following vacuuming and hair removal, you may opt to use a spray that will make your carpet smell even more amazing. Carpet Fresh is cheap and available at Wal-Mart and other stores, and even has a specific type for pets. Spray this over your carpet after vacuuming, and feel free to use it even as a touch up without vacuuming.

Repeat the procedure as much as necessary-- I like to do this once a week, but you may need to do it more or less, depending on the size of your home and the number of dogs you have. In the meantime, feel free to use scented candles, oil burners, and even Glade plug-ins to help your home smell puppy-free.

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