My house stinks! Help.

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I am looking after three dogs long term. They are my sisters and she us seriously ill.
I don't mind having g them but my house is now a mess. Our home is large semi open plan and has carpets. They are well trained.
The smell of dog hits me as soon as I walk in the house and I do t want to become smell blind to it
Any tips. I am vacuuming several times a day, wiping surfaces down etc.

Lots of window opening?

I have to admit that I live rurally so there's no security problem, but I open my windows downstairs first thing in the morning to pull air right through and my kitchen window is permanently open in the summer. I don't even have a very smelly dog - just an averagely smelly one, and I'm resigned to dog smell anyway, but fresh air never goes amiss.

When I'm at home I have the back door, living room bathroom and bedroom windows open.
The smell ( and hair) is really getting me down.

You could try hiring a Rug Doctor machine and cleaning the carpets with a pet-smell removal solution, but it all seems like a lot of work when the smell will just come back. Maybe wait until your sister can have the dogs back and THEN do a massive clean through. There isn't anything I can think of that will get rid of the smell while the dogs are still there - although some drier weather might help as there's nothing quite as bad as wet-dog smell.

Do you think you can just hold your nose and put up with it until the dogs can go back home - then do a huge clean-through to eliminate residual smells?

Wash all the soft furnishings you can in the washing machine (curtains, throws, cushion covers) and regularly clean your carpets and fixed upholstery with a carpet cleaner.

Don't be tempted to use bicarb of soda on your carpets to get smells out - you will destroy your hoover (ask how I know 😐)

I think even with regular cleaning and washing the smell comes back quickly unless the dogs are gone unfortunately.

What sort of beds do they have? Fabric beds are hellish to clean but putting them outside, vacuum, then try upholstery foam might work. When dry use an old towel or blanket inside them as easier to wash.
Any carpet or rugs sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda ( buy a large bag on EBay or Amazon) Brush into rug or carpet, leave overnight then vacuum.
Bath dogs. Fox poo shampoo gets rid of most smells.
Wash the dogs paws a couple of times a day. They sweat through the pads and can get smelly.

just seen post about not using bicarb but I’ve done it for years, never damaged a vacuum yet. Tap the filter clean after you vacuumed it all up.

What breed? Is the dogs that actually smell?

Wash the dogs
wash their beds and all the soft furnishings
bicarbonate of soda and some essential oils in the carpet and hoover up every few days

How often do you bathe the dogs?

The only house I know that doesn't smell slightly doggy is my neighbours, and they send their dog to the groomers every month.

Wash dog beds every week and any throws cushions etc hoover every day and wash the dogs, do they need a trim?

Bath the dogs and wash their beds

Wash the dogs.

Definitely wash the dogs or better take them to the dog groomer.
Wash their beds.

Ive just had a dog after a 5 year break and noticed the smell. I got neutrodol powder for my carpets and put it on before I hoover. I got carpet foam to spray over all soft furnishings, febreeze air freshener and Yankee candles. I mop hard floors with zoflora pet. My dog is a breed you can bath regularly without ruining their coat so he's bathed every 2 weeks and I use a coat spray to keep him fresh in between.

I vacuum daily, use fleece throws on the furniture which I wash weekly or more frequently if necessary. Groom your dog daily outside and don’t have fabric beds unless they’re washable.

The only people I know who have a dog without the accompanying house smell bath the dog weekly and shampoo its whole coat. A massive faff, but it really does work.

Robot hoover twice a day - saves you a LOT of time.

Restrict dogs from some rooms if possible. Make sure they use their beds rather than furniture if it's an issue!

Bath dogs - white vinegar and rinse first, then a good dog shampoo, then a white vinegar and rinse again. Works brilliantly. However, if they are smelly due to stress this won't last long - pheromone fear and stress smells are oily and unpleasant, not the same as a doggy smell. That seeps into soft furnishings.

Boil wash dog bedding regularly in biological powder or liquid. Use Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver in the washing machine or put the bedding into machine washable bags first (I do both) to prevent the machine becoming very hairy.

I've never been in a house with a dog that hasn't smelt of dog. As PPs have said I'd wait until the dogs have gone and then do a massive clean including washing the carpets and soft furnishings.

Bath the dogs we use bugalugs mango smelling shampoo for stinky dogs.
Throws on sofa, swap every few days.
Wash dog bed.
Open windows.
Dental sticks if their breath smells.
I do all that and the fur ball will then fart and clear the room 🤢

Thanks for the tips everyone.
The dogs are going to be with me for the foreseeable future, probably indefinitely. I've made a start on your suggestions and I'm going to ring up the dog groomers this morning and get them booked in.

It's most likely the dogs, this is shedding season, even if they are short haired.

I'd get them to groomers and then vax all carpets etc. I'd invest in a shedding comb and do it regularly. I also use it on my couch (where he's not supposed to be but sneaks up on it). Even if they are short haired you'll be surprised at what's lying around.

Get a rubber broom (Argos) you’ll be horrified at what comes off your carpet , even with the best hoover

Windows open, wax melts burning, groom the dogs, wash their beds. I've got a cushion on the sofa and she only sleeps on that (or a human!), no lounging around all over them. And I found out accidentally - and actually because the dog chewed the box - that hoovering washing powder makes your hoovering smell lovely 😂

Sprinkle some ground coffee onto your carpets. Leave for a bit - it's a natural odour nutreliser.
Hoover, and it should be a lot better without the house having an artificial light or coffee smell.

i’m sorry your sister is so poorly :(

If they haven’t been with you long they’re probably still stressed- stressed dogs smell much stronger. What breeds are they?

Hose them down in the shower / garden once a week, brush them outside, open the windows often and wash whatever they’re sleeping on.

I was coming on to suggest this. DD bought a second hand car from someone who transported dogs to shows and the (clean) car just reeked. She used coffee grounds in filter bags, tucked in all over upholstery etc and the car was smelling fresh within a few weeks.