AIBU to ask how I can stop my living room smelling like dog?

[dogsdogsdogs1]

Shamelessly abusing AIBU traffic for this one, sorry!

I have 2 small dogs who predominantly spend their time in my living room. I have them groomed every 8 weeks and wash their bedding every fortnight or so, but honestly, my living room just smells of dog all of the time and it's getting me down!

They have a large cushion bed and a selection of blankets that they sleep in, but honestly, it all seems to smell within hours of washing it, and the dogs smell within a few days of being groomed.

I'm so tired of having to clean my carpet all the time to try and get the smell out, particularly when it's the same again a few days later.

I'm currently waiting for some lemon shake 'n' vac to sink it before I vacuum it back up, but I know it will only make a minimal difference.

Short of bathing the dogs and their bedding every few days (which isn't feasible as I have 2 toddlers, a job and doing a degree) does anyone have any suggestions of how I can reduce the smell, please?

Are there any magical dog shampoos that keep fresher for longer, or any magical washing detergent for their bedding?

I'm so tired of smelling dogs!

(I've attached a photo of the stinky rascals, just because)!

Thank you for any advice you might be able to give.

They are SO CUTE.

I don’t believe they smell. Not possible. Too cute.

Suggestions….do you think their cushions/blankets or whatever hold the smell because they are synthetic?? Just a thought?

i throw the windows open for at least an hour in the daytime to air through.

Doggy breath freshener/toothbrush

You're not going to get rid of the smell unless you get rid of the dogs

@Bunce1 I didn't realise that synthetic fabrics hold smells more tbh. I bet they are synthetic as it's just a duvet and some fleecy blankets that we've had for eons, plus a huge cushion bed thing that I bought off Amazon last month.

Have you any recommendations of what type of bedding might be best, please? I'm happy to buy new bedding if it will help!

I don't know why it's suddenly become an issue, as the dogs are 12 and 4 and I don't remember ever noticing it so much before now, but they both really do smell strongly these days. 😩

@didntyou it's weird though because they're 12 and 4 and I've never had this issue before. 😩

The only way I've found to stop mine smelling is to wash the bedding more often - I do it every 2 or 3 days. I know it's a faff especially with younger kids and when doing a degree - I'm in the same position but it's the only thing that works.

As well as keeping the windows open for at least an hour a day, even when it's cold.

Sometimes use wax melts and shake and vac but it doesn't really get rid of the smell, just covers it. Watching this post with interest as I'd also love an easier solution 😂

Those dogs are on the sofa, aren't they?

How often do you wash your sofa covers?

Off the sofa I'm afraid

I have an older dog who is def getting smellier for no obvious reason.

I'm a bit obsessed with washing throws, cushions, his bedding and opening windows

Wow are you not the helpful type 🤔OP have you ever tried Neutradol .I have just looked they do a pet carpet on as well as the ones you can place around the room ,you can have them out of sight .I have two big dogs and one small one and i use this and no doggy smell.

Is it actually just the 12 year old? I noticed that my dogs smelt doggy as they aged. No idea why but it definitely got worse with time.

I think older dogs give off stronger odours. All you can do is bathe the older one every 10 days, wash all bedding twice a week, open window for a hour every day and spray room freshener around room every day.

@LookingOldTheseDays @Creativityescapee yes, they're on the sofa at the moment because their bedding is in the wash and the carpet is covered in shake 'n' vac. I don't usually allow them on the sofa, though tbh, I wouldn't know if they sleep on it at night time as they're in the living room on their own.... I'm possibly my own worst enemy as I used to allow them on the sofa before I had my dc. I feel bad about shutting them in the conservatory as it's chilly out there! 🙈 (I know, I'm a dickhead)!

@Lastofyou I've just sniffed them and the 4 year old actually smells the worst of the two. 😩

Elderly dog smell is a thing and I agree with PP that they tend to smell more doggy as they get older.

Tuck a blanket over their favourite part of the sofa and wash the blanket every few days. I wash dog bedding at least once a week, while it's washing I wipe her crate out with Rug Doctor spray (they do one with enzymes in that breaks down smell-causing bacteria) and I give the sofa cushions and carpet a run over with the steam mop to freshen them a bit.

I bath the dog using Bugalugs dog shampoo, at least once a week because she's got form for rolling in stuff, lying in puddles and she's short so when it's muddy outside she gets a muddy belly. It smells good and has an odour eliminator in it.

Opening windows for an hour a day might be one way forward. It's just that it's been so cold this winter and the heating costs enough as it is without reducing the temperature further with open windows. Thank goodness that spring is on its way. 👍

Dogs just smell and it’s impossible to get rid of the smell! I have a poodle who thankfully doesn’t moult and doesn’t smell but my friends with spaniels and bull dogs stink! Be careful with shake n vac as a dog when I was younger was allergic and her face swelled up! Bicarbonate of soda in carpet and on furniture?

@Iam4eels thanks for the shampoo advice. Which scent do you use? I've come across baby powder and coconut & papaya on amazon. I don't suppose you know which lasts the longest, do you, please?

I would give them a much larger blanket which you can stick through the wash - those cushions - whilst lovely - the dogs are on the sofa . Hoover the sofa with fabric cleaner so eg febreze If you can I would take those sofa cushions off and wash them or dry clean , I would do a big blanket to cover the sofa cushions ( get two so you can chuck in the wash when convenient. ) Then I would hoover with febreze or if you have hard flooring mop with eg method floor cleaner.

So I suppose my point is - which smells are there already so you have to get rid of and which are just ongoing things you can easily deal with.

Good luck - they look worth the candle

Wash stuff in Odorkill.

Leather sofa with throws, wash the throws.

Synthetic stuff might hold smells but it dries far faster so is more practical for frequent washing.

Some doggy smells are linked to what they eat, so it may be worth looking at that - foods high in sugars and grains are more likely to cause a pongy dog (however, older dogs do tend towards pongy no matter what).

Be careful with things like Febreze fabric stuff, shake n vac, anything that goes on the carpet and may leave traces (or is designed to be left on) as these can trigger skin problems, nasty reactions and ... itchy pongy dogs!

Dogs smell, it's natural.

I would avoid bathing them so much and using products on them. It can cause skin issues and destroy the waterproof qualities of their coat.

I have a short haired breed who never gets washed or groomed, just a spot clean when they've rolled in something.

Could you be pregnant? I know everything got smellier when I was.

We get ours washed every 6 weeks . We have doggy wipes and every time they have been outside we wipe their feet. We don't let them on the grass (have a big patio), well in winter in summer they are out a lot with my son. We also got rid of the carpet in the living room and got a leather sofa. I hoover, mop and wipe the sofa everyday. Probably still smells of dog!

@fruitbrewhaha I hope not! I have 3 and 4 year old DSs (literally born 12 months apart), and my DP had a vasectomy just before our 3 year old was born! 🤦🏻‍♀️

No Febreeeze! A lot of dogs are allergic. I'd be careful of any air freshener sprays for the same reason.

It's just that it's been so cold this winter and the heating costs enough as it is without reducing the temperature further with open windows.

The most energy efficient way is to do a short big blow through - fling all the windows and doors wide open - for a short time, rather than more limited ventilation for longer. That way you get a full air change without losing any significant heat from the walls, radiators and other heat 'stores', which hold a lot more of the warmth (both actual and apparent) than the air.