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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Best air fresheners to banish the dog pong!

30 replies

Littlebeek · 20/10/2016 19:07

Can anyone recommend a really strong air freshener for the home?
I've currently got the plug in one which has 3 scents but I can't even smell them!
All I can smell is dog!

OP posts:
DragonitesRule · 20/10/2016 19:08

Would love to know the answer to this...😷

LaundryQueenHatesIroning · 20/10/2016 19:16

Personally I don't think there are any air freshners that really do mask smells, you need to clean the smell out best you can from the furnishings. Could you perhaps get carpets and curtains steam cleaned by a professional? I don't mean to offend you though Blush I know it is a lot of work.

Littlebeek · 20/10/2016 19:18

I know what you mean and you haven't offended me, we have only had our dog for 3 weeks so it's not that everything is stale. She's just a smelly dog :)

OP posts:
LaundryQueenHatesIroning · 20/10/2016 19:26

Ah good Smile. If it's the actual dog that is a bit whiffy, what about adding Zoflora to your usual cleaning routine? It's a powerfully scented disinfectant. There are lots of threads on here with tips, I am a fully fledged member of the mumsnet Zoflora cult Grin

Indiaplain · 20/10/2016 20:40

You could try a plug in air purifier thingy..
here

You can add essential oils for the fragrance

Shannoncan · 22/10/2016 15:19

Check out this odor spray for dogs, this might help. Am really surprised the strong air freshener doesn't do it.

CQ · 22/10/2016 15:28

Is it the dog's coat or her mouth/breath that smells?

If it's the first, a good bath with decent doggy shampoo really helps - or a session with a professional groomer.

If it's the second, get a check up at the vet - bad gums can stink and may eventually lead to tooth loss if not treated.

Also wash the dog's bed weekly - they stink!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/10/2016 15:33

A bowl of Unstoppables works a treat and the scent lasts ages.

MardAsSnails · 22/10/2016 15:33

I second CQ - dog beds are horrid. Air everything out as much as possible like rugs (I realise that may be difficult in winter). Blankets washed as often as possible.

Bath the dog, very very regular at first as it may just in ingrained dogstench. Use healthymouth or similar to keep their mouth healthy and breath fresh.

Get rid of carpets where possible. Hard surfaces are much better for it

Get some pee odour eliminator - even if they haven't messed as such there may be wee drips and small pees from a new dog (whether pup or rescue)

Or, embrace the whiff.

Littlebeek · 22/10/2016 15:48

It's quite hard to bath her because she's a big dog so hard to get her in the bath. I've been using dry shampoo & anti bac wipes but the wet weather, long walks etc just make her smell doggy.

Unstoppables? Those wash granules? Do you just put them in s bowl?

OP posts:
Brightredpencil · 24/10/2016 18:36

I would think this is a cleaning and fresh air issue rather than adding more fragrances. I watered the plants for a dog owner near me. The dogs had home away on holiday with the owners but the smell still in the house was gaspingly pongy. My breath caught when I first opened the door and I have quite low standards three teenage boys.

Littlebeek · 24/10/2016 18:56

You are probably right, I need to air the house more but now the weather has turned cold - I can't bear to open a window!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 24/10/2016 20:33

You cant keep your house sealed for six months! Open windows for 30 mins a day.

Vetsandpets · 24/10/2016 20:35

another vote for zoflora here - it has transformed my house and stopped the smell of my very stinky greyhound

MakeItStopNeville · 24/10/2016 20:38

Open your windows, vacuum your carpets/rugs/sofas regularly. Buy a vacuum that is specifically for pets. Shampoo your fabric sofas too. Wash the cushions regularly (presuming Dog is allowed on the sofa in the first place!). Get a dog bed that has a removable cover so you can wash that too. And wash and dry the dog regularly too because, if there's one smell worse than dry dog, it's damp dog!

It's a pain in the arse but I'm quite ruthless about it as I hate walking into my home and smelling dog. And with 2 of them, it's a never ending job!

MakeItStopNeville · 24/10/2016 20:39

My main problem with Zoflora is that the smell doesn't last more than half a day to my nose!

Shockers · 24/10/2016 20:50

Air freshener and dog are a heady mix...

We use bicarbonate of soda as a carpet deodoriser (like shake n vac), wooden floors are vacuumed and mopped daily. We cover the dog beds with blankets which are washed every 2/3 days. The dogs are also furminated daily. If they are invited onto the furniture, they wait for a blanket to be put down. Ikea is great for fleece blankets which wash and dry really quickly.

I'm not saying our dogs don't smell, but it's not overpowering if we keep on top of things.

DS's trainers smell far worse!

shockingsocks · 25/10/2016 10:10

I second bicarbonate of soda! If I can't wash the bedding I just sprinkle it on and shake it off outside after an hour. Also use it as a shake n vac. It really absorbs the smell. And it's cheap. My groomer friend also says the reason a dog comes away from the groomer smelling good for ages is simply because the dog is blow dried rather than left to dry naturally - might be useful tip here for after walks.
It's also possible it's not as bad as you think..... I can't smell my air fresheners either, unless I go away for a few days.

Artandco · 25/10/2016 10:14

I think you need to open windows. I don't have a dog, but my home needs the windows open at least twice for 30mins a day even in depths of winter, otherwise it gets stale air smell.

fenneltea · 26/10/2016 11:40

Agree with all the above, but I'd add that it's worth checking your dog's diet. One of ours can be prone to yeasty skin which makes him smell very doggy, the cure is to keep him on a strict hypoallergenic diet and cut out cereals as much as possible, this also works if they get smelly ears. We also bath him in hibiscrub if he gets it which helps. It tends to be more prevalent in warm and damp conditions.

NeedATrim · 26/10/2016 11:57

You have to air your house OP, what are you thinking! What I find helps is after I've aired the house out Wink, I vacuum and run the mop over the floors (Zoflora and a drop of washing up liquid). If rugs have become particularly stinky then I sprinkle shake and vac, leave, then give a good hoover. Dog Bedding washed every two maybe three days, again with a drop of disinfectant to the wash. I buy a really heavily scented room spray which has a odour neutraliser in (its bloody awesome) and a few spritz of it makes the whole of downstairs smell nice. But really I think the main thing is to air the home though if of course your dog has a clean bill of health.

candybeek · 26/10/2016 12:10

Which air freshener do you use need?

PrettyBlueDressForTheXmasBall · 26/10/2016 13:11

Dogs that smell strongly, often smell better on a different food. My dog stunk when he was eating royal canin, changed him over to a better quality food and now he doesn't really smell doggy at all.

So rather than a better air freshener I think you need to try a better dog food. Within a couple of weeks she should stop really smelling then. No need for air freshener.

NeedATrim · 26/10/2016 13:31

Saysell room sprays. I buy mine from a shop in the Arndale in Manchester but I've seen them on ebay as well. I mainly use three different flavours as I like them the best but there are quite a few to choose from and I imagine they are just as good.

I don't like frebreeze in general EXCEPT for a sandalwood type aerosol spray which is really quite good, and once in a while I'll use that but I haven't got it in for ages. Maybe you can try that?

mypropertea · 26/10/2016 17:35

https://m.johnlewis.com/price's-household-diffuser-100ml/p/523429?sku=232198333&skwcid=2dx92700013379764645&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CMHRlYfz-M8CFUULGQodQuUPg&gclsrc=ds

Love these for the cat smell, I imagine it works on dogs. Don't use more than 3 sticks though, then add more
If needed.

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