DS's friends say our house smells

[fruitstick]

I know it does but I'm mortified. DS's friends are also quite a bit wealthier than us with bigger houses etc but I don't want DS to feel he can't bring people round.

We keep the house clean but have a dog and two cats. The cats have litter trays upstairs which don't help.

I blame our hallway as no fucker puts their shoes away (DS & DH) and there are loads of coats (mainly DH's).

I have the next week off work so was planning on a big clean up anyway.

What do I need to be doing.

I know the dog on the sofa means we need to wash the cushions more regularly than we do. I'm not as religious about cleaning as I could be.

But tell me what I need to be doing.

Coats can smell, have a sniff and see if they need washing.

For the dogs, can you put blankets on the sofa so you can easily wash them? I do that for my dog. And regularly wash the pet bedding too- I find that can get smelly quickly. Maybe some of that shoe odour spray for the shoes would help and a febreeze of your furniture and carpet. Then just a really thorough clean of everywhere. And open windows for the air. Can’t advise re cats though- I’ve never had them

Fleece blanket on sofa that can be washed every week.

Do the cats need a litter tray as I can smell one a mile off.
I have an outdoor area for my cat to dig and poop.

Fresh air helps. I know people who love those trio plug in air freshener things. I don't but you might.

My friend had a dog, her house was immaculate, she had a brilliant cleaner too; every time I went to her house, I could smell her dog, it was never allowed on the furniture, the odour just lingers.

Yes blankets is a good shout. Although I do try but everyone just moves them.

That shows spray is worth a go but I imagine I'll be the only fucker to use it.

Maybe I need to have firm words with DH and DS.

Is the dog clean?

I know I'm biased (username is a hint), but generally cats don't smell, litter trays of course will do if you use cheap litter and don't clean them out enough.
However, some dogs really stink.
What does your house smell of?

The cats don't have a cat flap as our house doesn't really have anywhere to put one, and they don't like being in the same room as the dog. So it's tricky.

One cat has a habit of weeing on DS's clothes if the litter tray isn't to their liking. It is an issue.

I have two cats and am no Mrs Hinch, but my house doesn't smell! I was that kid growing up that did though and it was excruciating. Kids were so mean about it. And if your house smells, your clothes normally do as well.

so, what I do!
clean the litter trays religiously, poop immediately gone. Fresh litter every three days regardless. Buy a good deodoriser.

open windows every day to air the house

i have a cheap robot hoover. Best thing I ever got. I let it roam around in the living room for 40 mins on max. I'm still amazed what it gets out of the carpet.
I also send him upstairs under beds etc!

change bedding weekly.
change/wash any pet bedding weekly
if your carpet smells. Sprinkle bi carb all over it, lewve it for an hour or two and then hoover.
put a blanket on the sofa for the dog. Wash weekly.
towels washed every few uses etc.

I sound like I do loads. I really don't. The hoover does a lot of the heavy lifting for me and that keeps on top of so much for me.
washing stuff I just get on with. I spend maybe a couple of hours tops across the whole week keeping on top of it.

give all coats a wash too ahead of autumn. Smells cling to them.

Hope you can get on top of it.

Get some windows open every day and blankets on sofa for dogs that you can wash easily and regularly. If any of the shoes are smelly you can put tea bags in them or a spray to freshen them up. Wash all the coats if they haven't been washed recently.

Blanket/fleece on the sofa for ddog, regularly washed.
It probably will need a clean, can you wash the he covers or use a cleaner on it?
Windows open as much as possible.
Try and get rid of some coats/shoes or at least put those least used away in a cupboard. Sanitizing spray/powder for all of them, but like when you go bowling .
Litter trays - Can you change the litter for a less smelly one and see you removing poops asap, wees frequently? I'm using paper based litter ATM, seems to hold smells better.
You can't tell how bad your house smells although every house has a smell of some sorts.
Love a big clean, my house is getting better as time goes on and I'm a lot less messy than I was, best tip is less stuff, not more storage if you're like me and very much a messy person by nature.

As long as your animals’ coats are clean and teeth not needing help, I would be certain it’ll be the litter tray. They are revolting and I cannot understand people having them in the house - sorry, I know that’s harsh but genuinely they ALWAYS stink and the owners of houses are ALWAYS oblivious. Move it outside if you at all can, or if not change it twice a day at least (no joke) and make sure your windows are opened every day. Another thing - if you are vigilantly changing the litter twice a day the cats’ paws and fur on legs and belly will stink also from them being in contact with it.

unless your husband and son have actually stinky feet and shoes it’s probably not that.

It’s the litter trays.

DH is a bit of a hoarder. I don't have much stuff but he does. All the costs and shoes are his and he wont put them away.

No I don't clean the litter tray out as much as I should. Maybe I need to switch to cheaper litter (I use ever clean) but change it more frequently.

And possibly wash the dog more. Basically, I need to get off my lazy arse.

How mortifying that it was so bad that your kids friends commented on it 😕
I don't think this is a wealth issue it's a pets issue.
What type of dog is it. I find a lot but not all dogs smell and some dogs have a really bad pong.
Have you carpets? What about having them cleaned?

The cat tray is obviously a bit problem but sortable.

Blankets on sofas washed weekly, everyone needs to put shoes in a cupboard, covered litter tray with wooden pellet litter scooped daily emptied every other day, wash all the coats if they smell grimy, what about other soft furnishings curtains, rugs, bedding etc, a steam cleaner can help with carpets, sofas and rugs, also windows open whenever possible. Our upstairs windows are tilt and turn and they've been tilted open since about April.

One of those anti limescale rim block things for the toilet and an auto air freshener in there.

What flooring do you have? Carpets with a dog is a recipe for disaster

Do you have a dishwasher? If not it's raining up left in the sink? How often are the bins emptied?

These jobs are not just yours they're everyone in the house's.

what kind of dog is it? I rarely wash my dog (unless she’s rolled in poo). They tend to keep themselves clean but mine is short haired so maybe it’s easier. Mine has a groom and wash twice a year and occasionally jumps in a river

The litter trays upstairs could be it. My best friend lives in an immaculate house but she has a cat and it really smells downstairs (the enclosed litter tray thing is in the utility room at the back but as soon as you go through the front door it hits you) Im not sure if people with litter trays become immune to the smell, I can't see how they could though tbh.

Sounds like you've got too many pets for the space. Personally I find dogs smell, regardless of how clean the house and their blankets etc are kept and cats' litter trays stink. The one cat weeing on clothes won't be helping either.

Sorry op, no advice as I live with this same anxiety as I have litter trays in the house too. No matter how much you clean them, the cats make a nose dive back in for a 💩 the minute they’re cleaned. I now use a plug in air freshener in my bottom hallway for the very same reason. I doubt your house stinks, it’s just pets can be smelly and throw in a dog too that’s in and out in all weathers, it’s not easy to keep on top of it, especially when you can’t smell something ‘normal’ for you! Don’t be to embarrassed, give the jackets a quick wash and shoes a scoosh with some freshener. I think it’s rude to mention the smell of someone’s home!

When did you last shampoo your carpets/rugs? How often do you mop floors?

I insist the hallway is cleared of shoes, bags and coats daily after they all get dumped after school/work.

We have no pets but my routine on top of usual cleaning is:
WEEKLY; sweep and hoover the staircase, wash down the sofas in lounge and armchair in the hallway, change kitchen table cloth, f breeze curtains, wash throws, mop all floors.

I hoover and sweep daily (multiple times), bleach loos daily and deep clean twice a week, frequently change hand towels and kitchen towels, wipe all kitchen units after every use with a nice smelling spray, do dishes when needed (no pile up), clean out fridge weekly. All on top of actual cleaning because I am paranoid about having a house that smells fresh 😳.

Actually I think they are quite catty girls.

The boys couldn't care less

Litter trays stink ime. I had a lovely friend whose house stank to the point I avoided going there and it was definitely the litter tray. They’ve moved and now have a cat flap and no litter tray - house no longer smells.

I personally don’t find “doggy” smell too bad and our sofas are leather so don’t smell but I do need to keep on top of washing the cushion covers every couple of weeks or I start to notice it in my own house.

Our rug probably does need a clean. And the cushions.

Windows open daily even in winter too.