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.

Cat litter trays smell, but then so do toilets if they aren't flushed after someone has done a shit.

This is gonna sound stupid but do you bath ur dog ? I bath my dog regularly and my house doesn’t smell of dog , use fabreeze on the days you can’t wash the dogs bedding but wash ur dogs bedding at least once a week and train ur cats to go toilet outside

Are you sure it’s the animals and not some hidden mould or damp issue? If it’s so bad they have to say something.

We had the same problem and didn't know as you go nose blind. Our house now smells lovely. (MIL actually said)

I've got two cats and a dog. I find using Tesco's own make cat little (£2.20). That way I can afford to change it every two days and scoop the poo out twice a day. I use pet friendly plug in air freshener and the powder you put on the carpets before you hoover. (Keep cats away until it's hoovered up)
As for the dog, get the bugerlugs shampoo it's the only one that keeps our dog smelling nice. I've attached a photo of it.

Then windows open every day. Our cats are indoor so I used child cupboard safety locks so they don't open it.

OP, I think you've approached this really constructively.

I have a hamster in my livingroom, it was in my granddaughter’s room but it was keeping her up at night strangely it doesn’t smell but I feel it does, as I’m a Kinship carer for my granddaughter I have to have a clean tidy house at all times (like that happens with a blind partner & a 9yr old who don’t believe in tidying up after themselves) as our Social Worker can appear at anytime, I asked if they smelled the hamster as I know our sw hates the hamster & she says no, anyway to keep the rooms fresh as trust me my 28yr olds room is disgusting I swear if there is a Zombie outbreak the cure is in her room or possibly my granddaughters so windows open a good 5hrs a day then wax melts at night I also febreeze the house & as I said I have my candles wax melts & diffusers just depends on my mood

Windows open at all times. Vacuum daily and change litter. Vanilla or coconut joss stick on. Beds and laundry never left to fester.

Dogs bathed however often you’re supposed to bath them. Poo picked up from the garden so it doesn’t waft around.

Some dogs really do smell. Often it's from their teeth not being attended to, but often they have a doggy smell from coat.

Definitely a well groomed dog who eats healthy food smells far less than one fed cheap food. {Wind? } Wash their bedding frequently.

Litter trays can smell, too.

I have a cat but you would never know it. I use a scooping litter and scoop twice a day. If Daisy poos she comes to get me cuz she does not like poo in her litter box. I put the scooped litter in a Litter Genie. It seals the used litter in a plastic casing that I change out every 10 days. I also use a sprinkle litter deodorizer. In the US we have Glade automatic spray air fresheners. I have one in the same room as her litter box. I launder her bedding, kitty caves, and toys at least once a month.

Shampoo your carpets, if you have them, regularly. This will help with the smell and fabreeze your cushion covers.

I agree with the previous suggestion of putting sheets on your sofa for the dog to sit on, these can easily be washed or taken off if you're due guests.

I have two house cats with a litter tray and two dogs and I’m often told my house DOESN’T smell, by people that are surprised. We use wood pellet litter - it’s cheap enough to change more often, tracks less. I have throws on the sofa for the dogs but I don’t wash them very often. I only hoover and mop once a week. Basically - I’m not sure it’s the animals. I’d be looking at the shoes, the coats, the ventilation and cooking smells, damp laundry smells, things like that.

This may have been mentioned already, but since you said you notice a greasy smell, make sure you clean the filters in the extractor fan, not only for the smell but to avoid a potential fire hazard.

Dogs and cats smell whatever you do, a non pet person can smell them.

We have a litter tray but it doesn’t smell. We use the basic cat litter, scoop regularly and change twice a week.
i had a house fire once and to help with the smell I soaked rags in washing softener and left them around the place and it definitely helped - you could do the same and leave by stinky areas. Wash walls down, clean floors, wash curtains, get air fresheners and shake ‘n’ vac if you’ve got carpets. Id be giving doggo regular washes too (once a week) as the smell can build up and take a few washes to properly come out.

Please tell me more about the cheap robot vac. I need one, but I’m on a tight budget!

Leather sofas so you can wipe them clean. Loads cheap on Facebook marketplace or similar.

Why on earth would you keep litter trays upstairs???

You are doing a great job. And I am so sorry for your loss.

I used to use sifting cat box liners. They were fantastic. My cats won’t tolerate any liner now, but since yours are used to the plastic it’s a game changer. You just pick up the top liner and it sifts the clean sand out. Once you get to the bottom layer you change the entire box.

Once you change a cat tray it won’t smell, my cats don’t, although they tend to go out in the summer and rarely use their tray but in winter they do. If I go into someone’s house, as clean as they may be, I can smell their dogs. Maybe your sons friend has a sensitive nose.

Cat litter trays I use a hooded one with cat flap thing on the front, helps to keep the smell in. I use cheap cat litter and change it every day, I also use litter liners and clean the tray with Flash pet spray which neutralises any odour. I find my cat tends to generally 💩 at the same time every day so I always check. Also is there is any cat pee anywhere that will really smell.

I have 2 cats and a dog. Op, in the nicest way possible you need to sort your house out.
if your cats are using the litter tray yes you need to change the litter and clean it often. If your cat is peeing on clothes put the clothes away, don’t have them on the floor and take that as a sign the litter tray is nasty. Clean clean and clean some more. Only have the coats and shoes in use in the hallway. Put the rest away.
Google cat pee and how to get rid of it.
This is nothing to do with being better off.

Sometimes trainers really smell awful. Not always sweaty, but like the glue holding them together. One of my sons friends trainers stank to high heaven. My cat won’t go to its tray unless pristine. I empty and change all the litter every day. Poop 💩 goes immediately too…bowls of vinegar are meant to neutralise smells

I have a dog, a baby, work full time and have an immaculate house. I would be mortified if someone said my house smelled. I would ensure my dog doesn't sit on the furniture and maybe spend a little time each day cleaning round, if it's done every day then it doesn't seem as much of a chore .

Have you got covered cat litter trays, that helps. Mix of cheap litter and the more expensive type ekes it out , I found, and a mat that the cat comes out of the the litter tray ,onto which can be washed, so it stops the carpet from smelling. And always use reasonable quality tray liners which makes it easier to clean out! I found these things out when my very elderly cat ( which was used to being an outdoor cat), needed to become an indoor cat when I had to move to a flat after my divorce. And plenty of pet odour remover spray for "accidents".

Ick.