Low-Cost Pet Odor Removal Methods

Pet odor removal is essential to keeping a clean, relaxing home with furry friends. Urine and feces stains are often the most obvious culprits when it comes to foul pet odors, but pets can leave behind fur, dander, dirt and other messes that make apartments smell less than fresh. Luckily, there are a number of cheap cleaning supplies available to help remove odors.

Distilled White Vinegar and Water

One of the most effective cheap cleaning supplies you can use to remove odors is distilled white vinegar. The acidic property of vinegar makes it an effective deodorizing tool, as it kills bacteria, mold, mildew and soap scum. Vinegar is gentle enough not to cause skin irritation and is versatile enough to use on countertops, sinks, tubs, wooden or linoleum floors, carpets and upholstery.

When cutting through tough grease and stains, you can use 100% vinegar in a spray bottle to eliminate the stain. However, when it comes to pet odor removal, a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% warm water should work just fine. First, blot fresh pet stains and then rinse the stains with cold water and blot again. Then douse a hand towel in the vinegar and water mixture, and wipe the stains in a circular motion–the sooner after the stain was made, the better.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is your best friend when it comes to pet odor removal–or odor removal in general. After you’ve used vinegar and water on a pet stain, sprinkle the area with baking soda and, if on carpet or upholstery, use a scrub brush to work the baking soda into the fibers. You can follow this up with a hydrogen peroxide solution or you can let the baking soda penetrate the fibers and vacuum up the excess a few minutes later.

You can also make using baking soda as a deodorizer a weekly or daily routine. Sprinkle carpets, rugs and upholstery with baking soda, wait a few minutes and vacuum away. Using a scrub brush to work in the baking soda for a better clean. This regular freshening routine will attack even simple pet odors like pet hair and dander, and it will help keep pet odors from permeating the apartment.

You can also make a paste from baking soda and water to scrub pet stains off of hard surfaces. Just mix 3/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup water until the mixture achieves a paste consistency, cover the stain with the mixture and scrub with a sponge or brush.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Detergent

If you have a pet stain that is particularly pervasive, you should add an additional step to your vinegar and water plus baking soda pet odor removal routine. Cover the baking soda with a mixture made of of 3/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of dish detergent before you use the scrub brush and the vacuum.

Common household products make pet odor removal a simple and inexpensive undertaking. Just be sure to test all products on a small area of the surface(s) to be cleaned to check for possible staining, although most of these solutions are tough yet gentle enough not to damage property. Also, do not use vinegar on stone and marble surfaces.