How to Keep Your House from Smelling Like A Dog

This post was originally published in April 2019. It was updated with new information in July 2026.

The other night, Violet told her first joke.

We talked to her about smelling things, as one does to a two-year old in spring, and John asked her, “What does Cooper smell like?”

She grinned.

“Cat poop!”

And then she laughed maniacally.

Baby jokes aside (Cooper smells just fine, thank you!), no one wants to live in a house that smells like wet dog or cat or litter box or pet accident. Luckily, it’s not hard to keep your home odor-free.

In this post, I’m breaking down the basics on how to keep your house from smelling like dog AND how to eliminate pet odors as you go. Because they will happen. It’s part of the charm of our pets. Finally, I want to note that I’m focused on dog odors here. If anyone’s interested in cat odors or how we handle the litter boxes, let me know in the comments below!

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How to Keep Your House from Smelling Like Dog

Open Windows for Natural Ventilation

This is first because I can’t overstate its importance. For one thing, if you live in a new or a new-ish house, they’re built so well as to be virtually air-tight. That’s great for saving energy but not so great for letting out stink and letting in fresh air.

So, open a window whenever you can! Our house is older and super leaky and does not fall into that air-tight category. We still have a lot of work to do to fix those drafty problems, but I still make a point to crack or open a window when I’m cleaning or when I start to smell a smell. If you do nothing else on this list, open a window. It’ll make a huge difference.

Also, incorporate air-filtering plants throughout your home. They add a bright bit of nature and keep your home feeling and smelling fresh.

Use HEPA Air Purifiers and Pet-Specific Vacuums

Keep your air as clean as possible with pet-specific HEPA filters. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. It basically works by forcing air through super-fine mesh filters to trap tiny gunk like dander, pollen, dust mites, smoke particles. Same for any fans or air purifiers you run in your home: Ensure they all have HEPA filters.

If possible, get a HEPA-filtered vacuum, too. Some vacuums allow you to swap filters, but if not, and if you’re in the market for a new vacuum, here’s my quick thought on that: Cheap is expensive in the long run. We’ve gone through more vacuums than I can remember. They’ve all burnt out, but the lifespan is the difference. We blew through three Shark vacuums and will never buy one again. Bissell is good, and we have one as a backup vacuum.

Our best vacuum ever was the Dyson Animal, which lasted from 2005 until early 2026. Expensive up front, yes, but the cost-per-year is totally reasonable. With just over 20 years of use, that averages out to about $25 per year. We relied on our backup Bissell vacuum for a couple months but took the plunge on Prime Day and picked up the animal-specific Dyson at a great price. Here’s to another 20 years with one vacuum!

Bottom line: Clean air smells like nothing, which is the goal.

Choose Washable Dog Beds and Dog Toys

Toys, leashes, collars, blankets, balls, Kongs, all of it should be washable! I use my dishwasher for tons:

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Any pet beds should have a removable, machine-washable cover like this foldable hideaway cat bed or like this orthopedic dog bed Cooper uses. (BTW, we got this bed ages and ages ago as a press sample when I wrote for a pet magazine, and as of this writing, it says it’s currently unavailable. This dog bed looks similar.)

And then, of course, wash bed covers, towels, and soft toys on a weekly basis. I do a load of Cooper’s laundry–bed covers, stuffies, towels–along with Ripley’s toy mice because they all just get smelly with daily use. Definitely don’t run out to buy replacement products unless you are in need of something. I’m never one to recommend buying something for the sake of buying it. However, when you are in the market, look for pet products with anti-microbial odor-resistant technology or at least easy-to-clean features!

Please don’t forget to clean out your dryer vent, too! Not only is it a smell-related issue, it’s a home safety / fire prevention issue!

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A post shared by Maggie Marton | Pet Writer, Dog Blogger + Animal Behavior Nerd (@maggiemarton)

Protect Furniture with Washable Throws or Covers

This sounds obvious, I guess, but someone recently mentioned the smell their couch picked up from their dog. “Do you have a quilt or something on your couch?” I asked. Nope, he said.

OK, here’s the thing: No one wants their furniture obscured by ugly sheets or drop cloths. However, your couch, unless it’s slipcovered, isn’t easily washable. In my office, I have a slipcovered IKEA sofa for the animals to sleep while I work. I wash the slipcovers every few months because it’s a giant pain to take them off and put them back on.

Grab some blankets that fit your decor, things you actually like, and put them down on your sofa as a pretty throw. About a month ago, I picked up this machine-washable, cotton sofa throw blanket, and I love it so much. It’s soft, cozy, washes well, and keeps the smell from sinking into my sofa. Encourage your pup to sleep there instead of on the cushions. Coop and the cats all prefer to be on a blanket, so we have one draped on the couch, the arm chair, and the chaise in our bedroom where Coop sleeps at night. All of those things can be picked up on Saturday morning and put through the washing machine. I also have a waterproof dog car seat cover for my car for the same reason.

Deodorize with Baking Soda and Vinegar

OK, not even kidding, but I buy these two ingredients in bulk. Your house will never smell like pet odors again if you keep baking soda and vinegar on hand! I can clean my entire house top to bottom with those two and save a ton of money, while being gentler on the planet. Plus, they’re both beasts at eliminating dog odors.

I have manufactured-wood floors and LVP floors, and I scrub them with vinegar. The smell dissipates after a few minutes (less if you have the windows open) leaving behind a smell of… nothing. No smell. No pet odors, no chemical cleaning product odors, no nothing. Just air.

As for baking soda, everyone already knows it absorbs odors from the air, but did you know you can use it on your dog like a dry shampoo? When you groom your pup (see the next time), sprinkle some onto his fur to absorb gross smells, then brush out.

Quick tips:

• Vinegar tip: I know this tip won’t be for everyone, but I swear by it so have to share: Stop using fabric softener and dryer sheets (they’re a fire hazard, bad for the environment, filled with toxins, pick your reason why) and start adding vinegar to the fabric softener component of your washing machine. Pet odors will disappear. As will gym odors, baby odors, and front-loading washer odors. The one exception to this: If you are cleaning soiled materials, like poop or vomit from a pet accident, I use Lysol laundry sanitizer instead.
• Baking soda tip: If you have carpet or area rugs, get ready to take your dog on a super-long walk followed by a thorough outdoor groom. BUT before you go, sprinkle a thick coating of baking soda into your carpet. Work it in with a brush. Then, head out for the walk and groom session. When you come back, vacuum it all up and breathe in the fresh, odor-free air. (Again, bonus if you can leave your windows open through this process.)

Maintain a Regular Dog Grooming Schedule

Confession: I’m not as consistent as I should be with this because Cooper hates it, and I feel bad making him so miserable. But giving your dog–breed dependent, of course–a thorough brushing outdoors can eliminate a ton of indoor odor. Then, a bath–breed dependent, too–gets out the rest of the reek. Bonus points: Follow the bath up with an ACV rinse to have a fresh, clean, happy pup!

Some breeds don’t do well with regular bathing. Some breeds don’t require regular brushing. However, to get loose hair, dirt, and dander off your pet, use a pet wipe before your dog comes indoors. It’ll cut down on indoor smelliness by leaving that crud outdoors.

Use Enzymatic Cleaners for Pet Accidents

It might not always be possible to catch it immediately, like if your pup pukes while you’re at work or asleep, but the quicker you catch an accident, the easier you can eliminate the smell. (Not to mention preventing stains.)

Use enzymatic cleaners to prevent marking, and spend some time getting to the root of the problem. Is your dog really, truly, fully house trained? Is there an underlying infection or tummy problem? Unless you solve the problem that causes your dog to poop or pee in the house, you’ll never be fully odor-free.

A final note on essential oils and pet care: I’m sure many of you are wondering about this piece. Lots and lots of people advise diffusing oils to eliminate odors. Many essential oils are safe for pets. Many aren’t. I’m not qualified to speak on this, not in the slightest. That said, we do have an oil diffuser, but I do not use it to eliminate pet odors. Period. Plus, all the oils we have–maybe six in total–have been thoroughly researched and shown to be safe to diffuse with both dogs and cats in the home. I wanted to address that up front and just caution you: You do you, but do it safely with lots of due diligence.

No One Wants a Home That Smells Like Dog

Even if you’re a Crazy Dog Lady through and through, like I am, you still don’t want a stinky house. No one wants that. And the thing is, it doesn’t take much effort. The trick is being consistent and staying on top of it.

If you want to clean even more, check out the ultimate guide to spring cleaning for pet parents.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you keep your pet-loving home odor-free? What tips and tricks do you use to keep that wet dog smell or dander smell or whatever out of your home? 

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