How to Get Pet Smell Out of Your Home

Here's the thing about living with pets. You stop smelling them. Your nose adjusts after a while, and everything seems fine. Then a friend comes over and their face tells you everything.

It's not about having a dirty home. It's about knowing where the smell hides and what to do about it.

Where pet odour hides

Carpets and rugs: This is the biggest one. Pet hair, dander, and the oils from their fur settle deep into carpet fibres. Vacuuming picks up the surface layer, but the smell lives deeper than that.

Upholstery: Wherever your pet likes to sit, that's where the smell is strongest. Couch cushions, armchair seats, throw pillows. The fabric absorbs it over time. If you have dogs, our guide on cleaning a home with dogs goes deeper into upholstery and shedding.

Curtains: People forget about these. Curtains hang there collecting dust, dander, and cooking smells for months. If you have pets, they're holding onto all of it.

HVAC filters: Your furnace filter circulates air through the whole house. If it's full of pet hair and dander, you're pushing that smell into every room, every time the system runs.

Pet bedding: This one's obvious, but it gets overlooked because it's in the corner. A dog bed that hasn't been washed in a month can make a whole room smell.

What actually works

Baking soda on carpets: Sprinkle it generously, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then vacuum it up. The baking soda absorbs odour from the fibres. Do this once a week if you have indoor pets.

Enzymatic cleaners on upholstery: Regular cleaners just cover the smell. Enzymatic cleaners break down the proteins that cause the odour. You can find them at any pet store. Spray it on, let it work, blot it dry.

Wash pet beds weekly: Most pet beds have removable covers. Toss them in the washing machine once a week with a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If the bed doesn't have a removable cover, it might be time for a new one.

Replace HVAC filters monthly: With pets, the standard recommendation of every three months isn't enough. Change it monthly. Your air will be cleaner and your home will smell better almost immediately.

Wash curtains and throw blankets: Every month or two, take down your curtains and run them through a gentle cycle. Same with any throw blankets your pets lie on.

What doesn't work

Air fresheners: Plug-ins, sprays, candles. They all do the same thing. They cover the smell with a stronger smell. Once the freshener fades, the pet odour is right there waiting. You're not removing anything. You're just layering.

Scented carpet powders: Same problem. They mask, they don't remove. And some of them leave residue that's hard on your vacuum.

When to call a professional

Regular cleaning handles the day-to-day. But if the smell has built up over months or years, especially in carpets, you may need a professional carpet cleaning. A hot water extraction service gets deep into the fibres in a way that vacuuming and baking soda can't.

If you're getting your home cleaned regularly, your cleaner can stay on top of the surfaces, upholstery, and floors. Cat owners dealing with litter dust and dander have their own set of challenges, which we cover in cleaning a home with cats. That goes a long way.

At Portuguese Housekeeping Services, we work in a lot of homes with pets across Toronto and Mississauga. We know where to look and what to use. If the smell is getting ahead of you, give us a call.