30 Sep 2025 I Asked Pros How to Get That “Dog Smell” Out of My House for Good
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or me, one of the perks of working from home has been being around my dog all day. (He’s my 75-pound furry “assistant.”) But it also comes with one big drawback: I’ve become noseblind to any pet odors. When my husband walks in at the end of the day, I’ll ask, “Does our house smell like a dog?” Most of the time, the answer is no. But when it’s yes, I spring into action — flinging open windows, spritzing room spray, and chasing after our bewildered pup with scented bath wipes — all in an effort to figure out how to get rid of dog smell in the house fast.
These quick fixes help, but I wanted to step up my strategy. So I asked two experts — Pam Clyde, president of BritLin Cleaning LLC, and Robin Murphy, Chief Cleaning Officer of Maid Brigade — to share their best advice for keeping a home smelling fresh when you live with dogs.
How to Get Rid of Dog Smells in the House
Below, cleaning experts share how to get rid of dog smells in the house.
Step 1: Figure out where the smell is coming from.
The first step is figuring out where the smell is coming from. “Dog smells linger because they seep into carpets, fabrics, and even the air,” Murphy explains. “The best way to banish them is to tackle all three at once.”
Step 2: Launder pet items.
Wash pet beds, blankets, cushion covers, and other soft items with an enzyme-based detergent plus a cup of white vinegar. “Vinegar works because it’s acidic and neutralizes the alkaline compounds in pet odors like urine and drool instead of just masking them, while enzymes break down the proteins that cause odor,” Murphy says. You can add the vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser, or directly into a top-load washer at the start of the rinse cycle.
Step 3: Deodorize with baking soda.
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and furniture, let it sit overnight, and vacuum the next day. “Baking soda works because it’s a natural odor neutralizer and it reacts with both acidic and alkaline compounds and absorbs lingering smells instead of covering them up,” Murphy says. For stubborn odors, use an enzymatic cleaner designed for carpets and upholstery.