How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in the House
Short answer
Most dog smell in a house comes from three places: the dog itself, its bedding and the furniture it lies on, and old urine spots you can't see. Wash the dog bed and blankets every week or two, bathe and groom the dog as your vet suggests, find old accidents with a UV light and treat them with an enzyme cleaner, and vacuum often. A HEPA air purifier with a carbon filter helps with what's left. A sudden strong smell from the dog itself is worth a vet visit.
Quick steps
- Wash the dog bed, blankets, and sofa throws in hot water if the labels allow.
- Bathe and brush the dog, and check its ears, teeth, and skin.
- Find old urine spots with a UV flashlight in a dark room.
- Soak each spot with an enzyme cleaner and let it dry fully.
- Vacuum floors and furniture twice a week and run a HEPA air purifier.
Need supplies? Jump to what to buy
Where the smell comes from
A house that smells of dog usually has three sources at once:
- Fabric the dog lies on. Beds, blankets, sofa cushions, and rugs collect skin oils, dander, and saliva. This is the main source in most homes.
- Old accidents. Dried urine keeps smelling for months, especially in carpet padding and on baseboards.
- The dog. Coat oils, wet fur, and sometimes a health problem such as an ear infection or bad teeth.
Fix all three, then filter the air.
1. Wash everything the dog lies on
Wash the dog bed cover, blankets, and any throws on the furniture every week or two, in the hottest water the labels allow. If the bed insert can’t go in the washer, vacuum it and wash the cover more often. Old foam beds that still smell after washing are worth replacing.
Vacuum the sofa and any chairs the dog uses, including under the cushions, and wash removable covers.
2. Find and treat old accidents
Turn off the lights and check carpets, rugs, and the bottom of walls with a UV flashlight. Dried urine usually glows. Mark each spot.
The Humane Society recommends cleaning urine with an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down the source of the smell instead of masking it. Soak the spot so the cleaner reaches as deep as the urine did, leave it as long as the label says, then let it air-dry. Avoid steam cleaning urine, since heat can set the stain and smell.
3. Clean and check the dog
Brush the dog outside a few times a week to remove loose hair and dander, and bathe it as often as your vet recommends for its breed and skin. Dry the coat fully after baths and walks in the rain; damp fur is where a lot of “wet dog” smell comes from.
Smell the ears and breath too. A sour or yeasty smell from the ears, bad breath, or a fishy smell from the rear can mean an infection, dental disease, or full anal glands. Those need a vet, not a shampoo.
Accidents on a bed are treated the same way. See how to get smells out of a mattress.
4. Clean floors and filter the air
Vacuum floors and rugs at least twice a week, ideally with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. Mop hard floors where the dog eats and drinks.
Run a HEPA air purifier with an activated carbon filter in the room where the dog spends most of its time. The EPA notes HEPA filters capture particles like dander, while the carbon layer is what helps with odors. Change the furnace filter more often than usual if you have a shedding dog.
If the dog sleeps on the sofa, see how to get a smell out of a couch. If it met a skunk, see how to get rid of skunk smell.
What to buy
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Enzyme pet odor cleaner
Rocco & Roxie Enzyme Stain & Odor Eliminator, 32 oz
Urine, vomit, and other organic stains in carpet, upholstery, and car seats. The enzymes break down what causes the smell instead of covering it.
Good to know: Test on a hidden spot first and keep pets away until it has dried. It needs time to work, so don't rinse it off early.
Check price on Amazon
UV blacklight flashlight
Vansky 51 LED UV Blacklight Flashlight
Finding old, dried urine spots you can smell but can't see. Dried urine usually glows under UV light in a dark room.
Good to know: Other things glow too, such as some detergents and spills. Confirm with your nose before treating.
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HEPA air purifier with carbon filter
Levoit Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier
Smoke, pet, and cooking smells that hang in the air of one room, plus the dander and fine particles that come with them. The carbon layer handles odor; the HEPA layer handles particles.
Good to know: It cleans the air, not the walls, carpet, or furniture where smell is stored, so clean those first. Size it to the room and replace the filter on schedule. Avoid models that make ozone.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Why does my dog smell even after a bath?
If the smell comes back within a day or two, it may be coming from the ears, mouth, skin, or anal glands, not the coat. Ear and skin infections and dental disease all smell. Ask your vet to take a look.
Does baking soda remove dog smell from carpet?
Sprinkling baking soda, leaving it for a while, and vacuuming can freshen carpet a little. It won't remove urine. For accidents, use an enzyme cleaner that breaks down what causes the smell.
Why does my dog keep peeing in the same spot?
Dogs return to places that still smell like urine to them, even when you can't smell it. Cleaning old spots thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner helps stop repeat marking.
Why does my house smell like dog no matter how much I clean?
The smell is usually held in something you aren't washing: the couch, curtains, the car seat, the furnace or AC filter, or old urine spots in the carpet. Change the filter, clean the upholstery, and check for accidents with a UV light. If the dog smells again soon after a bath, see a vet.
Does an air purifier help with dog smell?
A HEPA filter catches hair and dander, and an activated carbon filter absorbs some odor. It helps with what's left after cleaning, but it can't fix a smelly bed or urine in the carpet.