Smelly cat? Pongy pooch? Treat pet odours the natural way

Having a cat or a dog can be a wonderful companion for you and your family – but they do come with their own little quirks. Whether it is territory marking, carpet accidents or that unmistakable Eau de Wet Dog, pet stains and pet odours are never welcome. Luckily, it’s quick and easy to make some really effective odour neutralisers at home.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a wonderful go-to household remedy for many uses. Use it full strength, or in a 50:50 mixture with water to tackle any pet odour in your home, including pet urine. Don’t worry about the pungent smell of the vinegar to start with – it will fade, and take the nasty odour with it. Test a small inconspicuous section of carpet first to check for colour fastness, then spray the vinegar/water solution straight onto the smelly area. Or how about adding a cup of vinegar to your regular wash to remove cat or dog smells from clothing? Marvellous stuff, vinegar!

Baking Soda

Another traditional household staple, baking soda – also known as Bicarbonate of Soda or Sodium Bicarbonate or Bicarb or NaHCO3 – gets rid of pet odours safely and quickly. In the manner of the old ‘shake and vac’ advert, use it to sprinkle directly onto carpets and upholstery, leave it for a while and then hoover it up to leave everything smelling fresh again. You can also deodorise your pet by shaking baking soda directly onto him, rub in and brush out. Finally, add baking soda to your washing machine to remove pet odours from clothes

Vinegar/detergent mix

For a double-whammy attack on stronger body odours and particular pet pongs, add 1 tablespoon of dishwasher liquid to 2 1/2 litres of vinegar and pour the solution directly onto your pet. Rub vigorously into the skin and shampoo well – it’s probably best to do this in the bath!. While the vinegar will remove the offending smell, the detergent will help to wash it all out, getting your pooch to smell nice and fresh again.

Borax/vinegar/salt mix

Mix equal parts of vinegar, borax and salt to make a paste and really tackle those horrible carpet stains and smells – especially useful while puppy training or for ailing cats. Rub the mixture well into the pile and leave to try before vacuuming off – and the problem is gone! It goes without saying that you should always test on a hidden area beforehand, just to be on the safe side.