Whilst we all adore our precious pets, it’s fair to say that they can sometimes leave some unwanted aromas around the house. These natural cleaning tips & tricks should help to keep odours at bay and leave your home smelling clean, without any potential harm from harsh, toxic chemicals.
Room deodorising tricks
Boiling vinegar & essential oils
Boiling a mix of 50/50 white vinegar and water combined with 20 drops of essential oil will not only remove unwanted pet smells from the kitchen but also mask any lingering cooking aromas.
Bicarbonate of soda & essential oils
Pop a few spoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda into some small dishes and add 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil (or another dog-friendly essential oil of your choice!). Dot these dishes around the house in out-of-licking distance locations and not only will the bicarb work its deodorising magic, but you’ll be left with a lovely, calming lavender scent.
Natural cleaner with essential oils
Use a beautifully-scented natural cleaner to help mask unwanted smells and leave your home smelling like a spa! Counter Clean is safe to use around pets and can be used on all surfaces in the home - whether it's cleaning up a puppy accident on the kitchen floor or wiping down paw prints from the doors and windows. Disclaimer: we wouldn’t recommend using Counter Clean on food bowls or spraying directly at pets.
Preen your pooch
Doggy ‘perfume’
Lavender not only works to mask unwanted smells, but it is also said to be very soothing for dogs and even helps to keep flies and ticks at bay. Either dab a few drops between their shoulder blades or dilute with water in a spray bottle for handy on-the-go use (particularly useful for longer car journeys as it helps to reduce anxiety & motion sickness!)
Natural shampoo recipe
The best way to reduce pet-related odours = regular shampooing! This homemade dog shampoo uses 100% natural, non-toxic ingredients and will leave their fur feeling soft and clean. Add 1/2 a cup of Castile soap (a natural, vegetable-based soap) to four cups of water in a bottle and stir in 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda for its wonderful, natural deodorising properties. Give it all a good shake and you’re good to go!
Deep clean accessories
Wash their bedding with Bicarb
Bicarbonate of Soda must be one of the most versatile (and one of our favourite!) natural cleaning ingredients. Its natural deodorising properties make it perfect for washing pet bedding. Simply add a scoop to the wash - make sure you use a mild, fragrance-free detergent - and wash on a hot wash. We love Beco’s dog mattresses as the covers are easily removable and they’re made using recycled plastic and hemp.
Toys & bowls in the dishwasher
You’ve heard us talking about putting lemon in the dishwasher for an extra zesty boost, but the dishwasher is a great place to give pet toys a deep clean. We also pop their food bowls in the dishwasher every few weeks. For soft/fabric toys, pop them in the washing machine along with their bedding (see tip above!).
Deep-clean collars
Collars can often end up getting pretty smelly over time and should be deep cleaned ideally every couple of weeks. We recommend using the above natural shampoo recipe and soaking collars in hot water for around 15-20 minutes before rinsing and leaving to dry.
