How I Keep My House from Smelling Doggy with 10 Dogs

If you want to keep your house from smelling like dogs, the worst smell can begin in a corner you did not think to check.

One of my smaller dogs may pee there. I do not notice it immediately. The urine dries, dog hair collects around it, and by the time I find it, there is a brown mess that takes much more effort to clean. I speak from experience.

I have ten dogs, and my house does not smell doggy. That is not because accidents never happen. It is because I deal with them promptly and look beyond the spot where I first noticed the mess.

How to Clean Dog Urine and Other Accidents

I put on gloves before cleaning. For urine, I blot with a pee pad. I use a pee pad to lift vomit, and a poo picker or toilet paper to remove solid waste. Once the waste is gone, I clean the affected hard surface with Green Molecule All-Purpose Cleaner, which I keep close by.

Then I check where the mess might have spread. Has urine run towards the skirting? Is there anything behind the door? Has it reached a corner or gone underneath a mat or piece of furniture?

If a dog can still smell urine in a spot, it may return to pee there. Some indoor peeing can also be marking, particularly in a home with several dogs. That is why I check the whole affected area instead of assuming the visible patch is all there is.

Keep Separate Mops and Keep Them Clean

I use one mop for accident areas and another for regular floor cleaning. After cleaning up urine, I do not want to take the same mop across the rest of the house.

The mop heads are cleaned regularly and replaced every couple of months. When floors are mopped as often as ours, the condition of the mop matters.

How to Get Dog Urine Smell Out of a Couch or Mattress

My couch cushions have removable cotton covers. If there is an accident, I remove and wash the cover promptly with Green Molecule Fabric Detergent. Then I check the cushion underneath.

If urine has gone through, I blot it, clean it according to its care instructions, and air it out, often in the sun, until it is fully dry. I do not put the cover back on while the cushion is still damp.

On a bed, I strip the sheet immediately, remove any waste or vomit, then soak and wash the sheet with Fabric Detergent. I check the mattress too. If an accident has reached it, I blot and clean the affected area according to the manufacturer's care instructions and let it dry thoroughly before making the bed. If a large amount has soaked in or an odour remains, I seek professional cleaning advice.

In my experience, urine that reaches the padding underneath is much harder to remove. That is why I never assume washing the cover means the job is finished.

Choose Dog Beds and Toys That Are Easy to Clean

I choose dog beds with removable covers that I can wash with Fabric Detergent. I check the bedding underneath too, especially after an accident.

I clean suitable hard-surface toys with All-Purpose Cleaner and let them dry before giving them back to the dogs. Soft toys go into the wash when their care instructions allow it.

My dogs have also peed on bags and suitcases. I blot the urine promptly, then use All-Purpose Cleaner on suitable hard or sealed surfaces. For fabric lining, padding or leather, I follow the item's care instructions.

Daily Cleaning Routine for a Multi-Dog Home

Our floors are swept three times a day and mopped three times with Green Molecule Floor Cleaner. I vacuum when needed to pick up the fine, lightweight dog hair that escapes the broom. For hair clinging to couch covers, bedding and clothes, I use a lint roller. I empty the vacuum bag or dust container regularly and maintain its filter according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Both food and water bowls are washed twice a day with Green Molecule Dishwash Liquid, then rinsed and dried. Crates are cleaned daily and hosed down. We pick up waste from the garden almost immediately. When the dogs come back inside, I wipe their paws with a clean, wet cloth.

Bathroom doors and toilet lids stay shut, although dogs can still have accidents on bathroom floors. When that happens, I remove the mess and clean the floor with Floor Cleaner.

I open the windows and air out the rooms from time to time. Adequate ventilation helps keep the house fresh, but it cannot fix urine left in a corner, cushion or mattress. I still have to find and clean the source of the smell.

Grooming to Reduce Dog Smell

I comb the dogs daily, groom them weekly and keep up with their oral care. I wipe their mouths after meals, especially the Shih Tzus'.

My retrievers have their own distinctive scent. I pay attention to their coats, bedding and the places they spend time rather than trying to cover that scent with dog perfume or deodorising sprays. We are developing a Green Molecule dog shampoo for a future launch; it is not part of my current routine.

Final Tips for Keeping a Multi-Dog Home Fresh

I developed Green Molecule around the way my dogs live: on the floors, beside their bowls and across the washable fabrics in my home. Every product is tested pet safe, and the All-Purpose Cleaner, Floor Cleaner, Fabric Detergent and Dishwash Liquid each have a place in my routine. None replaces removing a mess promptly or checking where it may have spread.

Our Floor Cleaner, Fabric Detergent and Dishwash Liquid use the CleanFade fragrance system, made with essential oils and plant extracts. It is designed to linger for a short while and then fade, leaving a light freshness after cleaning. The All-Purpose Cleaner is fragrance-free. Fragrance is not a substitute for finding and cleaning the source of a smell.

I have help at home, and I value it. When I am around, I often handle dog messes myself because I know which corner needs another look, when a couch cover needs lifting and whether a mop head needs cleaning.

The details just beyond the visible mess are often the ones that matter. With ten dogs, keeping a home fresh comes down to prompt cleanup, checking underneath and around affected areas, washing the fabrics they use, and repeating the everyday routine.

You may love dogs, but your house does not have to smell of dogs.

FAQ

How do you keep a house from smelling like dogs?
Clean accidents promptly, check the area around and underneath the visible mess, wash the fabrics dogs use, mop regularly, and keep up with grooming.

How do you get dog urine smell out of a couch?
Remove and wash the cover, then blot the cushion underneath, clean it according to its care instructions, and air it out until fully dry before putting the cover back.

How often should you mop with dogs?
In a ten-dog home, I mop three times a day. For most homes, mop as often as your dogs' accidents and mess require.

Are Green Molecule cleaners safe to use around dogs?
Yes. All our products are tested pet safe, and I use them daily around my own ten dogs.

Do Green Molecule products have a strong scent?
Our Floor Cleaner, Fabric Detergent and Dishwash Liquid use the CleanFade fragrance system, made with essential oils and plant extracts. It is designed to linger for a short while and then fade, so it doesn't leave a heavy perfume behind. The All-Purpose Cleaner is fragrance-free.

Can dog beds and toys be cleaned at home?
Yes. Choose beds with removable washable covers, clean hard-surface toys with a suitable cleaner and let them dry, and wash soft toys where their care instructions allow.

Does an air purifier help with dog smell?
It can help with airborne dander and some odor, especially models with activated carbon filters, but it won't remove the source. Urine in a corner, cushion or mattress still has to be found and cleaned. In my home, prompt cleanup and checking underneath do the real work