The chill of winter is soon arriving, and with it comes increased time spent indoors with your loved ones, including pets. While the colder months are the perfect opportunity to spend cozy nights at home, the last thing you want is for the quality of your indoor air to take a nosedive. The unwanted odors can seem to linger on furniture, in fabrics, and in the air all too easily. Luckily, there are simple ways to manage and remove these odors, keeping your home fresh and inviting all winter long.
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Stick to Your Pet’s Grooming Schedule
Despite the dip in temperatures and lack of humidity, regular pet grooming is essential. Keeping up with your pet’s grooming routine during winter months not only provides them comfort, but it is also the best measure to prevent odor. Brushing your pet helps remove dirt, debris, and oils from their coat that can otherwise make an undoubtably stinky cocktail of pet odor. When it comes to bathtime, Fresh Wave’s Dog Shampoo is your superhero, providing a burst of invigorating citrus-scented suds while taming even the worst pet funk.
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Pro Tip: Ensure your dog’s fur is totally dry to stave off musty, damp odors. If your pet hates the sound of a blow dryer, try using a calming ear cover to block the noise.
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Freshen Pet Bedding and Furniture Frequently
Pet beds, well-loved spots on the couch, and any places where your pet likes to curl up are prime areas for odor buildup. Washing bedding covers, blankets, and fabric toys consistently will make your life easier (and better smelling), especially when paired with a Laundry Booster. For pet supplies that are not as easy to wash like cushions or pet bed inserts, a deodorizing pet spray can help alleviate stubborn smells.
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Pro Tip: One capful of Laundry Booster into your washer’s fabric softener compartment will neutralize odors for the entire load of fabric-based pet supplies.
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Keep Floors and Carpets Clean and Freshened
If there’s one thing that manifests frequently during winter, it’s dirty floors, especially in high-traffic areas of your home. Regular vacuuming is a must, along with mopping laminate floors or steam cleaning hardwood floors for that extra level of cleanliness. If vacuum exhaust odors have you dreading the chore, try tossing in some aromatic vacuum beads to prevent your air from reeking of exhaust odors.
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Pro Tip: While drawing a bucket of warm mop water, try diluting Laundry Booster into the mix for that extra punch of odor removal. Your floors (and your nose) will thank you later!
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Deodorize Your Indoor Air
Simply put, most of us don’t open our windows during the winter which leads to poor ventilation during the winter months. Irritants such as pet dander can have an amplified effect on everyone hanging out at home. To tackle this, consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter, which will help remove pet dander and odors from the air. To lock in the freshness, try spritzing a plant-based fine mist air spray to top off your hard work and lock in better smelling air.
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Pro Tip: Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to change out any air filters when they’ve run out of life. Between your furnace and any air purifiers you may use at home, it’s easy to forget to maintain (but can save a lot of frustration down the line).
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Keep Paws (and Accessories) Clean and Dry
While we love our pets to no end, wet and dirty paws often mean snow, salt, and mud can be tracked inside after a brisk winter walk, leading to unpleasant smells. To prepare for these messy moments, make sure to grab some grooming wipes from your local pet shop to gently wipe dirty paws. You might also find other pet-safe items at dog supplies stores such as paw sanitizer or balm to help keep their paws clean and hydrated. Pet stores offer other fun accessories like sweaters, jackets, and hats made for dogs, which odors can easily cling to. If you find these items are difficult to wash, a powerful citrus-scented stain & odor spray can fix odor problems on the spot.
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Pro Tip: Invest in dog supplies like booties to protect their paws from salt and ice and reduce odor buildup.
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Try an Indoor Plant to Enhance Your Space
When choosing an indoor plant to purify air in a pet-friendly home, it's important to pick non-toxic options. Safe choices include the Spider Plant, which is great for air quality and safe for both cats and dogs, the Areca Palm, and the Boston Fern. These plants improve indoor air while ensuring your pets are safe. While it all comes down to preference, always verify a plant's toxicity before bringing it home, as some can be harmful even in small amounts.
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Pro Tip: Try positioning plants on a windowsill or shelf if you are low on floorspace to spare yourself from any worry around your pets interacting with them.
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Keep a Healthy Stock of Odor-Neutralizing Products at Home
No matter how you choose to rid your home of pet odors, choosing purposeful and safe products for your family and pets is most important. Products made with natural ingredients or plant oils leave less room for toxins to infiltrate your indoor air. Even better are products that pull double duty by neutralizing odors at their source, rather than covering them up with heavy fragrances.
- Pro Tip: Fresh Wave offers a wide selection of safe odor-fighting solutions, including sprays and gels formulated specifically for pets.
As snowflakes fall and temperatures chill, you don’t have to put with stubborn pet odors lingering in your home. With the right pet supplies, regular pet grooming, and a few deodorizing tricks, you can keep your home smelling fresh all season long. Whether you're shopping at your local dog store or stocking up on pet supplies, a little investment in the right products can go a long way in making sure your pet is comfortable and your home feels welcoming.
