Natural Remedy for Neutralizing Pet Odor

Pet odor is one drawback of having dogs, cats and other pets in your home. Without exposing your home to harsh chemicals, you can use a number of natural remedies to neutralize the odor caused by pet urine, feces, vomit and simply the natural odors given off by your pets.

Blot Stains with Cold Water

If your pet odor is emanating from a specific stain, you must get rid of the stain in order to stop the odor. First, use paper towels to remove any excess waste, vomit or urine. Blot, don't scrub. Then pour a small amount of cold water over the stain or onto a cloth. Blot the stain with a cloth.

Mix Vinegar with Warm Water

Unless the stain is on a marble surface, you can use a natural remedy of vinegar and warm water to remove the pet odor. You may want to test a small portion of the carpet, rug or flooring to make sure that the vinegar won't discolor the surface, but it should be safe on most surfaces. Mix about 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar with 1/2 cup warm water. Pour it over the stain and use a cloth to rub the stain in a smooth, circular motion. You can add more of the mixture and rub the stain again if necessary. Allow the stain to dry. You may smell vinegar for a few hours, but the odor will dissipate, especially if you use a fan or open a window.

Using Baking Soda to Get Rid of Odor

Baking soda is another natural remedy for neutralizing pet odor. You can use it directly after the preceding steps in order to neutralize pet odor from a stain or you can use baking soda to freshen up your home at any time. Make sure the surface you're going to freshen has dried. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the surface. If the surface is fabric, carpet or a rug, you can use a bristle brush to scrub the baking soda into the fibers. Allow the baking soda to sit for at least ten minutes.

When you're looking to freshen the home and not a specific stain, you can sprinkle the baking soda anywhere. You won't need to scrub the soda into the fabric or fibers. You should allow the baking soda to sit for at least ten minutes. For a more effective way of neutralizing pet odor, allow the baking soda to sit overnight. Once the baking soda has soaked into your flooring and fabrics, vacuum it away. You should repeat this process at least once a week in order to freshen the home.

Behavioral Therapy

If your home's pet odor problem is caused largely by your pet relieving himself throughout the home or vomiting frequently, address the problem with a vet if necessary. Once an illness has been ruled out, work on behavioral therapy so that the animal only relieves himself is the designated areas.