Who doesn’t love their furbaby? Their little four-legged friend, their fuzzy companion, the cutest member of the family: your pet. Living with our furry companions brings immeasurable joy; there’s no doubt about that. They’re silly, they’re sweet, maybe even cuddly if you’re lucky. But it can also present challenges, with one of them being their stench, yes, the dreaded pet odor. Which type of pet you have doesn’t really matter too much, as they all seem to have some sort of a stench issue. Cats have their litter box, rodents have their cage, dogs have their fur and paws, and birds have their cage, too.
The same goes for all animals, even fishes; there’s always just some odor. When it comes to owning a pet, especially when being frugal, it’s not just cutting down adoption costs, but it’s healthcare, their food, toys, you name it, but even pet odor needs to be something too since it’s so prevalent. So, here’s how to frugally keep away pet odors in your home!
Make Sure to Start with a Regular Cleaning Routine
The foundation of combating pet odors on a budget lies in maintaining a consistent cleaning routine. When it comes to any odors in your home, it’s usually a simple cleaning and disposal that usually fixes the issue. So, making sure to regularly vacuum carpets, cleaning floors, and washing pet bedding can go a long way in preventing odors from taking hold. But it’s also a good idea to just go ahead and do some sweeping, dusting, and wiping down surfaces to help eliminate pet dander and hair, reducing the potential for persistent smells (which pet dander is known to do).
Look into an Air Purifier
You don’t need to constantly put down carpet freshener, spray air freshener, or burn a candle. These usually just get mixed in with the odor, so you’re going to have only a weird stench throughout your home instead. Plus, all of these add up in the long run and can be fairly pricey, too. So, what you’ll want to do is get an air purifier that solely focuses on pet odors. When it comes to air purifiers, there are also filters you can look into as well for cages, aquariums, and even cat litter boxes that soak up the stench.
Embrace the Magic of Baking Soda
This is not an old wives’ tale; this is definitely the truth! Baking soda is a budget-friendly powerhouse when it comes to neutralizing odors. While a lot of people know to put them in the fridge, this isn’t the only odor-eliminating space to put them in. You can sprinkle baking soda on carpets, pet bedding, and upholstery, allowing it to sit for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming it up.
Plus, you can even place an open box of baking soda in areas prone to odors, such as near the litter box or in a closet. In general, this is a cheap odor-killing method since baking soda absorbs and eliminates unwanted smells effectively. The brand you choose is up to you, but Arm and Hammer have always had a pretty good reputation.
Open Up to Fresh Air and Sunshine
Yes, you read that right! You should harness the power of natural elements by allowing sunlight and fresh air into your home. It’s really as simple as just opening your windows regularly since this can promote air circulation and let the sunshine naturally disinfect and deodorize surfaces. Plus, sunlight also helps eliminate moisture, reducing the risk of mold-related odors.