How to Get Rid of the Dog Smell in Your Car
Even though we love taking Fido with us, we don’t love the lingering smell our furry friends left behind. We rounded up the best ways to remove pet smells on your own with things found in your house! Pet seat covers are an efficient option but can be a hassle, plus the scent remains, whereas cleaning can be easier and more effective in removing the odor.
Vacuum
Dog hair be gone! Not only will vacuuming the seats of your vehicle help with containing the fur, but it will also aid in smell removal. Make sure to cover all the nooks and crannies to get those odor-causing particles. Our best recommendations for pet-specific vacuums are the Bissell SpotClean PetPro Portable Carpet Cleaner for home and car usage or the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Cordless Carpet Cleaner for car shampooing and home spot cleaning.
Seat Shampoo
There are specially formulated car shampoos for all types of seat material, or you can use your carpet cleaner. The most highly recommended car shampoos are Meguiar’s Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner or the Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Fabric Cleaner for cleaning fabric seats and car lining. Scrubbing your seats with shampoo will break down the dog odors, and any accidents left behind. If your pet has an accident in the car, we recommend using a Urine Destroyer before the soap to remove all the urine compounds.
Air Filters
Did you vacuum and shampoo the car, but it still smells like a dog’s crate? Then the following action to take is to change your car’s air filters. Your air filters need to be replaced because they trap those air pollutants and no longer work as effectively. Dog hair and dander can clog air filters, so it’s best to replace them more frequently if you often have Fido in your car or look into washable air filters.
Baking Soda
Put about a 1/2 cup of baking soda in a cup in your car for a few days; you’ll be shocked at how well this baking ingredient will clean the air in your vehicle!
Bread
Using any bread, leaving a piece on a towel overnight in your car helps absorb foul odors like baking soda. Do not forget about it because it will mold.
Vodka & Water
By counteracting, spraying a mixture of water and vodka will eliminate the dog smell. This mix is to be sprayed directly onto the source of the odors and let sit overnight. If you use this hack, it is pertinent that you keep the windows down and do not let it get into the air filters.
Check out these articles for more info on having Fido in the car!
The Best Dog Carriers for Cars, Trains, and Planes