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Pets are smelly. We love them, they add so much to our lives, and we wouldn’t trade them for anything, but there’s no denying that they come with a big, fat helping of stink. From the lingering smells of an accident to the more general dog and/or cat smell that your home starts to take on after a bit, life with an indoor animal is odorous, to say the least.
Luckily, for those smells you want to get rid of, you can use pet odor eliminator sprays to return your home to feeling (and smelling) fresh. Of course, some of these odor-eliminator sprays on the market are better than others. Here are your 14 best bets for removing stinky smells for good, plus a few tips.
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What to Look for in Pet Odor Eliminator Sprays
Before we start shopping, there are a few things you’ll want to look for in a pet odor eliminator spray, to ensure you buy the right spray for your pet’s and your home’s needs. Keep these three factors in mind.
The source of the smell
Depending on what exactly is causing that stench in your house, you may need to choose a certain odor eliminator. For example, cat and dog urine create a particularly tricky smell that’s difficult to remove from carpet and other flooring. Because of this, pee-fighting sprays are generally stronger than just a simple deodorizer meant to combat that wet dog smell.
Whether you’re worried about smells from urine, feces, vomit, infections, or any other sources of the bad smells that might emanate from your dog, cat, or home, look for a spray that will solve your specific problem.
Where the smell lingers
Beyond what caused the odor in the first place, you’ll also want to consider where the smell lingers currently. Is it just always in the air? Is it on your carpet? The couch? The walls? Buy a spray that’s safe to use wherever you need it.
Ingredients
While some ingredients work better than others for eliminating odors, some pet odor eliminating sprays are packed with potentially dangerous chemicals. If you use one of these stronger formulas, be sure to keep Fido or Mittens away from the spray and follow all of the directions on the packaging for safe handling.
Otherwise, look for a spray that contains only safe, non-toxic ingredients that won’t pose a potential hazard to your family’s health.
Related: The 15 Best Long Lasting Dog Chews For Extreme Chewers
The 14 Best Pet Odor Eliminator Sprays to Try
1. Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator
This odor-eliminator spray uses enzymes to break down the sources of your smelliest smells on a molecular level. Useful in homes with both dogs and cats and suitable for eliminating odors caused by all sorts of icky bodily fluids, this spray can be applied to litter boxes, carpets, couches, and other surfaces with no worries about toxicity or dangerous chemicals.
The spray also removes stains and works in as little as 10 minutes (though some stubborn stains and smells may need to sit after initial cleaning a bit longer, up to an hour or more, before you see results). The spray’s natural and neutral smell is a nice touch if you don’t like the overly floral or pungent scents that some sprays might use to cover up the bad stuff.
2. Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator
This popular pet smell spray is non-toxic and easy to use. Add the concentrated orange oil formula to water and make up to four 32-ounce bottles of cleaner with just one eight-ounce bottle of solution. With a fresh, bright, citrus scent, the cleaner blasts cat and dog odors away from a variety of surfaces, including carpet, fabric, turf, tile, and even concrete.
3. Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator
Another enzymatic stain and odor eliminator, this safe solution quickly removes stains and odors and keeps them away. Safe to use on carpet, around pets, and around kids, it’s even Carpet and Rug Institute Certified, so there’s no worry about staining or floor damage.
4. Kinderbean No-Stress Mess Eraser
Clean up pet messes with this fresh-smelling pet odor eliminator spray that’s made from just enzymes, natural oils, and essential oils. Created by a pet industry expert, the non-toxic formula can be used just about anywhere and doubles as a cleaner for your pet’s gear (think crate blankets or pet beds, items that can grow particularly smelly over time, even without any messes). You can soak items that are particularly soiled in the solution for up to 24 hours.
5. Out! Stain & Odor Remover
Some pet parents, though, prefer that aggressive cleaner smell that tells your nose something is happening. For those folks, go with this budget-friendly advanced stain and odor remover.
You get two spray bottles with one purchase, and each bottle features multiple spray settings, including mist, stream, and foam. You can use the formula on many different fabric surfaces, so long as the surface is water-safe, including bedding, upholstery, and clothing.
6. Shout Carpet Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray
If you’re looking for budget-friendly pet odor eliminator sprays, this pet smell cleaner uses oxygen to both remove stains and odors and prevent future marking. If you’re not keen on the spray bottle, you can also buy the formula in an aerosol can or a pour bottle.
7. The Spruce Pet Stain & Odor Remover
Using plant-derived enzymes, this safe pet stain and odor remover works on organic stains on a variety of surfaces, from wood floors to carpets to tiles. Plus, it smells great, thanks to a blend of apple and orchid. The cruelty-free formula is Leaping Bunny certified.
8. Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover
Most long-time pet parents recognize Nature’s Miracle. The brand makes an array of enzyme-based pet products designed to help keep your house feeling, looking, and smelling clean. The effective pet odor remover formula comes in either a 24-ounce or 32-ounce spray bottle. Try pairing the stain and odor remover with the brand’s similar products that help prevent future accidents and re-marking for best results.
9. Bissell Positively Stain & Odor Eliminator
You may already trust the Bissell brand to remove stains and odors from your carpets when you use its carpet shampooers and similar products for carpet cleaning. Trust that same carpet expertise when you remove your pet stains and odors using this instant-clean spray that works in less than a minute.
The tough formula works on your biggest messes but can also be used for smaller messes, like dirt or mud. The best part? For every Bissell purchase, the brand supports the Bissell Pet Foundation, saving homeless pets.
10. Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer
This continuous pet odor spray solution can be used to eliminate urine-specific odors and stains on all sorts of fabrics and carpets. Use it on your pet’s fabric toys, spray their bedding, blast marked clothing — there’re really very few places where you can’t use the cleaner, as the formula is Carpet and Rug Institute-certified to be safe on all colorfast carpets.
11. Scotchgard OXY Pet Spot & Stain Remover for Carpet & Fabric
This 26-ounce spray bottle of Scotchgard solution is designed with fabrics in mind and, as such, can treat an array of fabric surfaces, from wool to nylon, cotton to polyester. The formula lifts stains and soiling from the carpet or fabric weave, making it easier to wipe away residue.
12. MisterMax Anti-Icky-Poo Odor Remover
Are you dealing with some major stink? Go with this gallon bottle of enzyme-based odor remover formula that the brand swears will “remove odors caused by any living thing.” Beyond just removing pet feces and urine odors, though, the remover is also good for eliminating smells from deceased animals (like that mouse that crawled into your garage and died, for example), tobacco, rotten food, skunk odor — pretty much, if it smells nasty, this strong odor remover will fix it. Plus, it can be sprayed in so many places, including on all woods, drywall, leather, and other surfaces where a lot of cleaning solutions normally can’t go.
13. Kids ’n Pets All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover
It’s not just pets that leave all sorts of odd odors and stains in their wake. Kids do the same. Unfortunately, pets and kids are liable to put anything and everything in their mouths. For all of the above, use this stain and odor remover that’s super safe and non-toxic. With no harsh chemicals, the cruelty-free solution works on all surfaces.
14. Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator
Trying to remove bad odors from your outdoor living space? If someone had an accident on your porch, deck, or patio, or if you’re noticing that your yard, where Fido normally does his business, is starting to cultivate a urine smell, consider using this outdoor-specific odor eliminator. This pet odor eliminator spray can be applied via a garden hose and the spray bottle, just like you might use if you were to apply an herbicide or insecticide to your lawn. You can also use this cleaner on kennels or turf.
Reviewers report that this product is a must-have in the summer when the heat can make the backyard uninhabitable for both pets and humans at the same time.
Other Ways to Remove Pet Odors
None of the above options tickle your fancy? Looking for ideas beyond pet odor eliminator sprays? You’ve got options!
We asked Lauren Doss, the owner of Nashville Maids, about the best trick to get pesky odors out. She had a recommendation for those looking for a natural solution.
“One of the best tricks for getting pesky odors out of fabrics is to use baking soda. Baking soda helps absorb odors, making them less noticeable or undetectable.” She explained, “Simply sprinkle some baking soda on the affected area, allow it to sit for a few hours, then vacuum it off. You can also mix baking soda with white vinegar, which helps neutralize odors even more effectively. For tougher pet odor stains, add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus for an extra boost in deodorizing power.”
Other options for non-spray odor eliminators include gels and powders. Let’s look at a few.
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Gel
While candles and similar scents cover up the lingering aroma of pet accidents of the past, products like this odor removing gel actually help to remove the offending odor from the air versus just masking it. Just pop the top off the gel canister and place it somewhere inconspicuous. As the gel evaporates, it eats up the odors from pets, smokers, you name it. Each canister lasts about a month.
Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag
If you don’t want to leave a gel canister sitting out in your home (which makes sense if you have particularly curious pets), then you can set out this air-purifying bag that uses charcoal to absorb odors for up to two years. All you have to do to activate the charcoal is place the bag in direct sunlight and let it heat up about once a month. The charcoal also helps dehumidify the air if you don’t want to spring for a dehumidifier.
Colorfil Air Filters
But for an absolutely invisible solution, look to these Colorfil HVAC filters that users claim will remove the pet smell from any home. Just swap out your typical air filter for this option designed alongside NASA to boost air quality in space while removing all the nasty stuff you don’t want to breathe in — think of things like pet dander, springtime pollen, dust, viruses, bacteria, and toxic chemicals.
Arm & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer
If it’s smelly feline friends that you’re dealing with and your biggest source of cat odors is the litter box, consider using some cat litter deodorizer to cut down on the stench. This three-pack of Arm & Hammer deodorizer is available on Amazon. Just sprinkle the powder formula over your litter once per day or as needed.
TropiClean Deodorizing Pet Spray
What if you’ve sniffed and smelled around your house, looking for the source of the stink, and all you can find is your pet? If they’re not smelling so fresh, even if they’ve been groomed recently, consider investing in a deodorizing pet spray that you actually spray onto your pet’s fur or hair.
This spray is safe for use on both dogs and cats that are 12 weeks old or older. The formula breaks down bad smells and gives your pet a fresh, light new scent, with aroma options including Berry Breeze, Lime & Coconut, Papaya Mist, and more. Just give Fido a few spritzes, and he’s good to go.
The formula is dye-free, cruelty-free, soap-free, and paraben-free.
Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Just because you have a few furry family members who call your house their home doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice a fresh-smelling living environment. With the proper cleaning solutions, you can rid your home of unsightly stains and stomach-turning odors, both new and old.
You might be interested in: The 6 Best At-Home Grooming Kits For Dogs (Plus Grooming Tips)
Best Pet Odor Eliminator Sprays:
- Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator
- Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Kinderbean No-Stress Mess Eraser
- Out! Stain & Odor Remover
- Shout Carpet Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray
- The Spruce Pet Stain & Odor Remover
- Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover
- Bissell Positively Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Simple Solution Pet Urine Destroyer
- Scotchgard OXY Pet Spot & Stain Remover for Carpet & Fabric
- MisterMax Anti-Icky-Poo Odor Remover
- Kids ’n Pets All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover
- Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator