I recently bought a house, but every time I come in (except during the initial tour), it has a strong dog smell. The floors are cheap faux wood, and I'm wondering if a peroxide solution is the best way to tackle this. The smell seems to cling to me, and I really want to make my new space smell fresh.
4 Answers
Ozone machines work wonders—I've got one myself! My home has that classic dog smell, too, even though my pup's well-behaved. I also use a wax warmer and an essential oil diffuser for extra freshness. But I've heard there are safety concerns with ozone machines. Has anyone else picked up on that?
You might want to think about hiring a restoration company that has ozone machines, or you can rent one. I've even ended up buying a couple of professional-grade ozone machines since they come in handy for these situations!
First thing's first: you should get rid of any textiles that were left in the house, like curtains and area rugs. Then, treat the floors with a product called Nature's Miracle, which you can find at pet stores. After that, running an ozone machine can really help. Don't forget to wash the walls and consider replacing that vinyl flooring later on! By the way, have you moved in yet?
Not yet! The floor isn't vinyl, it's that pressed fake wood. I'm definitely tossing the curtains. Nature's Miracle sounds good, and I’ll definitely look for an ozone machine.
The dog smell typically hangs around at dog height and is mainly surface-level. Make sure to replace the A/C filter, scrub the floors well, wash the walls, and take care of any carpets or curtains that might hold onto the odor.

I hadn’t considered that! Renting one sounds like a solid plan to start with.