Page 9 - REN_Mar-Apr 2021

3. Vacuum floors and carpets
Odor-causing bacteria and pet dander have a way
of embedding themselves in carpets, furniture and
fabric—even the cracks in your hardwood floors are the
perfect “traps” for dander, dust and pet fur. Vacuuming
can help! To capture and neutralize any smells coming
from your carpets or upholstered items simply sprinkle
with baking soda and let it sit for several hours before
giving the area a thorough vacuum. Keep those smells
at bay by vacuuming regularly, two to three times per
week, depending on how much your pet sheds.

4. Shampoo/steam clean your carpets
When it comes to life with pets, accidents happen and
are often hard to avoid. We’ve all seen the aftermath of
our dog eating too much grass or our cat hacking up a
hairball… and we won’t even mention the other types
of accidents! These types of oopsies can leave carpeted
areas in your home smelly and stained. Purchasing or
renting a shampoo/steam cleaner from your local grocer
or hardware store is always a wise investment as it’s the
most effective way to remove odors, stains and bacteria.
If your pet is constantly having accidents or frequently
marking in the same spot you might want to pull back
the carpet and underpad to see if it has reached the
subfloor. In this case, it might be wise to replace both.

5. Replace pee pads and clean litter
Not only are used pee pads and dirty kitty litter unsightly
to see while viewing a home, they tend to have a very
offensive odor, especially when they aren’t tended to
regularly. Be sure to remove and replace used pee pads
immediately after each use and clean all litter boxes
daily. Right before a scheduled showing, replace the
kitty litter entirely and place it in an inconspicuous, but
still accessible spot, this should help minimize any odors
from the box.

6. Change your air filters
Heating, ventilation and air conditioner filters are often
the last thing homeowners think about replacing when
trying to free their homes from offensive pet odors. If
your filter is old and clogged, you’re not doing yourself
any favours by recirculating that smelly air throughout
your home. Pick a filter with odor-eliminating technology
and install it as soon as possible.

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