21 Things To Help Ensure That Your Home's Signature Scent Won't Be "I Have Pets"

Buzz Feed

22-02-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Because your home should smell like a sanctuary, not a kennel.
1. A pet hair remover roller if your pet's hair always ends up on your upholstered furniture. While we love our furry friends and want to cuddle with them always, finding fur and dander all over your stuff is less than ideal. Sofas, blankets, even clothing...this roller will make sure it all gets removed, and easily.
Promising review:"I have a Maine coon and two rabbits. A Roomba and the rubber broom. Used daily. Thought maybe this would help, can't hurt, and now I realize how little both of those things did. My house's air smells cleaner after I've gone over all our carpets. Gets everything!" — Brittany Atikinson
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two colors).
2. A gentle pet stain and smell removal spray that's no match for any accident that one of your pets has. From urine to feces to vomit, this reviewer-beloved spray removes it with ease. And you know that with over 79,000 5-star ratings, it's legit.
Rocco & Roxie Supply Company is a family-owned small business established in 2013 that specializes in pet odor eliminators, pet toys, pet snacks, and pet accessories.
Promising review:"If you have a dog more prone to accidents (who has really stinky messes, in particular), buy this and skip everything else. I've used many pet cleaners, but this one is easily my favorite. You want to soak up/clean up as much as you can, kinda pat dry, then spray a good amount. I like to let it set for a while, put down some carpet scent powder, and then vacuum over everything. You'll notice a distinct lighter color over your carpet because it cleans up EVERYTHING (not just the potty stains). definitely worth the price, I'll be buying more again soon." — Asia Chance
Get it from Amazon for $19.31+ (available in two sizes and scents).
3. And a bottle of Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator to get rid of said smell as soon as you find it. This spray uses all-natural orange oil to remove the stink from carpet, upholstery, turf, and more.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Angry Orange is a small biz that was founded in 2014. They provide pet-related household cleaning supplies like stain removers, mops, and more.
Promising review:"This product is amazing!!!! We have a Rottweiler pup and a Bichon pup and our house was feeling the PAIN! I tried everything and use to tell my wife, 'with all the science and technology in the world we still can't come up with something that gets rid of the dog mark smell!' This product does everything and more. Just ordered another round. We were about to throw away some furniture due to the smell and now after use we can keep it. Saved me hundreds. Well worth the money." — clayton s tonkin
Get it from Amazon for $17.96+ (available in two sizes).
4. Some stain-lifting pads can be used on everything from carpets to car interiors to pet beds and more. Next time a whoopsie happens, just set the pad on the stain, stomp, and dispose of it. No scrubbing or touching necessary.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I was skeptical of these pads being able to clean a carpet that had been peed on. However after using it according to directions, it amazingly smelled like nothing had happened! The pad soaks up the culprit and leaves a sweet fragrance that is very nice. Totally recommend if you have pets!" — shortnsweet
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $27.48.
5. A pocket-sized pet hair removal tool to easily and effectively remove fur and hair from carpet, upholstery, clothes, and tight corners of your home. Reviewers are shocked — shocked! — by the amount of hair this pulls up, especially on the carpet.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: "This product works wonders and does exactly what you need it to do. I've been able to clean all of the carpets, area rugs, couches, and chairs in my home as well as the carpeted stairs with ease. Very easy to use and very efficient. I have yet to come across a better pet hair removal product. You won't have to vacuum or lint roll pet hair off of anything ever again!" — jorgesqtpie
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
6. A bottle of Grandma's Secret, a nontoxic stain remover that will remove any stain, no problem, from fabrics like upholstery and clothing. Hot tip: the bottle is small — it's only two ounces — so keep a few near your pet's favorite areas in the house for easy access when an accident happens.
www.amazon.com
It can remove oil, grease, ink, grass, and blood stains for all my vampires out there. Psst, a few months ago, I recommended this to a friend who fell in a puddle of motor oil on a sidewalk, then accidentally wiped it on her camel coat. It got the stains out!
Promising review:"I used it on several oil stains and some cat vomit (which is tough to get out!). It worked perfectly! I let it sit for 15 minutes and then washed the items and they looked like new." — Dee
Get it from Amazon for $9.60.
7. A bottle of nontoxic Folex Carpet Spot Remover to spot clean carpet messes right after they happen. Simply spray the area to saturate it, wait a couple of seconds, and then dab with a cloth until the stain is lifted. It's really that easy!
www.amazon.com
To use, apply to the stain, gently agitate with your fingers, and blot with an absorbent cloth. This is nontoxic and should be nonirritating on the skin!
Promising review:"Between potty training a toddler and having a dog who throws up on the carpet, we've gone through a TON of this carpet cleaner. It also removes the smell of stinky dog throw up and toddler accidents. Better to use on a new stain. It takes more work to clean a spot that has been sitting on the carpet for several hours. Honestly, sometimes it cleans so well that the spot I clean is brighter than my other carpet until the whole floor is steam cleaned. Will continue to purchase." — Jessica and TJ
Get it from Amazon for $6.65.
8. A carpet cleaner machine formula that acts as a deep stain remover and odor deodorizer for carpets that are covered in stains. This is an especially amazing product if you've ever house-trained a dog and thought your carpets or rugs were unsalvageable.
www.amazon.com
This carpet cleaner formula is compatible with Bissell, Hoover, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, Carpet Express, and more. It also works with most rental machines from Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and Ace.
Promising review:"I've been using Resolve for steam cleaners but after four or five passes, my old carpet still looked dirty and smelled like dog feet. I ordered this product and made a couple more passes over the carpet with better results. It seemed to remove more greasy dirt AND the smell is nicer than Resolve cleaner. It's kind of a baby powder smell and not very chemical-y. Anyway, this product lived up to the hype for cleaning old carpet with layers of dog grease in it. The carpet is still old but is back to the original color and no longer stinks!" — Popcorn Sally
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
9. An all-natural litter attractant powder to help lure your cat to their litter box. It doesn't matter if you're dealing with a kitten or an elderly cat — it'll help all feline friends get used to using their litter box in no time.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It's best to use this with unscented clumping litter, like Dr. Elsey's, since any litter that has deodorizing properties can mask the smell of this attractant, making it ineffective.
Promising review:"This product works! We took in a kitten several months back, and she would use the litter box sometimes, but she also was at least once a day peeing on my bed and pooping on the floor beside my bed. I found this, bought it, and on the first night of sprinkling it in her litter box, she used it from there on out. Even with litter changes, I'd still use some, just in case. She's not peed or pooped anywhere else since, and I don't really use it anymore other than here and there, so it's not just going to waste." — Jessica Benjamin
Get it from Amazon for $9.93+ (also available in a pack of three).
10. A 2-in-1 Hoover carpet cleaning machine that does (almost) all the work for you. Push forward to clean, pull backwards to dry. There's no mixing or measuring formula — the machine does it automatically.
Promising review:"I thought my carpets were ruined for good, after using both my old Bissell and the rentals offered by the local grocery store. Our last dog, rest in peace, had not left the world before thoroughly destroying my carpets from incontinence. Our newest dog had lived her entire life before us in a kennel, where she went at will. Suffice to say, my bedroom floor was an eyesore.
The first use completely restored my aging carpet. It's still old carpet, don't get me wrong, but it's now CLEAN old carpet. The stains are gone. The odor is gone. I no longer cringe when I walk into the bedroom. Life is good.
Not only has this machine done a spectacular job of cleaning, it is also easy to clean itself. The pieces come apart intuitively, and the dog hair rinses easily away. Previous carpet cleaners I've used have been a nightmare, losing suction quickly due to debris being caught in the front with no easy way to remove it." — Erica
Get it from Amazon for $229.99.
11. A portable and compact carpet cleaning machine to remove any stain from nearly every soft surface in your home. Sofas, carpet, toys — you name it! And it's small enough to fit in most kitchen sinks, which makes cleaning it out after each use a breeze.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: " The only thing that took the odor off my pee accident–prone puppy's couch accident …. Amazing on carpets!!! I do suggest you clean the vacuum after each use because then the smell sticks to it, and then you're going to have a problem… other than that you, my friend, are good to go with accidental accidents from juices, to food to pee stains …" — leiny s.
Get it from Amazon for $99.59.
12. A UV black-light flashlight if you can smell a pet accident but can't see it. Shine this on your carpet to find the source, and it doesn't matter if it's dry or wet, old or new.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"OMG this is disgusting!!! I hope this isn't all just cat pee that shows up cause there is a lot! I bought this because I thought my cat was peeing in one room and couldn't find the exact spot so I bought this. Found the spot and more. Would recommend." — Momof3boys
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
13. Arm & Hammer odor buster balls to eliminate ongoing odors at the source. Place these near stinky areas of your house: the litter box, where you keep your gym equipment, fridge, laundry area...and watch (smell?) the odors disappear.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
14. A nontoxic and eco-friendly Pet House reed diffuser, because you deserve a house that smells amazing, stinky pets or not. These are specially formulated to freshen pet-loving homes, and come in five different scents so you have some variety.
www.amazon.com
BuzzFeed Shopping Deputy Editorial Director Elizabeth Lilly has one of these and loves it: "I have one of these in my bedroom right now! I first got obsessed with the brand's candles when I lived with a very slobbery English Bulldog. But I've continued using them long after I no longer live with a dog because they cut through weird apartment smells ASAP, like when I pan fry fish or roast Brussels sprouts in the oven. (FYI, if you don't live in an apartment, basically the whole place smells like whatever you've cooked that day if you're not careful.)"
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five scents).
15. A clear, odorless stain guard spray that protects soft surfaces like upholstery and carpet from stains. After applying this and letting it dry, spills won't absorb into fabrics. Instead, they bead and drip off. Aaaand you only need to reapply it once every couple of months! A miracle.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This product is phenomenal. I'm the type of person who wants to disprove claims that seem too good to be true, so I sprayed it on an older white shirt then literally dumped a cup of coffee on it. It completely repelled the coffee. No stains, no lingering smell. Since I'm both clumsy with liquids in hand and have pets who seem to prefer using my furniture as a bathroom, I've literally coated every piece of fabric in my house with this. It's definitely going to be a regular purchase for me." — Kelly
Get it from Amazon for $14.68.
16. A pair of charcoal deodorizing shoe inserts to help combat stinky shoes and areas of your home where pet smells tend to linger.
Amazon
Promising review:"Excellent at removing pet odors. I have also ordered more to put in other rooms, now no need to purchase scented items to cover up odors." — JustMe
Get them from Amazon for $9.95.
17. A pack of Burt's Bees cat wipes for taking on common cat coat problems. There's one for dander, another for deodorizing, one that's anti-hairball, and one specifically for kittens. "Pet" your cat with one of these wipes and see their coat and skin improve.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I've been using these wipes on my older cat for several weeks. His coat is back to how it was when he was young. His fur is shiny, soft, and he smells good. He is no longer covered with dandruff. I like that the package holds 50 wipes, and I feel that it is of good value. He loves his daily rubdowns." — Mary P.
Get them from Amazon for $7.40+ (available in three different types).
18. A fragrance-free odor-eliminating bag of rocks for absorbing all the questionable smells in your house, pet or not. These last six to 12 months before they even need a refresh, so you can put them where they need to be and let them do their thing — no work on your part.
Amazon
Promising review:"I tried these in a room where the dog sleeps and in the truck where the dog rides. You would think I had a pet-free home. It was amazing how well these work. Bonus, no odor or fake scent. I like them and will buy more!" — Brenda Smith
Get a two-pack pack from Amazon for $23.98.
19. A concentrated cat litter deodorizer to cut down on your cat's litter box scent and extend its life. And it's scent-free because not everyone wants to replace one scent with another.
Amazon
Promising review:"This stuff is seriously amazing! I have three high-yield poop machines masquerading as cats, and it's a never-ending mission to make sure the house doesn't smell like a litter box. I try really hard to ensure the house is clean and smells good without using harsh chemicals or aerosol sprays. Within the first day of using this, I noticed that the slight lingering ammonia/poop smell wasn't noticeable when walking into the house anymore. After a few days, I realized that I couldn't smell anything even as I was scooping the three liter boxes. There wasn't a fake perfume smell covering up a smell, there literally wasn't a smell at all! The product smells very fresh and clean in the container but there's no odor when applied to the liter. I'm very happy with this amazing stuff, and I recommend it to anybody with cats who doesn't want to use potentially harmful sprays or perfumes. So thank you NonScents. I'm a very satisfied customer!" — Tori
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
20. A liquid tartar remover for dogs and cats that you mix into their water bowl. It'll help reduce plaque and freshen breath.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My dog's molars were turning black, and he had a ton of build up on his canines. In the photo (above), just imagine everywhere you see slight yellow, instead covered in black and brown gunk and hard plaque. His gums were beginning to look inflamed. And, of course, his breath could kill a horse. After one week of constant use (a cap full for every bowl of water) you could see an obvious difference in tooth color. I was blown away. (Why can't human mouthwash do such a good job on our teeth?) After three weeks, his molars were almost completely clean. After a couple of months of use, the plaque on his canines was soft enough to brush some of it off, which was totally impossible before. Plaque covered the canine approximately 70%. Obviously, that's no longer the case. Idk what insane solvent this is made of, but it keeps his gross mouth clean as a whistle. Now I don't have to worry about my picky princess mutt losing his teeth because he can't be bothered to chew anything." — BaconPancakes
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
21. And a pack of grooming wipes to remove dirt, poops, odors, and dander from your fluffy pal. These are designed specifically for dogs, and help keep problem areas (paws, ears, and bum) clean between regular washes.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (available scented or unscented).