Cleaning and Disinfecting Dog Areas: Real-Life Tips That Actually Work

Let’s talk about something people tend to overlook, but that’s absolutely crucial when you have dogs at home: cleaning. And I’m not talking about basic surface cleaning—I mean real hygiene, inside and outside. If you’ve got a dog (or more than one), this is something you’ll want to know. And if your dogs sleep indoors? Even more reason to pay attention.

Because here’s the thing—you might not notice the smell anymore, but visitors? Oh, they do. So yeah, let’s dive into the real tips I use every day, stuff that works and will save your nose (and your sanity).

What to Do About the Smell Indoors

If your dogs live inside, the smell shows up. Every time. Especially if they sleep in there or you’ve got multiple. There’s a product I use that works like magic. I always tell people about it because it’s honestly amazing.

It’s menthol-based, not cheap, but with just a couple of sprays—boom! Smell gone. Completely. Doesn’t just mask it, it eliminates it. Huge difference.

The Power of Ozone: Goodbye Bacteria

Now, for serious disinfecting inside the house, I use this little device that’s a game-changer. It’s an ozone generator. Super simple, one of the smallest ones, just plug it in, set the timer for an hour, and let it do its thing.

What does it do? Kills bacteria, bugs, and any nasty stuff floating around in the air—even the stuff you can’t see.

One important thing: leave the house when you use it. It works like a beast. The smell it leaves behind is like clean pool water. Honestly, it’s amazing.

Pro tip: I even use it in the car. Let it run for a while and boom—car smells brand new.

Outdoor Disinfection That Works (And It’s Cheap)

If you’ve got dogs doing their business in the yard, you’ve gotta stay on top of cleaning and disinfecting. Pee and poop start to pile up, and if you don’t clean regularly, it turns into a biohazard zone.

People used to use a product called Fotal, which is good, but I’ve found something better and cheaper that works just as well.

My Go-To Homemade Disinfectant

Here’s the mix:

1 part cleaning vinegar
1 part bleach
2 to 3 parts water

Mix that up, pour it into a backpack sprayer (the kind for spraying pesticides), and go to town on the areas where your dogs pee and poop. Spray it all.

You can also use a pressure washer (like a Karcher) to get even deeper cleaning action. This combo disinfects and blasts away the mess. Total game changer.

If you’ve got just 1 or 2 dogs, maybe you can get away with a lighter routine. But if you’ve got 4, 5, 6 dogs? No joke. You need to take this seriously.

Skipping Cleaning Can Cost You—Big Time

I’ve seen it happen. People with great dogs—show dogs, even—and they let things slide. Next thing you know? Sick dogs. Skin infections, rashes, fungus, constant vet visits. All because of poor hygiene.

Like I always say, cleaning is just as important as feeding your dog.

Yeah, food matters. But so does hygiene. Baths, brushing, affection, care… It’s all part of the package.

How to Get Rid of That “Dog Smell” at Home

If your place always smells like dog and you’re used to it—fine. But guests notice. So here’s what works:

Use Pur Essential or any solid odor neutralizer (menthol ones work great).
Open the windows every day for at least 15 minutes.
Wash dog beds and blankets once a week.
Run the ozone generator every 15 days to kill airborne bacteria.

You’ll notice the difference right away.

Taking Care of Your Dog Includes Their Space

This stuff matters. Just like we shower, use deodorant, brush our teeth—dogs need a clean space too. It’s not just about what you feed them or how often you walk them. Where they live plays a huge role in their health.

And the best part? You don’t need to spend a fortune. There are homemade solutions that work great. What matters is being consistent.

If your dog’s happy and healthy, you will be too.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Dog Areas