house cleaning & deoderizers?

[black_paws]

I accept the fact that I have 3 dogs...
that shed year round,
that have 12 dirty paws,
and have free reign over the house.

But what I can't accept is that my house SMELLS. Or at least I think it does. No matter how much I vacuum, shampoo rugs and furniture, wash curtains, clean bed linens and couch throws/blankets, and dog beds. There is just no way to avoid pet dirt, dander, hair etc. or at least I haven't found that miracle method yet. I could shave them bald, but with my luck they would stay that way, and that would just be silly.

Anyways, what methods do you use to keep your house smelling fresh??
When company is expected we are burning candles.
I have tried carpet powder, but that stuff is strong, not to mention probably very toxic to skin & respiratory systems.

*Edit*
I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I personally can't smell any odor on a daily basis, but in the past when the house is closed up after camping for a long weekend is when I have "smelled" my house. I compare it to perfume/cologne, after you have worn the same brand for awhile you kinda become immune to it, but others can smell it. So I just fear that my house must smell to others.

[POPTOP]

I guess I don't smell it. I find that frequent brushing helps cause basically neither Mardi or Archie smell doggy. A good doggy rinse with clear water helps get rid of any dirt or picked up odor. I do use an air freshener, the kind that is little beads in a container. I can tuck them behind stuff in the bathroom where the dogs can't get them. When the beads are no longer working, I put the container in a closet, there's still some good in them and it makes the closet smell so good. I also open the house up as much as possible.

[dogmom]

We wash the dog beds weekly, brush the dog's frequently, mop the floors with a mixture of vinegar, alcohol and hot water weekly as well. Plus I keep fresh cut lilies in the house, love the way they smell. We don't have cats so we can have lilies, lilies are extremely toxic to cats.

[janedoe]

Baking soda and good cooking. But we really don't smell it either. We have hardwood floors so that probably helps.

[Macy]

I'm always afraid my house smells doggy too. I can't open any windows due to my sons allergies but fresh air would help. I vacuum and wash the bedding frequently. I love to bake so that adds a good smell. I dislike the heavy perfumey deodorizers because to me it's like applying perfume to a sweaty dirty BO body when it really needs some good old soap.

[arentspowell]

Is your house carpeted? Carpets absorb a lot of pet odor. Our two prior apartments that were carpeted had a stronger doggy odor than our new place that has laminate flooring. If you do have carpets throughout maybe you can get them professionally cleaned and vacuum frequently.

[smartrock]

Nose-blind- that's what I probably am. On a daily basis, I don't smell any particular dog smell. After being away for a week or two and the house has been closed up- sure. Although our house has hardwood floors, I can't NOT have rugs, too slippery for the dogs and too...echo-y. So, a lot of vacuuming and dog brushing, and windows open whenever I can tolerate the temperature (and my neighbors aren't engaging in alcohol fueled debauchery). I don't let the dogs get up on the furniture, so if you sit down on the sofa you're not all of a sudden surrounded by a big *poof* of dog aroma.

I think it might have been bett, long ago, who recommended a gel air freshener called Fresh Wave. I have a big thing of it in my front hallway so that if you enter the house, it might make you think I don't have 2 big hairy beasts lying around all over the place. I think it has helped, but maybe I'm now nose-blind to that also.

[Laura]

I definitely noticed more of an odor when I had carpet. Also noticed more "doggy" smell when I fed kibble.

[labsnewfy]

I love the scent of my kids they each have a different smell and I love that so I don't smell anything but love Now SO on the other hand walks in after being outside and says this room smells like dog. I have asked my family members and friends if they smell my house and they always say no. I have caught that wet dog smell when the hairy dogs would come in from outside in the rain, Ginger refuses to get wet, but it didn't last long not for me anyway.

I run the sweeper every other day have the sofas covered so all I do is pull the quilt off and wash along with their beds and stuffed toys. I have carpet everywhere except a couple of rooms because of Coleman and his bad hips he wouldn't be able to stand up and walk across the room, plus it has helped the rest of the kids too. I don't use any deodorizer or cover up stuff that smells worse to me just have a little bissal carpet cleaner that gets pulled out a couple times a month to clean up messes and freshen rooms when I clean.

[BaconsMom]

Try baking soda on smelly carpet. It makes everything smell fresh! Lightly coat the carpet, let it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up!