Does your home sometimes smell less like fresh laundry and more like a wet dog park? You love your furry friend, but that distinct “dog smell” can cling stubbornly to blankets, beds, and even your favorite couch.
Finding the right detergent to banish these odors feels like a constant battle. You worry about using harsh chemicals that might irritate your dog’s sensitive skin, or ineffective soaps that just mask the smell temporarily. It’s frustrating when you spend money on cleaning products only to have the odor sneak back after the next nap.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you exactly what ingredients matter, which formulas truly neutralize pet odors, and how to keep your home smelling clean without risking your dog’s health. Get ready to reclaim your laundry!
Let’s dive into the best detergents designed specifically to tackle tough dog smells, ensuring a fresh, clean, and happy home for everyone.
Top Detergent For Dog Smell Recommendations
- Concentrated Powder Detergent: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Powerful, High Efficiency Compatible Odor Destroyer & Stain Eliminating Detergent. Every Scoop has a Natural Cleaning Power to Handle any Mess, Stain, or Smell left behind by your pet.
- Suitable for all Pet Laundry: Including Pet Bed, Clothing, Leash, Harness, Blankets, Towels, Furniture Covers & More! ACTIVE is an All-in-One Laundry Detergent Compatible With All Fabric Types, Even Use on your own Clothing and Bedding that smells like your pet!
- Bio Based Enzyme Cleaner: ACTIVE Enzyme Laundry Detergent is Formulated to Target Pesky Stains and Odors, Including Pet Urine, Cat & Dog Pee, Vomit, Slobber, Dirt, Grime, Oils and Protein Stains. ACTIVE Enzymes even get rid of Wet Dog Odor, and others stubborn scents
- Natural & Fragrance Free: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Natural Laundry Stain Remover, Free of Harsh Chemicals and Gentle for Pets and Sensitive Skin. ACTIVE Actually Removes Odors rather than using scents to cover them up like some alternatives
- Best Value 64 Loads: Compare ACTIVE Dog Laundry Detergent to liquids that take up more space with less uses. Our Value Pack Comes in a Bulk 2 Lb bag so you can Keep Your Pet Laundry Taken Care Of!
- FEBREZE IN WASH PET ODOR ELIMINATOR: You will receive (1) 98 Fl Oz bottle of Febreze Maximum Strength In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator laundry detergent additive. Remove tough pet odors from fabrics and clothing in a single wash. Brought to you by Nehemiah Manufacturing.
- MAXIMUM STRENGTH LAUNDRY ODOR ELIMINATOR: This detergent additive removes even the toughest pet odors instead of just masking them. Ideal for removing odors from cat and dog beds, sofa covers, pet carriers, dog collars, pet urine and more!
- FOR BEST RESULTS: Pretreat hard-to-remove odors by placing the item in hot water, add 1 capful of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator and soak. Continue with normal wash. For Light Odors use 1 capful. For Heavy, use 1 1/2 capfuls. For Extreme Odors, use up to 2 capfuls
- SAFE TO USE WITH LAUNDRY PRODUCTS: Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator is safe to use with laundry detergent pods, liquid laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and bleaches. Compatible with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
- SUBSCRIBE & SAVE: Never run out of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator Laundry Additive when you add it to your subscriptions. Save with every purchase
- Eliminates pet odors and stains - LaundraPet enzymatic laundry detergent by Alpha Tech Pet is designed to remove animal pet odors and stains from pet poop and urine, and heavy soils from washable garments, leaving them soft and smelling fresh!
- Triple-action enzymatic power - Offering 3x cleaning efficacy, LaundraPet is a pet laundry detergent fortified with enzymatic technology that boosts cleaning power by 15%. It can be used in cold water, saving energy consumption.
- Veterinarian-approved - This pet enzyme cleaner is an effective pet odor eliminator with the purest cleaning ingredients for home, clinics, or kennels. It is a dermatologist-approved, all-natural, family and pet-safe detergent.
- Perfect for high-efficiency washers - Its low-sudsing formula is ideal for high-efficiency machines, making it the choice of groomers, vets, and pet owners. Plus, an economical pet cleaning solution as you can get up to 96 washes (1oz for HE and 2oz for regular washers).
- Trusted animal care solutions - With over 38 years in business, Alpha Tech Pet delivers eco-friendly, USA-made products scientifically formulated for effective and gentle pet care solutions.
- Get the dog off with DOGOFF! You’re probably thinking: Wow. Another laundry detergent option to choose from. But we’ve made the choice so simple, a dog could sniff out the awesomeness.
- Pet Safe - 100% safe for washing items such as towels, clothes, bedding, and more belonging to dogs, cats, and other pets.
- Naturally Derived, High-Powered Ingredients - Everything we use in our formulas is derived from nature. With super concentrated, biodegradable formulas, you can rest assured that you're using a product not only good for your doggo but also for the environment.
- Made by Grooming Supply Experts - We've been making products for the grooming industry for over 23 years, so we know a thing or two about high-quality pet products that perform. In fact, this professional-grade product was created with the grooming industry in mind!
- 1 oz = 128 loads! (Please note this product does not come with a scoop/cup)
- Use what Your Vet Uses: Thornell is an excellent provider of pet odor eliminator for home and laundry products to the veterinary industry in North America. Use what the pros use! This powerful dog and cat odor eliminator concentrate for laundry can be used safely on towels, bedding, blankets, clothing, and all other machine-washable items.
- Tough on Strong Odors: Use this pet odor remover laundry concentrate to permanently and immediately remove odors from the first application, saving you time and money. This concentrated laundry deodorizer for clothes penetrates the source of the odor whereas other pet deodorizers for home and laundry only treat surface problems.
- Easy to Use & Cost Efficient: Add L.O.E. animal odor eliminator clothes additive to the pre-soak or auto-soak cycle, or directly with the detergent. For moderate odors, use only ½ oz per load. Our 32 oz bottle of dog and cat smell eliminator is good for 64 loads of laundry!
- Not an Enzyme, Not a Mask: Our pet smell odor eliminator concentrate features a unique non-enzymatic formula that works regardless of what application you have used before. Odorcide L.O.E works where other odor absorbers for home laundry products haven’t and won’t.
- Safe for Small Pets & Children: No need to fear, pets and children can safely be around anything treated with L.O.E. pet smell and cat urine odor eliminator immediately after use. Our concentrated deodorizer odor eliminator is non-toxic, non-irritating, non-carcinogenic, and biodegradable.
- Powerful Pet Stain & Odor Remover - Say goodbye to stubborn pet messes! From urine and drool to lingering odors, our Pet Laundry Detergent tackles it all. Working at a molecular level, it effectively removes stains and ensures your clothes and pet supplies are deeply cleaned and refreshed.
- Motherly Care for Sensitive Paws & Skin - Keep your pet’s skin calm and comfortable with our natural Pet Laundry Detergent. Designed to prevent irritation from harsh chemicals, this free and clear laundry detergent ensures their bedding and blankets stay clean, soft, and safe for sensitive paws, making it ideal for cozy snuggles.
- The Go-To Detergent for All Pet Supplies - Good Natured Brand Pet Laundry Detergent is a must-have for any pet parent. It’s ideal for cleaning bedding, blankets, and toys, effortlessly dissolving in any washing machine—whether standard or HE models. Experience hassle-free, effective cleaning every time.
- Concentrated Cleaning Power in Every Box - Enjoy more value with less product! Our concentrated laundry soap provides up to 94 loads per box, giving you incredible long-lasting performance. With fewer purchases and more savings, it's the smart choice for busy pet households.
- Eco-Friendly & Biodegradable - Choose sustainability with our biodegradable powder laundry detergent, made in the USA. Offering a powerful alternative to chemically harsh products, it’s the responsible option for your cleaning supplies. Join us in fostering a cleaner, greener planet, one load at a time.
- Cleans & Deodorizes What Your Pet Loves Most: Uses naturally derived enzymes to help break down the messy stuff like drool, oils, and food stains on your pet’s favorite blankets, beds, and soft toys
- Odor Remover: Fragrance-free formula helps neutralize and eliminate dog and cat odors at the source, instead of masking them with synthetic scents like many conventional detergents
- Kind to Sensitive Skin: Hypoallergenic and made without dyes, added scents, phthalates, or sulfates; just a gentle clean you can feel good about using around allergy-prone pets and people
- Made Thoughtfully, Close to Home: Made in the USA with carefully chosen ingredients and packaged in a recyclable bottle; never tested on animals
- Concentrated Formula: Lasts up to 32 loads with no booster needed; use two capfuls for regular laundry or four capfuls for larger or heavily soiled loads; for deep stains or heavy messes, a separate pre-soak treatment may be helpful; to sanitize, follow your washer's sanitize cycle settings
- PETTERGENT - THE PET LAUNDRY DETERGENT: Your furbaby's favorite soft toy, dog blanket, pet bed, collars, clothes, and all other laundry items get dirty & smelly over time and need to be washed. PetTergent is the first and & only pet safe laundry detergent made specifically for pet smells, stains, and soils, & their microbiome so there's no need for additives, boosters, stain sticks, or sprays to use on top of your human detergent. Your furbaby has their own laundry, they need PetTergent.
- SPECIFIC TO PET STAINS: Human laundry detergent is formulated for human needs, like coffee, ketchup, & body odor, not formulated for "that dog smell", stains, soils, or pet odors from pet messes like crusty dog toys, cat urine, feces, blood, vomit, & that stubborn 'dog' smell that you just can't seem to get out. Human stains & odors are different than pet stains & odors, so the laundry detergent to handle these should be different too. PetTergent was formulated specifically as a pet detergent for pet laundry needs; cleaning, deodorizing, eliminating stains for fresh & clean laundry, while being safe for their skin & noses.
- PET ENZYME LAUNDRY DETERGENT: We were tired of turning over laundry labels and finding tons of chemicals, so we did something about it. Human laundry detergents often contain toxic ingredients like bleach, ammonia, & formaldehyde that can be passed to your furbaby by playing or snuggling. Instead, PetTergent, the dog laundry detergent, uses naturally-occurring enzyme blends as a pet stain remover, OdorArmor and SebumDestroyer as pet odor removers, and uses pet-safe & biodegradable surfactants to clean pet laundry.
- PET SAFE LAUNDRY DETERGENT: Pet skin is up to 10x thinner than our own skin, and their noses are up to 100,000x better than ours, meaning their needs are physically, biologically, and chemically different. Just because human laundry detergent works for us, doesn't mean it'll work for our pets. PetTergent is formulated not only to be specific to pet messes, but made with pet safe ingredients and vet-approved, pet-safe scents to not irritate pet skin or noses, and is safe to use on all laundry.
- GREENER PET LAUNDRY: You might've checked your own laundry detergent for how 'green' it is, how about your pets? PetTergent is made with 90%+ bio-based and biodegradable ingredients derived from nature, and all ingredients are approved by the EPA Safer Chemicals Ingredients list, and bottled in recyclable packaging. So we can protect our pets and keep their world beautiful. At Pet Parents, we continuously strive to improve pet products, and PetTergent is no different.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Dog Smell Detergents
Does your beloved canine friend bring home the funk? Dog odors can cling stubbornly to bedding, blankets, and even furniture. Choosing the right detergent is crucial to banishing those smells for good. This guide helps you select the best formula to keep your home smelling fresh.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, look for these important features. They make a big difference in odor elimination.
- Enzymatic Action: This is the superhero ingredient. Enzymes actively break down odor-causing proteins and organic matter. Look for detergents listing “enzymes” or “bio-active” formulas.
- Odor Neutralizers vs. Masking Agents: Good detergents neutralize smells. Cheap ones just cover them up with heavy perfumes. You want true neutralization, not just a flowery distraction.
- Concentration Level: Highly concentrated formulas often provide better value. You use less product per load but get powerful cleaning.
- Pet-Safe Ingredients: Ensure the detergent is safe for your dog’s skin if you plan to wash their bedding frequently. Look for formulas free of harsh chemicals or strong dyes.
Important Materials and Ingredients
What’s inside the bottle matters greatly for tackling tough pet odors.
- Enzymes (Protease, Amylase, Lipase): These specialized ingredients target different types of mess—protein (saliva/urine), starch (food), and fat (oils/sebum). A good formula includes a blend.
- Plant-Derived Surfactants: These help lift dirt and oils away from the fabric fibers. They are often gentler than petroleum-based cleaners.
- Avoid Harsh Bleaches and Phosphates: Bleach can damage fabrics and harsh chemicals may irritate sensitive skin. Phosphates can harm the environment.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all dog odor detergents perform equally. Several factors boost or hurt the final result.
Quality Boosters:
- Cold Water Effectiveness: The best detergents work well even in cold water. This saves energy and protects delicate fabrics often used for pet beds.
- Compatibility with HE Machines: High-Efficiency (HE) washing machines require low-sudsing detergents. Ensure the product is marked safe for HE use.
Quality Reducers:
- Excessive Fragrance: While a light scent is nice, overpowering perfume indicates the detergent is masking the smell instead of eliminating it. Strong perfumes can also bother some dogs.
- Inadequate Rinsing: If the detergent leaves residue, it can actually attract more dirt later. Always run an extra rinse cycle when washing heavily soiled pet items.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the detergent determines your success. Consider these common scenarios.
For Routine Washing (Bedding, Toys):
Use the recommended amount for a normal load. For deeply set odors, consider adding a pre-soak in cool water mixed with the detergent for 30 minutes before starting the wash cycle. This gives the enzymes time to start working.
For Accidents (Urine Spots):
Do not use heat until the odor is completely gone. Heat permanently sets protein stains and smells. Treat the stain directly with an enzymatic spot cleaner first. Then, wash the item separately using the detergent.
Fabric Safety:
Always test a small, hidden area of expensive or delicate fabric before washing the whole item. Wool and silk usually require specialized care and may not suit standard enzymatic detergents.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Smell Detergents
Q: Why can’t I just use my regular laundry detergent?
A: Regular detergents often lack the specialized enzymes needed to break down the complex proteins and oils found in dog odors, like urine and dander. They usually just mask the smell.
Q: How long do enzymatic detergents take to work?
A: Most enzymatic action happens *during* the wash cycle. If the smell is very strong, letting the items soak for an hour before washing improves the results significantly.
Q: Are detergents specifically for dog smell safe for my washing machine?
A: Yes, most modern dog odor detergents are formulated to be low-sudsing and safe for all types of washing machines, including HE models. Always check the label.
Q: Should I use hot or cold water?
A: Cold water is generally recommended. Hot water can sometimes “cook” and set protein stains and odors into the fabric fibers, making them permanent.
Q: Can I mix dog odor detergent with fabric softener?
A: It is best not to. Fabric softeners coat fibers, which can block the enzymes in the detergent from reaching the odor source. Skip the softener when cleaning stinky items.
Q: What if the smell returns after washing?
A: The smell likely returned because the odor wasn’t fully broken down. You should wash the item again, perhaps using a longer cycle or soaking it longer beforehand.
Q: Do I need a separate detergent for dog bedding versus clothes?
A: No. If the detergent is pet-safe and effective, you can use it for both. However, many people prefer to wash pet bedding separately for hygiene reasons.
Q: What is the difference between a deodorizer spray and a detergent?
A: A spray is a temporary fix for surfaces you cannot wash easily. A detergent is designed to deep clean the fabric fibers during a wash cycle, removing the source of the smell entirely.
Q: How much detergent should I use?
A: Follow the instructions on the bottle based on your load size. For very smelly loads, you can use slightly more, but too much detergent creates excess suds that rinse poorly.
Q: Can these detergents remove skunk smell?
A: While they help significantly, skunk odor is extremely strong. For severe skunk smells, you might need a specialized skunk-neutralizing product combined with a powerful enzymatic detergent.