How to Remove Pet Odour from Your Rental Property (Before New Tenants Move In!)
If you've just had tenants move out and discovered strong doggy smell or dog and cat urine smells embedded in the carpets, walls, or floors, you're not alone. Many landlords face this frustrating (and smelly) situation. But acting quickly and using the right products can make a huge difference—before new tenants arrive or replacement flooring is installed.
Here’s a landlord-approved method for removing pet odour effectively and economically.
Step 1: Identify ALL Soiled Areas
Urine can soak deep into carpet underlay, concrete, grout, and even soft furnishings. Start by using a Pet Urine Stain Detector Torch. It highlights the exact spots that need treatment so you don’t waste product or miss hidden urine patches.
Tip: The torch is especially useful for carpets and upholstery. Urine can spread wider underneath than what you see on the surface.
Step 2: Choose the Right Product
For large-scale clean-ups, we recommend Odorex Pet Cleanup Concentrate (PCC). It’s:
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Non-toxic and biodegradable
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Used daily by kennels, catteries and pet facilities across NZ
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Designed to work on contact with the source of the odour (so proper saturation is important)
You can use it in mop buckets, spray bottles, in the rinse cycle (if washing bedding, curtains etc) and even carpet cleaning machines (after treating spots first).
Step 3: Treat Porous Surfaces Thoroughly
The trick is to apply enough solution to reach all the urine – especially on porous surfaces like:
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Wool carpet – soak to reach urine in underlay
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Concrete – allow solution to soak into the pores
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Tiles & grout – don’t forget the grout lines
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Walls & skirting boards – wipe down with diluted solution (do a patch test first)
We’ve never had reports of damage to these materials, but always patch test to be safe.
Step 4: Eliminate Lingering ‘Dog Smell’
Even if there are no accidents, homes can develop a doggy odour from:
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Coat oils absorbed into walls and doors
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Dander trapped in curtains or soft furniture
To fix this:
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Wipe down high-traffic areas and doors with diluted PCC
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Wash curtains or removable covers (add PCC to the wash)
Step 5: Let It Work
Odorex products eliminate odour at the source—but they need time to work. Leave treated areas to dry naturally. You can reapply if needed for heavy contamination.
Real Customer Tip:
“Odorex really works and the smell is not overpowering. We have had no problems with our rabbit using the product either, so we are very happy and pong free.” – Nikki Duffield
Need Help or Advice? Contact us and we can help you create a treatment plan for your property. And if you’re in a hurry, we ship fast so you can get started right away.
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Don’t wait until new tenants complain—treat the problem at the source and get your rental property smelling fresh again.
