[Shop-talk] Getting dog smell out of car?

[Matt Wehland]

> What's the best DIY way to clean this thing up so that the smell is at
> least reduced?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mark

Baking soda, Baking Soda, baking soda.

Sprinkle it all over everything, rub it in good, let it sit for a few hours or 
more and vacuum out.  Repeat if necessary.  Try to do it on a sunny day if 
possible.
I've used all sorts of things over the years, but this is the best, easiest 
and cheapest way I've found.

Anecdotal evidence to follow-

Our last rental house had nasty, doggy carpet.  We were moving in with our 
first baby due in a month.  I had a Bisell green machine and shampooed the 
carpeting many times over 5-20 times depending on location, I couldn't stand 
up straight afterward (too short of a handle on the green machine).
Got the carpeting better, but the house would still stink after being shut up 
for a few days.  Even in the winter, when we got home after being out of 
town, the first thing we did was open windows to let the stink out.
Then one day I was lying on the floor playing with Gracie (our newborn) and 
the carpeting was enough to gag you. I tried some deodorizer w/baking soda 
and it worked ( on a real small area) I was going to buy more baking soda 
when I remembered that I had about 30lbs left over from a project I had (we 
sell soaps, soy candles, lotions and other bath products and had used baking 
soda in bath fizzies which is why I had so much).
Dumped the stuff all over the carpeting, danced around the floor for a while 
mixing it in, left overnight and then vacuumed.  Carpeting was much better.  
Did it one more time and the carpeting was acceptable, no more stinky house 
when left for a few days, no more gagging when laying on the floor.
I'm sure it could have used to be repeated every once in a while, but we moved 
after getting electrical shocks from the house one to many times.
I still want to kick myself for living with such a stinky house and putting so 
much effort in to shampooing everything when I had the answer right there.

Matt Wehland