Joe Felish, owner of Glendale Pet Shop, has been running his pet store for 30 years, caring for – and cleaning up after – hundreds of dogs, cats, birds, fish and hamsters. His tip is to keep cages, tanks and bedding clean, then try one of the natural odor-fighting products.

Pet odor is one of the top concerns that Felish’s customers have. The first thing he tells them to do is clean, clean, clean.

"If the habitat is kept clean, there will be less of an odor problem," he says.

Cages, for instance, should be cleaned about once a week. But if there’s more than one pet in a cage, it will need to be cleaned more frequently. "I always tell people to let their nose and eyes be a guide," he says. Another tip: Avoid stagnant air by using air cleaners or recirculating the air with cooling or heating systems.

Felish warns against trying to get your animal to smell like a well-washed human. "Most dogs should only be bathed once a month," he says. "Any more than that dries out their skin and coat."

Luckily for the olfactory-sensitive, Felish says, there have been major advanced in odor-control products in the 30 years he’s been in business. One of his favorite natural products is called Zeolite. Even astronauts use it to freshen their close quarters, he says. It comes in pads for pens, in rock form to put inside aquariums and in powder form for carpets.

Felish says odors are harder to fight in carpeted homes than those with uncovered floors. But there’s no need to tile everything. Even Felish has some carpet in his store. He recommends a liquid product that eats the organic matter that causes the odor in these more challenging areas. Although it may sound scary, Felish says the liquid is non-toxic and won’t damage anything else. It is marketed through several brand names, including Nature’s Miracle. Be sure to really saturate the area for best results.

Felish says hotel chains and mortuaries use this powerful product to control odors. You just spray it on the carpet or use it with a carpet shampooer.

For cat owners, Felish recommends Litter Pearls cat litter. It’s similar to the silica gel that comes boxed with new shoes.

For stains on carpets:

Heres a little trick that REALLY works —

• 16 oz Bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide mixed with
• 1 Tablespoon Ammonia
• completely soak the area to be cleaned and cover with 2" stack of white papertowels
• leave several hours or overnight and the stain will "wick" up into the papertowels
• works on ALL body fluids and doesn't damage the carpet — altho' it doesn't hurt to test a hidden area if you're nervous