Wet dog smell. Even if you don’t own a dog – or have never owned one – you probably know exactly what I mean. It’s that unmistakable mix of dampness, sourness and mustiness that can make an otherwise clean home smell as though an invisible spaniel has just shaken itself all over the hallway.
It’s one of those odours that’s difficult to ignore and even harder to locate. You notice it when you walk through the front door, catch it in one particular room or suddenly wonder whether it’s coming from your clothes, your sofa or, frankly, you. As autumn brings wetter weather, colder temperatures and slower drying times, the problem can become even more common, whether you have a dog or not.
The good news is that this smell doesn’t automatically point to serious damp or a dirty home. Moisture and bacteria can build up in places we use regularly but rarely think to clean, creating an odour that then gets circulated around the house. Here are the overlooked causes that could be making your home smell like wet dog, and the simple ways to get rid of the smell at its source.
Three reasons your home smells like wet dog
1. Your vacuum cleaner’s dirty
It’s easy to assume that vacuuming makes a home smell cleaner, but a neglected vacuum can do quite the opposite. If you’ve ever finished a vacuum session only to find the room now smells, for lack of a better comparison… a little doggy, the issue may lie in your tool rather than what you’re cleaning.
Dust, hair, crumbs and pet residue can become trapped inside the bag, canister, filter or brush head. If any of that dirt is slightly damp, the vacuum may circulate a musty, wet-dog-like smell around the room every time you use it. And since this isn’t the first place we tend to look when trying to track down a funky smell, this dirty, dampness and smell can often sit, clinging on for a worrisome length of time.
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How to fix it: Empty the canister or replace the bag, then check the filters, hose and brush head for trapped hair and debris. Wash washable filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions and allow them to dry completely before replacing them. Don’t forget to check beneath the brush head, where damp fluff and dirt can collect unnoticed. You should be cleaning your vacuum regularly, about every month or so if using weekly, to avoid these kinds of problems and to help ensure performance remains tip-top.
2. You’re drying clothes indoors without enough airflow
Damp laundry can leave behind a whole host of household problems, from light condensation all the way up to mould. If clothes are dried incorrectly, these issues become more and more likely. When hung too close together, draped over radiators or left in a poorly ventilated room, they can take too long to dry, and this gives bacteria more time to multiply, creating the stale, slightly sour smell we often associate with wet dogs. The odour can then linger in curtains, carpets and upholstery. The more you accidentally do it, the harder it becomes to get it out the house entirely.
How to fix it: Run an extra spin cycle before hanging your clothes up, provided the care label allows it, to remove as much excess water as possible. Then space items out on the airer rather than layering or overcrowding them, as this slows drying and encourages a musty smell.
Place the airer in the best-ventilated room, close the door to stop moisture spreading around the home and open a window or use an extractor fan where appropriate. A dehumidifier can also help. Try not to leave wet clothes sitting in the washing machine for hours, and rewash anything that already smells musty before drying it thoroughly.
3. Your dishwasher filter is harbouring old food
If your kitchen is open-plan, the source may be hiding in an unexpected place: the dishwasher. It’s easy to overlook because we assume an appliance designed to clean things must clean itself, too. But food residue, grease, bits of debris and dirty water can collect in the filter, door seal and sump, particularly if the filter isn’t removed and rinsed regularly. With the door closed between cycles, the warm, damp interior creates the perfect conditions for bacteria to multiply, producing that sour, musty smell that can, yes, be surprisingly similar to wet dog.
You may notice it most strongly when you open the dishwasher after a hot cycle, or find that clean glasses and plates have picked up the same unpleasant odour. A quick check of the filter should reveal whether this is the culprit: remove it and look for trapped food, slimy residue or standing water underneath. If the smell becomes noticeably stronger around the dishwasher than elsewhere in the room, it’s a good indication you have found your source.
How to fix it: Remove and rinse the filter, checking underneath it for trapped food or standing water. Wipe around the door seal and clean the spray arms if they have blocked holes. Run an empty hot cleaning cycle using a dishwasher cleaner, following the instructions on the product. Leave the door slightly ajar between cycles so the interior can dry out properly.
