Anyone with a dog, cat, or other pet knows, it doesn’t take much for your home to start smelling like your pets. Even if you quickly clean the letterbox and dry off your dog after a day at the beach, theres a lingering odor thats hard to completely eradicate without some help. The good news is that there are products specifically designed to eliminate these unwanted odors and get your home back to smelling great. We have reviewed some of the best pet odor air fresheners and are here to show you our results.
Pro Tip: Using an air purifier in combination with an air freshener produces the best results. An air purifier truly eliminates the odor by capturing it, while an air freshener releases good smelling aromas into the air.
The Best Air Freshener for Pet Odor Comparison
Best for Capturing Odor
Hamilton Beach Air Freshener
- Plug-in Anywhere
- Purifies the Air
- Uses Carbon Filter
Best for Masking Odors
Air Wick Air Freshener
- Adjustable Strength
- Odor Masking
- Many Scent Options
Best for Killing Odor Sources
Germguardian Air Freshener
- Reduces Germs
- Uses UV-C Light
- Compact Design
The Best Air Freshener for Pet Odor Reviews
Best for Capturing Odor
Hamilton Beach True Air Plug-Mount Odor Pet Air Freshener
The Hamilton Beach Odor Eliminator is a plug-in air freshener that is perfect for getting rid of pet odors. By using a carbon filter, this air freshener traps unwanted smells and neutralizes the odors in your home. This air plug-mount can work in any plug and is most useful in areas such as your bathroom, kitchen, or near the litter box.
The Hamilton Beach fits any standard 110-volt outlet and uses the same amount of electricity as a 4watt bulb. Using replaceable filters, there is an indicator that lets you know when it is time to change them out, and like most filters, this is typically every 3 months.
This air freshener does not simply mask odors with other scents. How it works is that inside the Hamilton Beach Air Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator is a small, quiet fan that pulls in the air. The air passes through a carbon filter which traps the molecules responsible for the odors and then sends fresh air back into the room.
As an extra bonus, this product not only cleans the air, it also comes with a scented cartridge to add a nice fragrance. On top of that, there is a built-in nightlight, which helps illuminate the area and gives you two functions in one.
Pros:
- Easy to use, plugin anywhere
- Uses standard 110 Volt Outlet
- Comes with a scented cartridge
- Eliminates unwanted smells by neutralizing odors
- Uses replaceable carbon filters
- Works as a night-light
Cons:
- The filter will need to be replaced every 3 months
- The scented cartridge gives off a faint smell and might not be for everyone
- Works best in a small room
Customer Reviews
According to Walmart.com, the Hamilton Beach True Air Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator has a 4.0 out of 5-stars rating. Customers report that this air freshener helps to eliminate pet odors and cigarette smoke quickly and efficiently. Others say that the filter worked so well that it was visibly dirty after 3-months of use. However, some negative reviews state that the device only worked for two weeks. Additionally, some customers noted that the Odor Eliminator was only able to eliminate odors in a very small area. If you plan to use this device to eliminate odor in a large room, then it’s not the right one for you. For larger rooms, we suggest using an air purifier.
Trial Results
We used the Hamilton Beach True Air Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator in one of our bathrooms (60 sq. ft.) where the cat’s litter box also is. Once a haven for strange underlying odors, within an hour the air freshener had a noticeable effect on the air quality. We could not hear the fan running unless you put your ear right up to it, and appreciated its quiet effort. On day two we used the scented cartridge and although faint, it added a pleasant background scent to the room.
Best for Masking Odors
Air Wick Plug in Scented Oil Starter Kit Pet Air Freshener
The Air Wick Plug-in Scented Pet Air Freshener has multiple scents using 100% essential oils, that can be diffused into your home to mask the odors from pets and smoke. This air freshener works for up to 60 days per refill, emitting a scented fragrance so that your home always smells great.
This air freshener comes in a variety of kits. The starter kit has two plug-in warmers with six cartridges, and you can then get a pack of five and ten refills. Each refill is 20mL, or .67oz. The Air Wick is great to use in any room and as the oil heats up, it will release a fragrance that moves around the room. You can choose from five different fragrance settings, easily adjustable by twisting the knob on top, to release the lighter or stronger fragrance. The higher the setting, the more quickly the cartridges will be used up. On the lowest setting, these are reported to last up to 60 days, on the highest setting they last about 14 days.
The Air Wick Plug-In can be used anywhere that there is a standard plugin and with this starter set, and you can blend fragrances in your home (by using multiple plug-in warmers). Not only do the scents smell nice, but the warmers also have a sleek design that can fit with any home décor. There are twenty scents you can choose from, with the most popular being Lavender and Chamomile, Fresh Linen, and Woodland Mystique.
To use, you simply unscrew the cap of your scented oil refill and insert it into the plug-in warmer until you hear a click. Plug the device into your outlet and then adjust the setting by rotating the dial.
Unlike the other devices on our list, the Air wick does not actually eliminate odor. It only masks it. If you are looking for something to actually eliminate odor then take a look at the Hamilton Beach or Germguardian. Another thing to note is that this air freshener is only effective for a short amount of time. The device will only work as long as each essential oil cartridge has fragrance, which can go quickly if being used for extended periods of time.
Pros:
- Easy to use plugin anywhere
- Adjusts to 5 different strength settings
- Uses 100% essential oils
- Works up to 60 days on the low setting
Cons:
- At the lowest setting, the diffuser does not smell for very long
- Works best in small rooms
- Some users say certain fragrances have a strong chemical smell
Customer Reviews
According to Walmart.com, the Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Starter Kit has a 4.1 out of 5-stars rating. Customers report that this plug-in works better than others, primarily due to the ability to change the strength setting. Others said that while the scent was subtle, it was fresh and helped mask odors.
Trial Results
Using the Air Wick Plug-In was very straightforward; open the package, insert the refill, plug it into the wall, and adjust the setting. Within minutes we could smell the fragrance coming from the device and masking any odors in the room. While not used for cleaning the air, as there are no filters, it did a good job of covering up any odors. On the low setting, the scent was subtle and best used for a bathroom or other small room where you just want a nice fragrance in the air. On the high setting we noticed that it would definitely cover up any smells, though when we left it running all day with the door shut in our small bathroom, the fragrance was almost ‘too’ strong. I would recommend only using the strong setting for a larger room, or for when you are trying to mask a stronger odor.
Best for Killing Odor Sources
Germ Guardian Pluggable Pet Air Purifier & Sanitizer
The Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier & Sanitizer helps to eliminate germs by offering a UV-C sanitizer and deodorizer that will help keep your home fresh and clean from any pet odor. This product can be used in small rooms and runs on a fan that stays at one speed.
The Germ Guardian does not have a filter, so you will not have to worry about maintenance in that regard, though the bulb may need to be replaced every 6-8 months. With its compact design (7″ tall), it is the perfect addition to any room that has a litterbox, as well as the bathroom and kitchen.
The Germ Guardian uses ultraviolet light to filter the germs that are blowing in the air. It removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles and allergens, all the way down to .3 microns. This covers dust mites, pet dander, pollen, smoke, mold, and bacteria spores.
Rated to clean 456 cubit feet in one hour, it will take 1 hour to clean a 500 sq. ft. room. It runs on 3.5watts and you will not notice any significant difference to your electrical bill. Air enters the front of the unit and travels through before coming out the top. As it leaves, the UV-C light reduces the airborne bacteria, germs, viruses, mold spores, and any other impurities.
The issue with this air freshener is that it is known to be overhead and stop working. Additionally, if it does overhead, it produces a fowl smell that you will have to get rid of as well.
Pros:
- Easy to use, plugs into any 2-prong outlet
- Reduces odors by eliminating the odor-causing molecules
- Kills germs associated with viruses and bacteria
- Includes a 1-year warranty
- Does not require a filter replacement
- Small, only 7 inches
Cons:
- The bulb needs to be replaced every 6-8 months
- Works most efficiently in a small room, as the air needs to be completely recycled to start noticing a difference
- An open window will eliminate the positive effects
Customer Reviews
According to Costco.com, the Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier and Sanitizer has a 4.0 out of 5-star rating. Customers report that it is perfect for small areas and can help eliminate pet odors pretty quickly.
Trial Results
We used this in an enclosed walk-in closet that had the smell of mildew permeating throughout. A few hours after installing we noticed that the smell reduction was about 80%, but that the air felt much, much cleaner. The next morning the smell was all but gone. This Air Purifier took a little longer than the Hamilton Beach Air Freshener at reducing the smell, but was preferable to the Air Wick Freshener, which just masks the smell.
| Air Freshener for Pet Odor | Dogs | Cats | Other Pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach Air Freshener | Best | Best | Best |
| Air Wick Air Freshener | Good | Good | Good |
| Germguardian Air Freshener | Good | Good | Good |
Buying Guide for the best Air Freshener for Pets
When looking for the best air freshener for pet odor, it is essential to consider the following factors:
- Odor Reduction capabilities
- Ease of use
- Plug-in vs. non-plug-in.
- Room Size
Having a home that is odor-free is important for any homeowner. Your home is where you spend the majority of your time. That’s why it is so important to make sure that pet odor does not plague your house. Not only does pet odor tough to endure every day, but it also smells bad for guests.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I make my house smell good with pets?
One of the best ways to make sure your home does not smell like pet odor is to use an air purifier or an air freshener. A pet air freshener will add good smelling aromas into the air to make your home smell great. This is the cheapest way to mask the odor in your home. If you want to completely eliminate the odor, then an air purifier is your best option.
What is the best thing for pet odor?
The best thing to reduce pet odor in your home is to use an air purifier and air freshener. The combination of these two odor-eliminating products will leave your home smelling great. The Silver Onyx air purifier is best for eliminating pet odor while the Air Wick is best for masking it. Are you a dog owner? Find the best air freshener for dog odor.
Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.