Cleaning, Disinfecting & Deodorising Pet Areas: What to Use and When

Keeping pet areas hygienically clean isn't simply a matter of finding the strongest disinfectant and spraying it everywhere.

Cleaning, disinfecting, deodorising and washing fabrics are different jobs. Using the right product at the right stage can make your hygiene routine more effective, more economical and easier to manage.

A dirty kennel may need cleaning before it can be effectively disinfected. A perfectly clean dog bed can still smell. A room may have an ammonia or animal odour problem even though its floors have just been washed.

Understanding those differences is the key to choosing the right pet hygiene product.

In this guide, we'll explain when to use a cleaner, disinfectant, odour neutraliser, air and surface hygiene spray or pet laundry detergent, and where products such as SupaClean, Parvo Virucide, Odor-Kill, Bio-Safe and Pet Bed Wash fit into a practical hygiene routine.

The Quick Answer: Which Pet Cleaning Product Do I Need?

Your problem	What you need	Recommended product
Dirt, grime, dried-on mess and general soiling	Cleaner	SupaClean
Viruses, bacteria and other disease organisms	Disinfectant	Parvo Virucide
Dog urine, persistent pet smells and odours on surfaces	Odour neutraliser	Odor-Kill
Airborne odours, ammonia and general environmental freshness	Air & surface hygiene spray	Bio-Safe
Dirty or smelly washable pet bedding	Pet laundry detergent	Pet Bed Wash

The important point is that one product doesn't necessarily replace another.

For example, when deep-cleaning a dirty kennel, you may first use SupaClean to remove physical contamination, then use Parvo Virucide when disinfection is required.

If there's still a persistent odour problem, that's a different job again.

Cleaning vs Disinfecting vs Deodorising: What's the Difference?

The words are sometimes used interchangeably, but they don't mean the same thing.

🧽 Cleaning = Removing Dirt

Cleaning physically removes things such as:

• Mud
• Grease
• Food residue
• Urine deposits
• Faecal contamination
• Dried-on dirt
• Organic material
• General grime

A cleaner such as SupaClean is designed to help lift and remove this contamination.

This matters because a surface can look dirty even after being sprayed with disinfectant – and, more importantly, dirt and organic material can interfere with effective disinfection.

Think: CLEAN FIRST.

🦠 Disinfecting = Controlling Microorganisms

Disinfection has a different purpose.

A disinfectant such as Parvo Virucide is used when you need to reduce or inactivate susceptible disease-causing microorganisms on appropriately treated surfaces.

This becomes particularly important in environments such as:

• Multi-dog households
• Kennels
• Boarding establishments
• Breeding environments
• Whelping areas
• Quarantine areas
• Rescue environments
• Areas occupied by an animal with an infectious illness
• Areas being prepared for a new puppy or dog

The correct dilution, application method and label directions matter.

More disinfectant isn't automatically better.

Think: DISINFECT FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

👃 Deodorising = Tackling Smells

A deodoriser or odour neutraliser has another job again.

If your dog has urinated on artificial grass, for example, you may clean the surface perfectly well but still notice an unpleasant smell.

That's where an odour-control product such as Odor-Kill becomes useful.

It's designed for persistent odours including:

• Dog smells
• Cat smells
• Urine odours
• Pet bedding
• Kennels
• Catteries
• Artificial grass
• Patios
• Upholstery
• Carpets
• Household odours
• Tobacco smells
• Bin smells

Think: DEODORISE FOR SMELL.

What About Smells in the Air?

Not every odour problem is sitting on a washable surface.

Animal rooms, kennels, puppy areas and other enclosed environments can develop noticeable airborne odours, particularly where urine contributes to increased ammonia levels.

That's where Bio-Safe has a different role.

Bio-Safe is an air, space and surface spray designed to help control odours and environmental contamination.

According to its product directions, it can be sprayed into the air while dogs and puppies are present and is designed to help:

• Destroy odours
• Reduce ammonia levels
• Remove airborne dust particles
• Control airborne bacteria
• Freshen animal environments

It contains organic acids, wetting agents and essential oils including Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil.

Think: BIO-SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE ANIMAL.

This is different from using a concentrated disinfectant to disinfect an empty kennel or contaminated surface.

And What About Dog Beds and Blankets?

Pet bedding presents its own challenge.

Beds, blankets, crate mats and towels collect:

• Hair
• Skin oils
• Dirt
• Saliva
• Urine
• Environmental contamination
• That unmistakable "dog bed" smell

Rather than treating washable fabrics as though they were hard kennel surfaces, a specialist laundry detergent such as Pet Bed Wash is designed specifically for washing animal fabrics.

Pet Bed Wash is a non-biological laundry detergent suitable for items including:

• Dog bedding
• Cat bedding
• Blankets
• Crate mats
• Towels
• Horse rugs
• Soiled clothing
• Other washable animal fabrics

It can be used for machine or hand washing.

Think: PET BED WASH FOR WASHABLE FABRICS.

The Correct Order: Clean → Disinfect → Deodorise

For a thorough hygiene routine, the order matters.

Step 1: Remove the Animals

Where required by the products you're using, move animals away from the area before beginning.

Also remove:

• Bedding
• Toys
• Food bowls
• Water bowls
• Loose equipment

Always follow the individual product label.

Step 2: Remove Loose Contamination

Before reaching for cleaning chemicals, physically remove as much contamination as possible.

Sweep, scrape or pick up:

• Hair
• Bedding
• Faeces
• Food
• Mud
• Loose debris

There's little point trying to chemically clean something that can simply be removed first.

Step 3: Clean

For heavily soiled washable surfaces, this is where SupaClean comes in.

SupaClean is a concentrated heavy-duty cleaner designed to loosen dirt and grime from animal environments.

It can be used on appropriate surfaces in areas such as:

• Kennels
• Dog runs
• Crates
• Patios
• Concrete
• Decking
• Artificial grass
• Feeding areas
• Other washable animal-contact surfaces

For heavy soiling, SupaClean can be diluted at 1:100.

For lighter cleaning, it can be diluted up to 1:400.

Apply the diluted solution, allow it to soak and then rinse as directed.

Step 4: Disinfect – If Disinfection Is Actually Needed

Not every routine clean requires the same level of disinfection.

But where infection control or enhanced biosecurity is required, cleaning should generally be followed by an appropriate disinfectant.

Parvo Virucide is designed specifically for animal environments and has tested dilution rates for different organisms.

For example, its stated dilutions include:

Target	Dilution
Canine Parvovirus	1:200
Canine Adenovirus / Infectious Canine Hepatitis	1:500
Parainfluenza / Kennel Cough	1:150
Bordetella bronchiseptica / Kennel Cough	1:250
Ringworm – Trichophyton mentagrophytes	1:50
Coccidiosis – Eimeria tenella	1:100
Staphylococcal dermatitis	1:1,500

This demonstrates something important:

There isn't necessarily one universal dilution for every disease organism.

When you're disinfecting because of a particular infectious-disease concern, use the specific dilution stated by the manufacturer for that organism rather than simply making the solution as strong as possible.

Always follow the current product label supplied with your disinfectant.

Why Cleaning Before Disinfecting Matters

This is probably the single most important concept in this guide.

Imagine a kennel floor covered in mud, hair and dried organic material.

Spraying disinfectant over the top doesn't magically make all of that disappear.

Physical contamination can:

1. Prevent disinfectant from reaching the underlying surface.
2. Shield microorganisms from adequate exposure.
3. Reduce the effectiveness of some disinfectants.

A better routine is:

Remove debris → Clean → Rinse where appropriate → Disinfect at the correct dilution

Even where a disinfectant is formulated to perform well under challenging conditions, pre-cleaning remains good hygiene practice.

Step 5: Deal With Persistent Odours

After cleaning and any necessary disinfection, you can tackle remaining odour problems separately.

Odor-Kill for Persistent Surface Odours

Odor-Kill is a concentrated odour neutraliser designed for particularly stubborn smells.

It can be used for areas including:

• Dog beds
• Kennels
• Catteries
• Pet toys
• Carpets
• Furniture
• Artificial lawns
• Patios
• Stone surfaces
• Mattresses
• Animal runs

It can even be used in carpet-cleaning equipment and other applications according to the product directions.

For the concentrate, the standard dilution is up to:

20ml Odor-Kill in 1 litre of water

That's particularly economical.

A 250ml bottle can make up to 12.5 litres of diluted solution at this concentration – enough to refill a 500ml spray bottle 25 times.

A ready-to-use 500ml spray is also available if you'd prefer not to dilute it yourself.

Bio-Safe vs Odor-Kill: Which One Do I Need?

This is an easy pair to confuse because both can help with odours.

They aren't identical.

Choose Odor-Kill when:

Your main problem is a persistent smell associated with a particular surface or area.

For example:

"My artificial grass still smells of dog urine."

Odor-Kill is the more obvious choice.

Choose Bio-Safe when:

You're concerned about the overall air and environment.

For example:

"My dog room gets stuffy and develops an animal/ammonia smell."

Bio-Safe may be more appropriate.

And sometimes you might use both products for different purposes within the same overall hygiene routine.

SupaClean vs Parvo Virucide: Which One Do I Need?

Another important distinction.

SupaClean = Cleaner

Use it to tackle:

Dirt → Grime → Organic deposits → General soiling

Parvo Virucide = Disinfectant

Use it when you need:

Targeted environmental disinfection → Disease control → Enhanced biosecurity

If an area is both dirty and potentially contaminated, it isn't necessarily a choice between the two.

You may need:

SupaClean first → Parvo Virucide second

Pet Bed Wash vs Ordinary Laundry Detergent

For human laundry, an ordinary detergent may be perfectly adequate in many situations.

But pet bedding can present unusually heavy levels of:

• Hair
• Skin oils
• Mud
• Odour
• Urine
• Saliva
• General animal contamination

Pet Bed Wash is a non-biological detergent specifically intended for heavily soiled animal laundry.

For heavily soiled items, stains can be pre-treated before washing.

The standard directions use approximately 75ml per wash, although you should always check the current product label.

It can also be used for hand washing.

A Practical Multi-Dog Home Cleaning Routine

You don't need to disinfect your entire house from top to bottom every day.

A sensible hygiene programme is targeted according to the problem.

Everyday

Remove faeces promptly, wash bowls, deal with accidents, remove visible dirt and keep sleeping areas dry and well ventilated.

Regular cleaning

Wash hard surfaces when dirty, launder bedding using Pet Bed Wash, and use SupaClean where heavier grime requires a dedicated cleaner.

Odour control

Use Odor-Kill for persistent odours on suitable surfaces and Bio-Safe where environmental or airborne odour control is needed.

Higher-risk situations

Introduce an appropriate disinfection protocol using Parvo Virucide when there's a genuine need for infection control – for example after certain infectious illnesses, in quarantine environments or as part of a professional biosecurity programme.

What About Kennels, Breeders and Boarding Environments?

The same principles apply, but the hygiene programme will generally need to be more structured.

Where different dogs regularly enter the same environment, consider separating the process into:

Daily spot cleaning

→ remove faeces, urine and obvious contamination.

Routine cleaning

→ remove accumulated dirt using an appropriate detergent or cleaner.

Scheduled disinfection

→ use an appropriate disinfectant at the correct concentration.

Laundry

→ regularly wash bedding, towels and washable fabrics.

Odour and environmental management

→ tackle persistent smells and ammonia separately rather than simply applying more disinfectant.

Quarantine/between occupants

→ use an enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocol appropriate to the disease risk.

This is generally much more effective than repeatedly spraying disinfectant onto surfaces that haven't first been properly cleaned.

Can You Make Disinfectant Stronger to Make It Work Better?

Don't assume that doubling the concentrate makes a disinfectant twice as effective.

Disinfectants are tested and labelled for particular concentrations and uses.

Using excessive concentrate can:

• Waste product
• Increase residue
• Increase exposure to concentrated chemicals
• Potentially damage some materials
• Deviate from the conditions under which efficacy has been established

Use the correct dilution for the job.

With products such as Parvo Virucide, that can mean using different dilutions depending on the organism being targeted.

Does Something Have to Smell "Disinfected" to Be Clean?

No.

A strong chemical fragrance isn't evidence that microorganisms have been effectively controlled.

Likewise, removing a smell doesn't necessarily mean a surface has been disinfected.

That's exactly why it's helpful to separate these concepts:

Clean ≠ disinfected

Disinfected ≠ deodorised

Deodorised ≠ disinfected

A good hygiene programme identifies the actual problem and chooses the appropriate product.

Which Product Should I Choose?

🧽 Choose SupaClean if...

You can see the problem.

Think mud, grime, dirt and deposits that need removing.

🦠 Choose Parvo Virucide if...

Your priority is infection control and disinfection.

Think disease organisms, quarantine and enhanced biosecurity.

👃 Choose Odor-Kill if...

You can smell the problem.

Think urine, dog smell, artificial grass, carpets, furniture and persistent odours.

🌿 Choose Bio-Safe if...

The environment itself needs freshening.

Think animal rooms, airborne odours, ammonia, kennels, vehicles and puppy areas.

🧺 Choose Pet Bed Wash if...

You can put the problem in the washing machine.

Think beds, blankets, towels, crate mats and other washable pet fabrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to clean before disinfecting?

As a general hygiene principle, yes. Remove loose debris and contamination and clean dirty surfaces before applying disinfectant, unless the particular product instructions specify otherwise.

Is a cleaner the same as a disinfectant?

No. A cleaner is primarily intended to remove dirt and contamination. A disinfectant is intended to control susceptible microorganisms when used according to its tested directions.

Is a deodoriser a disinfectant?

Not necessarily. Odour neutralisation and disinfection are different functions. Always check what the individual product is designed and tested to do.

What's best for dog urine smells?

For persistent surface odours, Odor-Kill is the most directly targeted option in this range.

What's best for artificial grass that smells of dog urine?

Odor-Kill is an excellent option for persistent odours on artificial lawns. If the grass is physically dirty, cleaning may also be necessary.

What should I use to clean a dirty kennel?

Start by removing physical contamination. SupaClean is designed for heavy-duty cleaning of animal environments.

If disinfection is subsequently required, follow with an appropriate disinfectant such as Parvo Virucide according to its directions.

What should I use after a dog has had parvovirus?

This requires a much more rigorous disease-specific cleaning and disinfection protocol. Parvo Virucide is specifically tested against Canine Parvovirus at 1:200.

We've covered this separately in our guide to cleaning and disinfecting after canine parvovirus.

What can I use for a smelly dog room?

First identify why it smells.

Physical contamination needs cleaning. Washable bedding may need laundering. Persistent surface smells may benefit from Odor-Kill.

For airborne odours and ammonia control, Bio-Safe is specifically designed as an air, space and surface spray.

Can I use Bio-Safe while dogs are present?

The manufacturer's directions state that Bio-Safe can be sprayed into the air while dogs and puppies are present.

What's best for washing dog bedding?

Pet Bed Wash is a non-biological laundry detergent specifically formulated for animal bedding and other heavily soiled washable fabrics.

The Bottom Line

You don't necessarily need a stronger cleaning product.

You need the right type of product for the job.

A useful way to remember it is:

Dirty? Clean it.
Disease risk? Disinfect it.
Smelly? Deodorise it.
Air or ammonia problem? Treat the environment.
Washable fabric? Launder it.

For a comprehensive pet hygiene routine, that gives each product a clear job:

SupaClean → Cleaning
Parvo Virucide → Disinfection
Odor-Kill → Persistent odour control
Bio-Safe → Air, ammonia & environmental hygiene
Pet Bed Wash → Laundry

Using products this way avoids the common mistake of expecting one bottle to clean dirt, kill every microorganism, remove urine smells and wash bedding all at once.

Good pet hygiene isn't about disinfecting everything constantly. It's about understanding what you're trying to remove, choosing the appropriate product, and using it correctly.