While many of us don’t mind the smell of horse at all and would even welcome it into our homes, our other family members might not feel the same way. Keeping the horse smell from permeating your home can be a bit of a challenge, but with a little planning, you can minimize how much l’eau de horse enters your home.

Have a Designated “Horse” Room

If possible, have a mudroom, section of the garage, or other small entryway which is designated as your horse area. Use this area to shed any outer garments that you’ve worn to the barn before you enter the house. Have a few coat hooks available to hold jackets and other items, and be sure that there’s a boot mat to hold your riding boots.

Always try to keep your boots outside of your home, since they will very quickly spread that horse odor throughout any room that they’re kept in. Cleaning your boots regularly can help to keep the smell at a minimum, but your best bet is to never bring the boots inside – instead, leave them in a mud room or other separate space. If you have to step into the house briefly while wearing your riding boots, then using boot protectors or even slipping plastic bags over your boots can help to keep the mud and manure from spreading through your home.

Immediately Change Your Clothes

If you don’t immediately head for the shower once you get home, then at least make sure that you change your clothes. A quick clothing change can do a lot to minimize the horse odor that you carry with you, and it also reduces the amount of horse hair that you trek in through your house.

Use a Separate Laundry Hamper

Invest in a separate laundry hamper specifically for your barn and riding clothes. If possible, try to find a fully enclosed hamper with a secure top. Drop your clothes inside the hamper as soon as you’ve taken them off; laying your clothes on a couch or chair for even a few moments can leave a strong smell behind.

Arm Yourself With Air Freshener

Air freshener is your friend when you have horses. Products like Febreze and plug-in air conditioners can help to mask and remove what horse odors you do carry into your home with you.

While we love that good old barn smell, other family members probably don’t. These tips can help to keep that horse smell out of your home.

Original Source: How to Keep the Horse Smell Out of Your Home