Your home is spotless, and the inviting aromas of a holiday meal fill the air. But as you open the door to your guests, their twitching noses suggest that they smell something you don't.

"I see you still have that cat," your older sister says disapprovingly. Her nose twitches again. "And the dog, too."

But pet odors aren't irresolvable. Eliminating them can be challenging, but following a few simple tips from the experts can leave your house smelling fresh and clean this holiday season.

One source of pet odors is urine, whether from long-ago puppy training days or from a pet that is having accidents now. Pete Duncanson, director of training for ServiceMaster Clean, a leading provider of residential and commercial cleaning services, says the key to effectively eliminating pet-urine odor in carpet is to use a bacteria/enzyme digester.

"Bacteria/enzyme digesters work well, but they work slowly. So be sure to leave the solution on as long as directed," he said. "Urine has probably penetrated down into the carpet and pad, so use enough solution to reach as far down as the stain did."

He recommends covering the area with plastic for several hours afterward, and he warns that heavily soiled carpets may need professional cleaning and deodorizing.

Not sure where the urine smells are coming from? A simple black light, available in pet-supply stores and catalogs for under $20, or even free with purchase of many odor- removal products, will pinpoint any sources of urine in carpet, baseboards or walls.

Bacteria/enzyme digesters can also be used to deodorize litter boxes, although if the surface has become scratched or roughened, they should be replaced. Look for boxes with Microban already in the plastic to fight odors from the start.

What about "eau de dog"? Its source is hair, dander and oil – on your pet and in your carpets and upholstery. The cure for both is the same: a brisk brushing and a good shampooing. Have your dog professionally groomed, or brush out all loose hair and bathe the dog.

Next, tackle your carpets and upholstery.

"To remove pet hair from carpets, use a vacuum that has a good beater brush or roller brush," said Debra Johnson, a training manager for the cleaning professionals at Merry Maids. "Plain vacuums don't generate enough 'lift' to get all the pet hair up from the floor."

Johnson also recommends using vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters if possible, and has one more hint: "Vacuum bag fresheners are an easy way to enhance your guests' perceptions of 'clean' when they enter your home," she said. Follow up by shampooing your carpet with an extraction cleaner, which can be rented from many stores.

To get pet hair out of dog bed covers and upholstery, purchase a rake made for this purpose from a pet-supply or home-improvement store. Use your vacuum's upholstery tool to pull up loose hairs and dander, and finish with an upholstery cleaning and deodorizing product.

Keep odors from returning by using a slipcover on your sofas, scooping or changing your cat's litter box daily, washing your dog's bedding at least weekly and keeping washable mats and throw rugs on your pets' favorite spots on the carpet.

Finally, check out true vapor-steam cleaners. Using the same Italian technology that powers espresso machines, they deliver pressurized vapor at 240 to 260 degrees. They're as easy to use as a vacuum cleaner and are completely safe for you, your kids, your pets – including birds – and the environment.

High-quality residential units can cost as much as $2,000. A sturdy home-use model, such as the DeLonghi SteamIt, runs around $400.

What are your favorite tips for cleaning up after pets? Send them to petconnection@gmail.com and we'll share them.

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. E-mail them at petconnection@gmail.com or visit www.petconnection.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/spadafori.