Sunday, July 27, 2003

The Mercury News - San Jose

SeaYu/Petrotech Odor Eliminator - People Who Travel with their Pets

By : Michael Martinez

What: SeaYu/Petrotech Odor Eliminator.

Aimed at: People who travel with their pets.

How much: $12.95, in either mist spray or direct spray.

What it is: It's a fact: Americans are traveling by car this summer, and many are taking along the family pet. The drawback is that dogs and cats bring along their annoying odors, which can make car travel stuffy and stinky. Odor Eliminator is an organic spray that is supposed to ``encapsulate'' and eliminate odors rather than smother them with flowery scents. My verdict: It works. I tried it for a couple of weeks and found that any lingering odors from carting our three dogs to the park were erased almost instantly after spraying the inside of the car or the air vents. What's left behind is a neutral aroma -- not quite a new-car smell, but not like the family dog has taken up residence either. SeaYu, based in San Francisco, also recommends using the spray in rental cars and hotel rooms. Not a bad idea, but the spray can is almost 10 inches high, and the company doesn't make a travel-size canister. It can be purchased at most pet supply stores, including Pet Club, or online at www.sea-yu.com. Store locations are listed on the Web site.

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