Your dog may be your family’s greatest friend, but there’s no denying that pets can make for a cluttered home. You must maintain your home secure and germ-free for your family and Max and Daisy.
“Pet dishes may serve as a breeding ground for germs and other microbes that can make your pet and your family sick,” explained Lisa Yakas, NSF’s Senior Certification Project Manager for Consumer Products. Indeed, an NSF study found that pet dishes were the fourth germiest area in the home.
Find Pet-Friendly Cleaning Options
“While vacuuming isn’t a ‘product,’ it is one of the most significant actions you can do to reduce the accumulation of pet dirt, hair, and any outside parasites that like to ride in on your pet, such as fleas!” Wooten said in a statement.
Fleas of all life stages prefer to hide in carpets and behind furniture cushions; therefore, vacuuming at least once a week is recommended.
Wooten also suggests using robotic vacuums, lint rollers, dry mops, and cleaning with a broom.
“I also recommend having your carpets washed at least once a year or more often by a professional,” she said. In such circumstances, remove your pet from the house and follow the guidelines above before allowing them near the carpet.
Most of your pet’s bedding, clothing, blankets, and toys may be washed in a standard washer’s hot water cycle.
Keeping Your Home Clean With Pets Around
So, how do you keep a tidy house with pets? Let’s look at some tried-and-true methods for removing pet hair from your home, keeping it smelling clean, and more. Here’s what Euro Maids recommends.
1. Keep Your Pets Clean.
The first tip is somewhat unexpected. Rather than focusing just on cleaning your home, keep your dogs tidy! If your dog appears to be playing in the mud, he will spread it around the house. While shampooing your pet regularly is not recommended, a fast rinse with water can help keep your home looking much cleaner.
However, keep your damp dog in one room and wipe their paws after they’ve been outside! A laundry area or kitchen is typically the ideal place to wipe muddy paw prints.
If your breed requires frequent cleaning or trimming, keep up with it. Let’s face it. Pet owners know how difficult it is to say no to having your dog on the couch. However, if your couch is built of specific materials, it could be your home’s most potent fur-attracting magnet. So, if you want to keep your poochy on the sofa, it may be time to change your furnishings.
Leather or very tightly woven textiles in a hue that is close to that of your dog are ideal options for a dog-friendly couch. If you want to avoid investing in a new sectional, you can always buy a pet-friendly cover or blanket that you can wash regularly.
2. Upgrade Your Sofa.
Let’s face it. It’s difficult to say no to having your dog on the couch. However, if your couch is built of specific materials, it could be your home’s most potent fur-attracting magnet. So, if you want to keep poochy on the sofa, it may be time to change your furnishings.
Leather or tightly woven textiles in a hue close to your dog’s are ideal options for a dog-friendly couch. If you want to avoid investing in a new sectional, you can always buy a pet-friendly cover or blanket that you can wash regularly.
3. Purchase A Quality Vacuum Cleaner.
A high-quality vacuum cleaner designed to eliminate pet hair and odors is one of the most crucial tools for keeping a clean house with pets. Ensure the vacuum you purchase has strong suction and a decent brush and filter since you will need it to draw hair out of specific spots rather than simply moving over them.
If you have a dog that sheds a lot, keeping a daily cleaning program to care for his coat is critical. Using an automated vacuum cleaner is a practical and effective way to keep up with the continual shedding. Including this equipment in the cleaning, routine may reduce the amount of dog hair and dander that collects in your home.
4. Set Up A Pet Cleaning Station.
The last thing you want is your pet running inside and causing mayhem and a dirt tornado just after playing in the yard. As a result, it is recommended that you install a pet cleaning station at your home’s entryway or, if you have one, in your laundry room.
To make a practical washing station to clean your muddy dog, here’s a fast checklist of vital dog owner items:
- Hooks: Hang hooks at the doorway(s) to keep collars, waste bags, and other walking equipment orderly and accessible.
- Rug: Place a rug at each entry to your home to clean your feet and your pet’s dirty paws before entering. Consider placing a towel or washable mat on top of a large foyer rug to make clean-up easier.
- Basket of towels: Keep a stylish basket loaded with towels by the door to dry off your dog swiftly after a walk. If room is limited, packs of paw wipes or paper towels can do the job.
- Washing tub: Installing a washing basin in your mudroom can be a dog-cleaning station. A bathing station with a sprayer and drain can make cleaning your pet’s fur much more accessible, especially after a muddy trip.
5. Regularly Clean Your Pet’s Things.
In addition to grooming and cleaning up after your pet on a regular basis, keep their toys, beds, leads, collars, and other possessions clean to create a fresh and clean living environment with dogs. Over time, these things can accumulate dirt and dog fur, resulting in unpleasant scents and an untidy home.
To combat this, be sure to clean your pet’s belongings regularly. If an item is machine washable, wash it regularly to remove dirt or fur. Items not machine washable should be washed in the sink and dried outside, preferably on a sunny day.
6. Purchase A Sensible Dog Bed
You know you’d like to get your dog something unique to relax. But resist the urge to get anything with luxurious fabric or a lot of fluff. It will be almost impossible to completely clean. Instead, choose pet beds that are easy to clean and water resistant.
They do not retain scents, and wiping them down once a week and allowing them to dry outside will make a significant difference.
7. Accidents Happen, So Deal With Them Quickly.
Even the best-behaved pets occasionally have accidents, resulting in stains and unpleasant odors on your carpets and furniture. Responding quickly and clearing up the debris with an enzyme-based cleanser to eliminate the scents is critical.
However, suppose the stain is tenacious or has become embedded in your furniture or carpets. In that case, engaging a professional upholstery cleaning or carpet cleaning service may be necessary to guarantee that the stain and odor are entirely eliminated.
8. Use The Lint Roller
This is the first time we’ve encountered a pet owner who didn’t keep a lint roller someplace in their home. So, if you have one, place it in a cleaning caddy and use it wherever pet hair appears to cluster, such as lampshades, throw pillows, and more.
9. Allow Some Fresh Air In
If you’re suffocating by the odor of pets, open the windows! Of course, it’s simple to do on a nice day, but even on a frigid winter day, opening the windows for 10 minutes may make a big difference in keeping your house smelling fresh.
10. Make All Of Your Carpets Indoor/Outdoor.
Surprisingly, many great indoor/outdoor rug alternatives are available, and using them in a home with pets can make a significant difference in cleaning ease. These carpets, of course, perform wonders, especially in locations where your pet prefers to lounge.
Keep Track Of Your Pets’ Messes.
Pets who spend most of their time in an enclosure, such as birds, hamsters, and rabbits, contain most of their messes, but the space is more prone to accumulate odor and debris, according to Dr. Wooten.
This means cages must be cleaned more frequently, and pet owners must consider how to keep food and water in one area of the cage while keeping poop and urine in another. Some of these critters may lose food or bedding outside the cage, so having a liner under the cage to catch extra waste will help keep things clean.
Meanwhile, she explained that a pet that roams the house will have more opportunities to make messes, but it will be less concentrated. “You will have to think about things like litter box training—I’m thinking rabbits and other small mammals—hair control, and protecting your belongings from them nibbling on your furniture/baseboards/whatever else they can get their little teeth on,” she told me.
Adopting a pet can be a significant responsibility for cleanliness, but with experience and attention, you’ll be able to establish a safe and simple routine that works for you and your pet.
In conclusion, while pets can make housekeeping more complex, these techniques will help you efficiently handle pet messes. Setting up pet-friendly cleaning routines and employing the correct tools allows you to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership without sacrificing a clean and tidy home. With some forethought and regular maintenance, you and your dogs may coexist harmoniously and cleanly.
Thank you for reading….