[dropcap]H[/dropcap]aving pets around the house is pretty great. They become part of your family, the ray of sunshine that you need after a long, hard day’s work. Cuddling up with your furry buddy is a feeling that many pet owners relish.
However, they do bring in their own smells and problems as well. You find yourself cleaning more often than actually spending time with your pets, and that is not acceptable.
Lucky for you, we’ve come up with 8 tips that will help to keep your house clean. It doesn’t matter if you have one pet or multiple, these tips will surely change your cleaning hassle and give you more time to enjoy time with your pets instead.
So, let’s get started!
1. Groom Your Pets
The amount of dirt that a dog’s coat collects not only spreads to your house, it also spreads to the food you eat and on your furniture as well. It’s best to create a grooming routine for your furry buddy. You can groom your dog yourself, or take them to a professional to get them deep cleaned.
If your dog starts to smell, this is when you know that they need a bath. Not after you bring them home from a walk or an outdoor play session. Bathing them regularly harms their skin and dries up the natural oil that their coats provide.
Professional pet groomers take care of all the grooming that your dog needs. From cutting their nails to giving them a nice haircut, they’ll do everything. Remember to keep a wet, damp dog in one confined space. This will make things easy for you.
You’ll save time and keep your house clean.
2. Protect the Couch!
If your dog loves to snooze and chill out on the sofa a lot, then chances are you can’t force them off no matter what you say or do. What you can do is protect your couch or get an upgrade.
Their hair can get stuck on the sofa and the odor will become unbearable. Occasionally, you’ll also see some staining as well. If your couch attracts these things too quickly, then you need to buy a new one.
Preferably one that’s made with materials that are tightly woven, or a leather sofa. You can also buy them to match the shade of your dog’s hair shade as well. However, not everyone can just decide to buy a leather sofa one day.
For those that can’t or are on a tight budget, you can use throws on the couches. Just make sure that they are machine washable and pet-friendly!
3. Invest in a Quality Vacuum Cleaner
The much-talked-about debate that salesmen love to bring up when you’re shopping for vacuum cleaners is the Dyson V8 vs V10 comparison.
However, there’s no shortage of types when it comes to vacuum cleaners. There are handheld ones, robotic ones, and the ones that can get to the toughest of corners for a real deep cleaning.
Look for a vacuum that has strong suction, good brush action that pulls hair instead of just spreading them around, and a quality filter. Consider your floors as well.
There are vacuum cleaners that work very well on normal or wooden floors. There are some that work great on carpets, upholstery, throws, and rugs too.
Consider all the options and do your research well before buying one. Just make sure to clean out the filters and keep your vacuum cleaner in top notch condition.
4. Have a Separate Cleaning Section
Having your entranceway smeared with muddy paw prints is not a scenario you can go through every time your dog decides to have a super exciting playdate outside.
Set up a separate cleaning section if you don’t have one already. Redo your entranceway to help keep your house clean. Have those heavy-duty doormats, a water spray bottle, wipes, and dog towels nearby to clean up any muddy furry buddy.
You can set up your separate cleaning section in your laundry room as well. That way, you can easily chuck the used towels directly into the washing machine after you clean up your pup.
5. Clean Your Pet’s Belongings
Another great tip for keeping your house free from unwanted pet problems is making sure to clean your pet’s belongings thoroughly and regularly.
Their beds, toys, and some leads can release a strong odor. Always make sure to buy toys, beds, etc. that are machine washable. If they are not machine washable you can probably hand wash them in the sink.
But who has that kind of time these days? So, buy everything machine washable that’s related to your pet and you’ll thank the heavens. Also, choose an especially sunny day to do these chores.
It will be easier to dry them outside. You can kill two birds with one stone with this move because the sun will help to kill the bacteria and the bad odors from their belongings.
6. Everybody Loves Homemade Cleaning Hacks
Homemade cleaning hacks are the best. They help to save you a ton of money and also get the job done. Similarly, enzyme-based cleaners are also very helpful.
By now, everyone is familiar with the magical household item that is baking soda. It fights odors and also neutralizes them. You can sprinkle some over your carpets or rugs before vacuuming, which will help to diffuse any bad smells.
You can also leave clumps of baking soda over an area that has strong bad odors or stains. Vinegar is another one of our favorite ingredients that can be used to remove unwanted smells from toys and pet beds.
Accidents come unannounced, so all you can do is stay on top of it whenever one occurs. Keep your cleaning products nearby and at hand so that you can tackle the problem right away!
7. Water-Resistant Dog Beds
You’re not the only one who gets distracted by the fluffy dog beds when you go out to shop for your pup. There are too many designs and too much fluffiness that you can get lost in.
However, as much as it pains you to not being able to buy those super cute beds, they are actually equally super hard to clean. In cases like these, it’s best to invest in a water-resistant bed for your dog.
They are easy to keep clean and manage as well. It has an easy option to swipe down and you can leave it out to air on sunny days.
8. Proper Ventilation
If your house doesn’t have a proper ventilation system then chances are that smells take longer to neutralize. This happens when you keep your windows and doors shut most of the time.
For the smell to deodorize quickly, you need to leave the windows open to let some fresh air in. This idea can effectively change the energy in your house in a very positive way as well.
Your mood will be better, and who doesn’t love some fresh air in the height of the spring season? On colder days, you can keep your windows open for 10-15 minutes.
Proper ventilation is key when you have more than one pet in the house. You’re going to need it to tackle the many funny and abnormal smells that they bring into your life.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to say that we hope that these tips will come in handy to you. Cleaning up accidents ASAP and neutralizing bad odors from carpets, throws, and furniture will give your home a clean, fresh vibe.
And, of course, keeping your pets well-groomed and remembering to vacuum on a regular basis will keep things under control. All you have to do is give it a try and you’re already there!
This article is contributed by Sandy from Vacuumcleanersdvisor.com. When she is not cooking or taking care of her kids, she binge-watches TV or cracks open a good book.
