4 Tips for Tackling Pet Messes and Keeping Your Home Clean
For many families, life isn’t complete without their furry family members. While owning a dog definitely comes with some perks (like unlimited love and snuggles), keeping your home clean can become more of a challenge. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can follow to maintain a tidy home without taking time away from walks or playtime. If you have a dog in your home, you need to keep these handy cleaning hacks in mind.
Preserve Your Carpet and Floors
Owning a dog means having paw prints on your heart, but that doesn’t mean you should live with paw prints all over your floors as well. Having the best cleaning supplies is crucial if you want to keep your carpets and floors looking pristine. A quality vacuum should top your list, so do your homework to figure out which options will work best in your home (some dog owners prefer a quiet one that picks up pet hair). Read through these buyer’s guides to find your perfect pet-friendly vacuum. For those tougher pet messes, you’ll need the right cleaners to prevent stains and odors. Look for an effective spot remover that will work specifically on pet stains and messes to prevent permanent damage to your floors.
Keep Your Windows Sparkling and Slobber-Free
There’s nothing like a sweet nose snoot from your pup to brighten up your day, and we all love those adorable kisses. But your dog may also tend to leave not-so-adorable nose prints and slobber marks all over your windows. Dog saliva can be surprisingly difficult to remove from your home’s surfaces, so if you have a dog that likes to lick or drool all over your windows, you may need some special tricks to get glass sparkling again. Use some dish soap and a scrubber to get those sticky spots off of your windows, and then go over everything with a squeegee to remove excess water. Finally, pick up a microfiber cloth to clean off any fine splashes or spots, and get your windows back to a beautiful streak-free shine.
Protect Furniture From Absorbing Smells
Even if you keep your dog off of your couch and other furniture, pet smells can still find their way into your fabrics. The best defense against odors in your home is to stick to a regular cleaning schedule. Use your pet-friendly vacuum to clean any hair or dander from upholstery and fabrics. In-between vacuums, a lint roller will come in handy to remove random hairs. If you do notice any smells, use these tips to help your furniture smell fresh. A combo of vinegar and baking soda will usually do the trick, but tougher smells may require a commercial odor remover. Also, keep your dog bathed to help keep the inside of your home smelling clean.
Remove Odors and Stains Out in Your Yard
Dogs can track messes into your home, but they also leave marks on your yard as well. Spend some time each week cleaning up and taking care of any problems areas before they ruin your lawn. Keep plenty of baggies on hand to pick up messes, or buy a heavy duty scooper to keep your yard clean. If your dog urinates on grass, try to rinse the area with water to keep it from yellowing. You can even use excess water from dishes or plants for an eco-friendly solution. Avoid giving your pup any solutions that claim to help, as these supplements will not help and can cause permanent health problems for your dog. If bothersome odors persist after rinsing, mix up a bottle of natural odor eliminator to get rid of smells in your yard and garden.
Loving your canine companion doesn’t have to leave messes around your home. With a regular cleaning schedule and some simple tricks, you can keep your house clean inside and out. So, use the tips above to make life with your dog a little less messy!
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