Keep your home clean with dogs around by following some simple tips and tricks.
Do you have a dog (or three)? Do you feel it’s impossible to maintain a clean and hygienic household with so much fur and slobber around? We’ve provided a few simple hacks to keep your home clean with dogs! (Yes, this includes fur).
Invest in a good vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner can be a lifesaver if you want to quickly clear out fur and dirt that come naturally when a dog lives in a house.
Trim your dog’s nails regularly
Keeping your dog’s nails short and trim is a great way to prevent dirt and grime from getting on the couch or on the bed. As a pet owner, it is an essential household commodity.
Hide stain remover in every room of the house!
Your young pup is bound to get carried away when it’s playful and awake. This is when most accidents happen in an apartment. A bottle could fall on the carpet, or your dog might throw up when it is sick. The best way to avoid too much damage on a marble floor or a light carpet is to act quickly. Keep a stain removing solution in a spray bottle in each room, so you don’t have to spend too much time rushing to get cloth and cleaner for heavy stains.
Set up reminders on your phone to avoid missing cleaning/grooming
The more frequently you groom and clean your dog, the less the chances of dirt, muck, and loose fur dirtying the house. Added bonus: Your dog will love the extra attention and tangible petting and stroking. You bond with your dog more and both benefit.
Natural air purifiers – made of charcoal
Order charcoal-filled air purifiers that absorb pollutants in the air. People with dust allergies will also be able to breathe easier around the house. Affordable and advanced natural air purifiers are easily available online, so make use of them to help maintain air quality inside your home.
Durable and stain-resistant fabrics for furnishing
Avoid light linens and other fabric that get dirty easily. Get durable, easy-to-wash cotton and other fabric materials. You can also keep a towel handy in every room to place on your couch before your dog gets on.
Invest in lint rollers
If you have a furry dog, furballs and floating hairs will collect all over the house. Keep your curtains and other household furnishings fur-free by using a lint roller.
Keep a tray under food bowls
If you want to minimise the time spent cleaning the area around the bowl every time your dog eats, keep a wider tray so that excess food and drool falls into that.
Designate a bath area
A designated bath area is good because it helps a dog understand that it’s bath time – but also so that there is a specific area that can be cleaned and drained easily after bath time.
Never leave cleaning up for later
Be proactive! If you are a dog parent, you need to get a lot of things in your household in order anyway. You will need to wake up earlier, get out more, and run more errands just for your dog. Try and bring cleaning and dusting into that routine. Find small windows of time to do a little bit of dusting here and there throughout the day – and pick up after yourself and your dog immediately.
Bleach is always dependable
While you should be careful to keep bleach far out of your dog’s reach, it helps to keep it handy as there is no better agent that can neutralize bad smells and stains.
Laundry has to become more frequent
Schedule regular washing of your bedsheets, bedcovers, pillow covers and so on. But remember that too much is a waste of water. Either way, washing your linens regularly is the best way to ensure a clean and fresh-smelling home.
Get furniture covers
Tired of rubbing out stains and dirt from the upholstery on the couch? Keep couch covers for when you are unable to monitor your dog when it wants to jump on furniture. Train your dog to avoid the couch when it’s uncovered.
Clean diet helps with gaseous smells
Providing your dog with proper, nutritious food is the best way from preventing smelly farts! Over-the-counter dog food may not be the best idea to feed your dog if you want it to be healthy and fit.
Switch to natural products (it’s good for the environment and dogs)
Chemical cleaning agents are never a good idea to have around as they are toxic to dogs. Try and switch to all-natural cleaning products. You can make them at home or order them online. Keep vinegar and baking soda in the kitchen as they work to remove stains and keep the floor and kitchen counters clean.
And finally, keep your dogs paws clean!
The most useful tip of all to keep your home clean with dogs around, is to keep a small bowl of water by the door. After your daily walk, gently dip your dog’s paws in warm or room-temperature water, and wipe them off with a towel. Voila! No soil and mud from outside, ever!
