As much as you love your pets, the unfortunate reality is that they can be a lot to handle. When you think about pet responsibilities, things like walking the dog, changing the kitty litter, feeding and bathing your pets, and even occasional trips to the vet may come to mind.
However, pets are a primary reason why you might need to clean your home more frequently than you otherwise would. After all, they track in dirt from outdoors, and they leave pet hair and dander in every room of your home. Of course, there are also accidents to mess up when they’re sick. Here’s how to keep your home clean with cats and dogs.
Why Pets Make Homes Dirty
Your furry friends certainly don’t mean to make a mess and add on to your already busy schedule, but even the cleanest pets do. Their fur is a gathering place for pollen, dust, dirt, mud, and more. Whether they’re walking in from the outdoors or they’ve been lurking with the dust bunnies under your bed, their fur gathers messes in one spot and deposits them in other areas.
More than that, pets shed fur and dander, which only adds to the mess. Even house-trained pets can have a mishap or two as well. For example, your pet might get sick. Perhaps you’re away from home for a bit longer than planned, and you come home to find a yellow puddle on the floor. The bottom line is if you have pets, you have to clean more often than you otherwise would.
Build a Pet-Friendly Cleaning Routine
Pet hair and other messes build up fast, so it’s best to stay on top of cleaning chores. You can more easily accomplish this by building a pet-friendly cleaning routine. For example, take a few minutes to sweep the kitchen floor and clean the pet dishes while you’re waiting for water to boil or food to cook on the stove.
Each morning, start the day off by running a lint roller across your couch and upholstered chairs. Keep throws over your chairs, sofa, and bed. Toss these in the washing machine every few days.
Managing Pet Hair Effectively
While some pets shed significantly more hair than others, all animals shed to some degree. Brushing your pet daily is an easy way to remove most of the loose hairs, but you’ll still find hair on the furniture and floor throughout your home. You can more easily keep the floor clean by running a robot vacuum daily.
Be sure to invest in a vacuum that accommodates pet hair. To quickly remove pet hair from upholstery between vacuuming sessions, use a lint roller or velvet pet hair roller.
Controlling Odors in Your Home
Chances are you don’t notice pet odors because you’re accustomed to them. This is, of course, unless your pet has a stinky accident indoors. When houseguests arrive, however, you might notice a subtle grimace as they walk in the door if they are hit by the overbearing smell of pets.
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Baking soda works wonders at neutralizing pet odors on upholstery and fabric. Simply sprinkle it on these surfaces 30 minutes before vacuuming. You can also place small bowls or sachets of baking soda or activated charcoal around the house to absorb odors.
Tips for Busy Pet Owners
Pet owners often prefer to take their dogs out for a walk or curl up for a cuddle session than to clean the house in their free time.
Whether you have a seemingly endless list of responsibilities or you simply have more enjoyable ways to spend time than cleaning, you can use these tips to stay on top of pet messes:
- Wash dog dishes and toys regularly. Depending on the cleaning recommendations, many of these items can be washed in the dishwasher or washing machine.
- Find a few minutes in your schedule to clean out the kitty litter box daily. This will dramatically reduce unpleasant odors in your home.
- Run an auto vacuum daily. If you have hard floors, sweeping is another option to consider.
- If you can’t tackle all of the chores yourself, recruit help. Even younger kids can do things like put a dirty pet dish in the dishwasher or brush your pets.
- Unless your pet advises otherwise, bathe your pet weekly. You can also cut down on pet hair and dander by brushing your pet daily.
It’s easy to fall behind on housecleaning chores when you share your home with dogs and cats. Unfortunately, their messes and other general filth will make your living space uninviting, smelly, and even unhealthy. With Better Clean’s professional cleaning services, you can conveniently stay ahead of the mess and enjoy the many benefits of a cleaner house. To schedule a Better Clean service for your home, call us today.
