If you share your home with a four-legged friend, then you’ve probably had to deal with more spills and stains than you can count. Dogs provide endless joy and affection but, as adorable as they are, these irresistible furballs can wreak havoc on your house if you don’t stay on top of things. Between the muddy paw prints, pet dander, hair, and fur, keeping your house spick and span may seem like an impossible endeavor. But fear not! We’ve compiled a list of tried and tested tips that will help you keep your dog-friendly abode in tip-top shape, so let’s get right to it!
Keep Your Dog Clean
Regular grooming is key to keeping your dog and, by extension, your house clean. Though, you shouldn’t use pet shampoo too often to avoid stripping your fur baby’s skin of its natural oils. Instead, wash them down with plain water between their weekly or bi-weekly baths to make them clean and fresh. To keep your house safe and hygienic always opt for a dog poop cleaner.
After their daily walks or outdoor playtime, make sure you wipe their paws with a wet towel before you let them back in to keep them from tracking mud and dirt into your home. Depending on their breed, your pup will also require regular brushing and trimming to control the shedding. Last but not least, stay one step ahead of those pesky fleas and ticks by setting monthly reminders to spray your dog with an appropriate flea control product as per the vet’s recommendation.
Invest in a Quality Vacuum Cleaner
To effectively eliminate pesky hairs, dander, and unpleasant odors, you need to invest in a pet-friendly vacuum cleaner with a quality filter, extra-strong suction power, and variable speed settings. As suggested by the reviews on How To Home, you should also look for handy attachments that suit the type of flooring you have. For example, if your home has wall-to-wall carpeting or thick rugs, you’ll need a rotating brush roll to pick up long and thin hairs.
If you allow your four-legged friend on the furniture, you’ll need an extension wand and an upholstery tool to clean those hard-to-reach spots where fur and debris tend to accumulate. If your dog is a heavy shedder, you’ll need to vacuum daily to get rid of any dust bunnies that may be hiding under your furniture.
Let the Fresh Air In
As little as ten minutes of fresh air a day can go a long way in deodorizing your home and keeping your indoor air fresh and clean. Open the windows as often as you can to let the fresh air in and filter out airborne bacteria, viruses, and dander. You can also use fans to improve the airflow in your home whether or not the windows are open. If your home has a central HVAC system, make sure you change the air filter every three months or according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper ventilation.
Keep Your Lint Roller and Stain Remover Close By
Lint rollers are good for more than removing loose fur from your clothes; you can also use them to remove dust and hair from your furniture, throw pillows, lampshades, and pretty much anywhere your little furball has been. So, make sure you keep an extra-sticky lint roller in your cleaning caddy along with an enzyme-based stain remover. Use the stain remover to clean up any accidents right away, following the manufacturer’s directions, to keep your home spotless at all times.
Choose Durable, Pet-Friendly Materials
If you can’t bear to keep your fur baby from snuggling with you on the couch but, at the same time, you want to keep your furniture from getting all dirty and scratched up, it might be time to upgrade your current sofa. Opt for furniture made of durable, pet-friendly materials, such as leather or tightly woven fabrics, that are ideally in a similar shade to your pet.
If possible, choose stain-resistant fabrics or easy-to-clean materials for high-traffic areas like the living room so you can easily wash or wipe them down should any accidents occur. If you can’t spring for new furniture, cover your couch with a pet-friendly throw that can be easily tossed in the wash when needed.
Living with a dog can enrich your life in many wonderful ways, but it can also wreak havoc on your home life if you don’t stay on top of things. With the above tips in mind, you can co-exist peacefully with your four-legged friend without worrying about muddy paw prints or hair that goes everywhere. Remember, the key to keeping your house spick and span when sharing it with a dog is to clean regularly to prevent dirt, dander, and fur from accumulating.
