Dogs and cats bring loads of joy and fun to your house. However, fun and joy are not the only things they bring. They also bring with them extra cleaning duties that make house cleaning even more tasking. There is always something extra to clean, from muddy paw prints and poop stains to lingering smells. To effectively handle these and maintain the sanitary state of your house, you need a bit of know-how.
On that note, we have some great tips that will make things easier for you. These tips will help you reduce how much your little feline/canine messes up the house and also help you keep the place clean after they do.
What You Will Need?
The first thing you will need is the right set of tools. The essential ones are:
- Scrub brushes
- Pair of rubber gloves
- Cleaning solution or detergent
- Spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Mop and Bucket
- Dustpan
There are, of course, other things you will need depending on specific cases, and we will mention some of these as we go.
Essential Tips for Cleaning
Next, let us look at the crucial tips that will help you.
1. Hire Professional Services
This is the best choice right off the bat. However, cleaning a house with a dog or a cat is a task concerning which you could benefit from some expert service. Certain animal stains need chemical treatments to come off, and some may even call for pressure washing services.
Then, with the right expert services, you can be assured that all pet-related stains and smells will be thoroughly handled.
2. Invest in Cleaning Equipment
There is a lot of cleaning equipment today that can make tidying up your house a lot easier, including vacuum cleaners and pressure washers. In fact, professional cleaning service outfits make heavy use of them to get amazing results - and so can you.
Apart from general house pressure washing, you can also use a pressure washer to remove sticky dog stains like dried up urine or poop from surfaces. Vacuum cleaners are perfect for removing pet fur from your carpet, rug, or couches.
A big robotic vacuum cleaner will ruin your furniture, though. Hence, a smaller hand-held vacuum cleaner or a lint roller will do for removing fur from your sofa, bed, or car seats. You can also remove fur by wearing rubber gloves and running your hands gently over fur-covered surfaces. The fur will stick to the gloves, and you can dust them off into the dustpan.
3. Thoroughly Cleanse All Toys
Hard rubber pet toys and any other objects your dog or cat plays with should be cleansed hard. This is to curtail the spread of any bacteria or germs through them. We advise using a dishwasher and with all-natural vinegar in place of any harsh dishwasher detergent.
Line up the toys on the top rack and run the complete cycle, then let them dry thoroughly. For cloth or fabric toys, a washing machine will work the magic.
4. Keep Your Cat/Dog Clean at All Times
This is one of the best ways to reduce the cleaning load. A regular bath for your cat or dog will help keep their hygiene and prevent pet smells around your house. If your cat or dog comes back mucked up from a walk, give them a quick and gentle cleaning. You can take a small damp cloth and wipe their stomach, legs, and feet. This will not only help them be more comfortable but also remove dirt. It will also stop them from spreading around any grime they may have stepped on.
A warm water rinse for your cat or dog is advised in wetter seasons since too much shampooing will irritate their fur coat.
5. Regular Grooming Is Crucial
Cleaning off fur is perhaps the most tasking part of cleaning for pet owners, especially when there is no vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, you may not be so fortunate to have one of those cat or dog breeds that shed little or no fur. Thus, regular grooming is crucial to reduce how much fur you have to wrestle with.
You should brush your cat's or dog's fur at least three times a week. This is especially crucial for cats as regular brushing helps reduce such conditions as hairballs. Of course, the type of brush you will need for the job will differ from breed to breed. Hence, you should consult your vet to know which to use.
6. Prevent Digging
One of the ways in which dogs especially tend to get muddy paws is by digging. Hence, if you have any areas in your compound where your dog could dig, you may want to set measures to deter them from doing so in such areas.
Fencing off such sites is one way to go about it.
7. Soak up Smells by Washing Fabrics With Baking Soda
When it comes to deep cleaning, baking soda is already well-known. So, it is no surprise that it is on this list of ultimate cleaning tips for pet owners out there. Baking soda in washing can help neutralize stubborn odors, especially damp smells on your table dresses, yours or your cat's cat's/dog's bed covers.
Simply add a measured amount of baking soda (ideally a cup) to some mild detergent water (no fabric softeners, dyes, or fragrances), and use that to wash off your fabrics. To remove any lingering bacteria or germs, wash the materials on a hot cycle.
8. Use Pot Plants That Are Pet-friendly
Using plants is another way to get rid of pet-related odors. Some plants such as Bamboo Palms and Dufil Ferns do an amazing job there. You can place them in a pot near any area your dog or cat usually rests.
9. Maintain a Lifestyle of Regular Cleaning
Pets will regularly dirty your house, it is unavoidable, so a regular cleaning lifestyle is essential. Engage in regular house pressure washing and cleaning. Run a vacuum cleaner through the place as often as possible. In the absence of those, scrub or mop clean any surfaces of dry poop or other stains (poop is easier to clean when dry).
Use a hard brush and some detergent water to clean your rugs and let them dry thoroughly. Then, apply a good air freshener. Perform these activities at least once a week (or twice, if you are up to it).
Hire a professional cleaning outfit if you do not have the time due to busy schedules or fatigue after busy weeks. Either way, regular cleaning is vital to keep your house free of all pet-related dirt and smells.
Conclusion
Cleaning is one of the most tasking parts of keeping a pet, especially furry and active pets like dogs and cats. But, happily, you can make that task easier to undertake with these tips we have offered. The key takeaways here are:
Hire a professional service to take care of any cleaning you can't handle, whether it's house pressure washing, vacuuming, or chemical treatment, to remove stubborn pet-related stains.
- Good grooming for your cat or dog will ease the fur-cleaning burden.
- Cleaning equipment such as vacuums and pressure washers will make your work easier.
- Take good measures to eliminate any pet-related smells.
- Clean regularly.
Keep these practices and recommendations at the back of your mind and follow them as needed, and you can enjoy your pets in a sanitary and healthy house.
