Animal lovers will know that our furry friends are more than simply companions. They are members of the family that we welcome into our homes, our hearts, and our lives. As much as we love and appreciate them, pets are not always helpful in our efforts to keep the house clean.
From scratched furniture to untidy litter trays and fur shedding, it can be tricky to maintain a tidy home with a family pet. In this article, we’ll look at 10 pet cleaning tips to help you work around your pets, and keep your home top shape.
1. Line your Litter Tray
Cleaning a litter tray is never fun but someone’s got to do it. Take the sting out of the chore with a handy cleaning tip. When you prepare the litter tray, line it with a plastic garbage bag. Fill the tray with litter as usual, and when you come back to clean it again, simply remove the garbage bag, tie it, clean the tray, re-line it with a fresh garbage bag, and fill it again with clean litter. Far quicker, more hygienic, and less unpleasant.
2. Make a DIY Super-Strength Lint Roller
You most likely already know how incredibly useful a lint roller is in managing the collection of fur. Why not ramp up the idea and create an easy DIY super-strength lint roller. Simply take a paint roller and some duct tape; wrap the tape around the paint roller, sticky side up, until you have covered the rolling surface. The strength of the duct tape will make this device far more effective than a regular lint roller. Apply the roller on furniture, carpet, flooring, and the car to collect fur efficiently; it works even quicker than using a vacuum cleaner! Once the roller has lost its stickiness, just remove the spent duct tape and apply a fresh layer.
3. Keep a Vacuum Close By
Let’s face it, having a vacuum in the house is a must if you live with a furry friend. To ensure hair shedding is kept to a minimum, you should vacuum the floors, couches, and window edges at least once a week. Vacuuming every other day would be ideal but not everyone has time for that. Staying on top of this task will help you cut down the amount of fur that makes its way onto the floor and furniture, as well as allergens that may irritate humans in the home.
4. Avoid Clogged Pipes with a Drain Hair Catcher
Giving a dog a bath can be quite a challenge. Aside from the barking, splashing, and drying off, the fur from our sparkling-clean dogs can also clog the drains. Avoid clogged pipes by using a DIY filter from a scrubbing pad. Cut a piece of scrubbing pad to the size of your bath’s plug hole, and push it into place before you give your dog a bath. The water will flow through the scrubbing pad, buy any fur will be blocked out. Once the dog is freshly bathed, simply remove the piece of scrubbing pad and dispose of any collected fur. The pad can be reused for subsequent baths.
5. Wash Fabrics with Baking Soda
Our fluffy family members love to cuddle up; on the sofa, at the foot of the bed, or even under the covers on a chilly morning! Unfortunately, this can present an issue with odor. To eliminate any pet-related smells from soft furnishings, wash them regularly. You can add a half a cup of baking soda to laundry and wash on a hot cycle. This will ensure that any bacteria lurking in fabrics are killed. You should also consider purchasing a pet bed with removable covers; by following the same washing procedure, this will make it far more straightforward to keep their sleeping spaces fresh and clean.
6. Brush Your Pets Regularly
Regular brushing will keep your cat and dog’s coat looking great, plus it feels great for them. Start by finding the right brushing tools for them. You will start brushing at the top and slowly make your way down. Be gentle around their ears, and under the belly. Brushing your dog or cat on a regular basis will save you time and effort spent vacuuming, wiping and sweeping.
The brush will help remove any dead undercoat fur and excess dirt. On top of that, their coat will look clean and healthy.
7. Make Your Own Stain Remover
Accidents happen. If your pet has an accident which results in discoloration of the carpet or furniture, there is a simple way to create your own stain remover. Take a spray bottle, add a cup of vinegar, a cup of water, and four tablespoons of baking soda. Shake to mix, then spray on the stained surface. When removing the stain, you should use a dabbing motion to help lift it out of the material, rather than scrub it in even further. This concoction is pet-safe and also has odor-eliminating properties.
8. Don’t Forget their Collars
Wherever our pets go, their collars travel with them! In order to prevent irritation and odors, make sure that collars are cleaned regularly. Simply fill a bowl with hot water, a little pet shampoo, and a teaspoon of baking soda. Swish the collar around the bowl and leave to soak for fifteen minutes, then scrub it and rinse with plenty of fresh cool water. Make sure it is fully dry before you put it back on your pet. Consider having a couple of spare collars ready, and clean them on rotation.
9. Keep Toys Clean
Pet toys can become breeding grounds for bacteria; make sure to wash them frequently. Plastic toys can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Skip the detergent unless you have a natural cleaning product, or just use vinegar instead. Soft fabric toys may be thrown in the washing machine. Once again, use a natural laundry detergent, or simply sprinkle some baking soda and vinegar to get the job done. Toys that look worn even after a good cleaning may need to be replaced.
