What’s not to love about pets? They bring us immense joy and are heaps of fun to be around.
However, we can also agree that they turn our houses into a mess. In fact, when I was younger, my mum wouldn’t let me keep a pet as she dreaded the untidy consequences.
If you’re having this dilemma, this is no reason to not give an animal a loving home, or deprive yourself of the joy of owning a pet.
Even the most caring and active pet owners can get overwhelmed by the untidy chaos that pets create. So, it’s only normal to be concerned.
If you’re someone who is thinking of getting a pet or already own a pet that is turning your house into a furry mess, you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to learn about some amazing tips that will make cleaning your house with a pet an absolute bliss!
1. Lint Rollers and Handheld Vacuums are Your Best Friends
You know how no matter how much you vacuum, some persistent hair or fur will always remain? That’s where lint rollers and handheld vacuums come to the rescue.
A hand-held vacuum is a perfect and fast way for instant cleaning. It is much easier to use and carry than a larger vacuum. However, a lint roller is a pretty good option too. It is cheaper and does the same job.
Related Post: Check out my GTech Pro vacuum cleaner review. An upright and handheld cleaner.
Larger vacuums are a staple for cleaning houses, but these two contraptions will get rid of all the extra stuff that the vacuum misses. In fact, lint rollers are even better because instead of sucking up dirt, they get right to the job and remove whatever remains.
2. Don’t Let the Dirt in
Dogs love going outside and we love seeing them running around. But the problem is, when they come back indoors, they bring all the dirt and mud inside with them.
Personally, I like my floors clean so this is not something I would allow. I was often crouched on the floor, scrubbing away after my dog had a fun trip outside. But soon, I realized this wasn’t working.
Related Post: A steam mop can be a great solution, such as the Vileda Steam Mop.
So, I found a much easier, fool proof plan for clean floors. I now keep a mat by the door along with a towel and container of water at hand. The plan is, whenever my dog wants to come inside, I make sure to wipe his paws.
Genius isn’t it? You could try it out too! This is much less time consuming and your dog will gradually be trained to not walk all over the house with dirty paws. Soon you’ll see it waiting for you to clean its paws before entering.
3. Don’t Forget to Clean those Pet Collars and Toys
Pet collars and toys are often overlooked when cleaning. Even though this doesn’t seem like a big issue, dirty collars aren’t hygienic and can make your pet smelly.
Now, the fastest way to clean these objects is by throwing them in the dishwasher. But for an actual proper deep clean, you should soak them in a bowl of water and shampoo.
Let the toys and collars sit for thirty minutes and then wash them off with cold water. Once they’re dry, you’ll see how clean and fresh everything smells!
Do make sure to check out washing instructions for special toys and collars though. Some of these might require a specific washing process that is different.
4. White Vinegar is Magic for Carpet Cleaning
Owning a pet guarantees stained and smelly carpets. While there are some pretty great pet carpet cleaners on the market, the white vinegar in your kitchen will work just as well.
Just put some white vinegar in a spray bottle and start spraying on the stains in even amounts. Make sure you don’t spray too much though. You don’t want to soak the stain.
After spraying, let it dry and you’ll see the magic. Your carpet stains will vanish and all those weird odors will vanish too.
This tip might not work with all materials, so do check for instructions if you have a special kind of carpet. In-fact, it would be wise to try out spraying in a less noticeable part of the carpet first to check if there are any unwanted effects.
5. Brush that Hair!
Did you know that different breeds have different amounts of hair shedding? So, the first thing you should do is consult your vet on that. Also, make sure to ask him/her about how often you should brush your pet and the tools you should use.
If you want a hair free house, it’s not possible. But you can reduce a large amount of hair shedding merely by following a strict grooming schedule.
In-fact, brushing cats is actually beneficial to their health. It stops the formation of hairballs and prevents constipation. And there really isn’t a loss here because most dogs and cats both love being brushed.
6. Clean Beds Make Clean Pets
This is basically your pet’s safe space, so you need to keep it clean. The best thing to do is to buy bed covers that can be removed because this will make washing much easier.
Detergent and soap are okay for washing, but a cup of baking soda is the secret ingredient I would recommend.
Baking soda is great for removing odours and killing bacteria. So, make sure to add it into the washing machine. Also, it’s best to wash your pet’s bed and covers on a hot cycle.
7. Clean the Litter as Frequently as You Can
Litter boxes can be quite a scary place. But if you clean them regularly, it doesn’t get so bad. Here’s a tip- instead of emptying the litter boxes every couple of days, try to do it twice every day.
Too much work? I understand! But honestly, the results are great!
Your litter box won’t smell awful and it will definitely be more approachable. In fact, if your litter box is smelly, you’re probably not cleaning it enough. So, step up your game!
Also, make sure you do a proper litter box cleanup every week with a bleach solution. It’s also recommended to change your pet’s litter box every year.
And make sure you buy a decent litter tray, it’s worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
We all love our pets but we definitely don’t want our houses to become a reeking fur filled mess. Fortunately, there are solutions to tackling this, which are quite simple and affordable.
Now that you know all these tips, your life will definitely be easier. You can spend a lot less time complaining about cleaning and more time playing with your pet.
And if you are someone who is worried about getting a pet because of the cleaning involved, don’t worry, you’re now well equipped with all the knowledge you need. So, go on and bring that fuzzball home!
For more info, I often read https://www.feedfond.com/ because it has a load of useful info for helping clean up.