Having pets is a blessing – they provide us with connection, love and companion. Unfortunately, they are not capable of cleaning up after themselves. And, in all honesty, they can be pretty messy.
From shedding fur to using a litter box, having pets in your home requires regular maintenance. Luckily, keeping up with pet messes doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Here are some cleaning tips for pet owners to keep your house sparkling and clean.
Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
Brush Your Pets
There are some breeds of dogs and cats that do not shed but the majority of breeds do. Stay ahead of scattered fur piles and fuzzy furniture by regularly brushing your pet. Regular brushing, at least 3 times per week, will cut down on the amount of fur you scoop, sweep and vacuum. Make sure you are using the right tools for your breed of pet.
There are also health benefits to regularly brushing your pet – removing excess fur decreases health issues such as hairballs and constipation.
Removing Pet Hair
No matter how often you brush your pet, they will still shed fur around your home. Keep up with de-furring surfaces by using a lint roller or handheld vacuum.
You can also use duct tape and a paint roller. Cover the paint roller cover with duct tape (make sure the sticky side is out) and add more tape as the surface gets covered in fur. It will work like a lint roller but on a much larger scale.
Keep Paws Clean
Pets aren’t ones for wiping their feet at the door, so keep a towel near your entryway to wipe off dirty paws before your pet comes back inside.
If your pet, particularly dogs, have significantly dirty paws, you can leave a shallow dish of clean water by the door as well. Dip your doggo’s paws in the water and wipe off with a clean towel.
Get Stains Out Quick
The sooner you clean up a pet stain, the better. If not cleaned up right away, urine and other pet messes can stain, discolor and damage surfaces.
Be sure to clean up the mess when it is fresh and before it dries to your floor. Blot the stain with a clean cloth (don’t wipe!). Follow up with a solution of a ¼ teaspoon of gentle dish soap mixed with one cup of luke warm water and blot with that.
Continue this pattern of blotting with a clean cloth and with the soap mixture until the stain has lifted.
If the stain or the resulting smell is persistent, you may want to contact a professional to thoroughly clean the mess. Our skilled cleaning technicians can do away with pet messes on your floors – especially when it comes to carpets.
Wash Pet Bedding
Use baking soda to give your pet’s bed a good wash. Use a mild detergent and avoid fabric softeners or other laundry additives that may irritate your pet’s health. Throw in 1 cup of baking soda to the wash to help neutralize the pet smell from the bed. Try to wash in hot water as well in order to kill any allergens or bacteria.
Litter Box Hacks
Having a cat means taking care of a litter box on a regular basis. When you don’t keep up with this unpleasant task, the resulting smell can be insulting to your senses.
Make litter box cleaning easier by lining the tray with a litter box liner or bag. Not only will this make clean-up a breeze but it also prevents smells from clinging to the tray.
After you clean out the litter box, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the tray before topping with litter. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, so it will help to keep the smell at bay as well.
Lastly, scoop the litter box regularly. The more often you scoop, the easier it is to lift the cat dirt from the box and the less litter you end up using.
Contain Food Messes
Cats and dogs are not quite as eloquent as we would like them to be when it comes to eating. Food tends to drop from mouths and water gets splashed all over the floor. Cut down your cleaning efforts by placing your pets’ dishes on a rimmed tray. They are still going to make a mess but this way it will be contained to one area.
Simply clean off the tray and replace. It’s much easier than sweeping up kitty kibble from all over your home.
Cleaning Products That Are Safe For Pets
Most commercial cleaners contain toxins that can be dangerous to the health of your pet. When choosing a cleaner for your home, beware of these ingredients:
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Formaldehyde
- Perchloroethylene (used mostly in carpet and rug cleaners)
- Phenols
- Phthalates (used in scented products)
Choose instead all natural cleaners that use plant-based or food-grade ingredients.
Dust Queen Maid Services guarantee that all of our solutions are Eco-friendly, environmentally safe, biodegradable and safe for you, your family and your pets.
Ready for a Deep Clean?
Are your pets running the roost when it comes to messes and cleanups? Sometimes all you need is a good deep clean to get your housework back on track!
Contact us at Dust Queen for a free quote on our cleaning services. We are more than happy to help keep your home clean!