Pets make great companions and are a joy to have in your home. However, most pet parents can attest that things often get messy around the house. If you share your home with a furry friend, things like muddy pawprints on the floor, scattered pet toys, unpleasant odors and piles of fur on the furniture are probably nothing new to you. Dealing with these situations is part and parcel of being a pet parent.
Thankfully, cleaning up the messes that your fur baby leaves in their wake doesn’t have to be a challenge.
When it comes to keeping your home neat, it all boils down to establishing proper preventative measures, addressing messes in a timely manner and using the right cleaning products or equipment. If you’d like to learn how to easily tidy your home, below is a simple guide to managing your pet’s messes:
Clean Your Pet’s Items Regularly
Make sure to regularly clean your pet’s items. These include things like toys, bedding, housing, litter boxes and food and water containers. These items tend to get smelly and dirty over time, encouraging the growth of harmful microorganisms like bacteria.
By regularly cleaning your pet’s items, you can protect them from illnesses and infections while preventing the spread of unpleasant odors in your home. If you share your life with a dog or two, place their playthings in customizable dog toy baskets. They provide ample storage space and prevent toys from coming into contact with dirty surfaces, keeping them clean for much longer. Plus, they’ll ensure that your house is free from clutter after your pooch’s playtime.
Place Trays under Food and Water Bowls
Pets can make quite a mess while chowing down on their favorite food or drinking water. You may not be able to prevent kibble from scattering on the floor or water from dribbling down the mouth of your pets, but you can make clean-up easier. You can do this by placing a tray at the bottom of your pets’ food and water bowls to properly contain messes. Make sure that the tray has rims so it can capture any stray drops of water or pieces of food. This way, you can simply remove the tray and clean it, rather than grabbing a broom or mop every time your furry companions make a mess.
Keep Your Fur Babies Well-Groomed and Clean
Grooming your pet won’t eliminate shedding, but it does make a big difference in the overall cleanliness of your home. Giving your pet regular baths, using anti-flea products, brushing their fur, and clipping their nails are great ways to lessen messes while keeping your furry companion in tip-top shape.
Regular baths and anti-flea treatments can prevent dirt and harmful pests from entering your home. Likewise, giving your pet a good brush can effectively reduce shedding. It also helps your pet achieve a smoother and shinier coat. Trimming your pet’s nails is essential if you want to prevent unsightly scratches on wooden floors and leather or fabric upholstery. For dogs, a good trim will also prevent their nails from getting damaged when they’re walking or running.
Invest in a Good Vacuum
Whether you’re dealing with canine or feline fur, it’s recommended that you invest in a quality vacuum cleaner. Ideally, your vacuum should be able to suction fur from all kinds of surfaces—wooden or carpeted floors. It should also come with different attachments to clean mattresses and upholstery. Additionally, your vacuum should be able to clean fur without easily getting clogged. Of course, you’ll still need to regularly empty the filter of dirt and pet hair to keep your appliance in good condition.
If your pet sheds a lot, you’ll probably need to vacuum every day to keep your house clean. However, this can be tedious and time-consuming. For this reason, consider investing in an automatic vacuum, which can do the work for you during busier days or while you’re sleeping.
Remove Stains with an Enzyme-Based Cleaner
If you spot urine stains from your pet, be sure to clean them as soon as possible. This will prevent the odor from setting into the material. However, cleaning these messes requires more than just a simple wipe.
Urine contains uric acid, which produces a long-lasting and unpleasant smell. Make sure to spray an enzyme-based cleaning solution after you’ve wiped pet urine, as it works best for neutralizing uric acid. If you don’t have a pre-made solution at the ready, don’t fret. You can create a homemade one by mixing one cup of vinegar, two teaspoons of baking soda, and one cup of water.
Cleaning after your pets can be quite easy with some good hygiene practices and helpful products. In fact, certain steps required for maintaining a neat home are inextricably linked to the well-being of your fur babies. By following the tips mentioned above, you can not only enjoy a tidy house, but also keep your pets healthy and happy.
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