We hope you enjoy the following insightful blog post by Jessica Brody. Several of her past contributions have been very well received by our followers, and this newest on won’t disappoint, I promise!
Dogs are our best friends, but they can also be the best at making messes around the home. Keeping up with all the cleaning can be a real chore for most pet parents, but there are definitely some tips and tricks that can make these tasks a lot easier.
Manage Pet Related Odors in Your Home
One of the most common complaints from pet owners is that getting rid of odors can be a challenge. Effectively removing carpet odors takes a little bit of know-how and the right cleaners, but once you have the basics down, getting rid of tough spots is a breeze. If you are struggling to remove the smell of urine from your carpet, you may want to pick up an enzymatic cleanser to break down the oils and proteins that can cause these messes to stick to fibers.
If you have a smelly dog on your hands, you may need to take some additional steps to reduce odors in your home. Constant dog odors can actually be a sign of a health issue, such as allergies or oral infections, so it’s important to really get to the bottom of your pet’s persistent body odor. You may need to schedule a checkup with your vet or make changes to your dog’s care routine, like setting up more frequent grooming appointments.
It should be noted, however, that not everything lingering in the air is bad for your home or your dog. Research is increasingly showing that pheromones have the ability to reduce anxieties in dogs, so look into adding DAP (dog appeasing pheromones) to help keep your pup calm.
Clean Fur and Dander from Fabrics
Offensive odors are not the only cleaning challenge that pet owners face in their homes. Fur and dander have a funny way of getting trapped in the fabrics around your home. So, you need the proper tools to keep your furniture, fabrics, and carpets hair- and dander-free. A top quality pet vacuum should be in every pet owner’s home regardless of whether you have carpet, tile, or hardwood floors. You can also use other tried-and-trued hair removal tactics to keep your furniture fuzz-free. A rubber glove and a fabric softener sheet can pick up all those little hairs that even the best vacuums seem to miss. Plus, these little tricks come in handy when you do not have time for a deep cleaning. While fur and allergens on your surfaces can be distressing, leaving these irritants in the air can actually be hazardous for your health. If you have family members who suffer from allergies or respiratory issues, adding an air purifier may be a necessary step to keep your pet from making your loved ones sick.
Prevent Other Common Pet Messes
Being able to clean up pet messes is an important skill for dog owners to have. Preventing those messes in the first place, however, is really the easiest way to keep your home looking and smelling fresh. Behavioral issues are often the source of unwanted mishaps around the home, but it’s important to remember that dogs are extremely opportunistic. If your pup likes to nose through the trash, you can try training, but your best bet is to take measures to secure the trash when you’re away. Use a bin with a locking or close-fitting lid, put your trash behind doors or gates, or invest in some child-safety locks for those truly crafty canines. Litter boxes are another favorite exploration spot for most dogs, but you can use models that are dog-proof to keep those litter box treats out of your pup’s mouth and off of your carpet. For fur, try using DIY couch covers to keep yourself from having to constantly vacuum.
Having a tidy, fresh-smelling home is possible for dog owners. You just need to have the right tools make the job less stressful and the right know-how to prevent problems in the first place. So make your dreams of a clean home come true with the simple tips above.