Dogs are forever companions and a source of immense joy and unconditional love. However, these little, energetic furry friends can also cause a huge mess and odor issues.
From shedding their coat to leaving dirty paw prints all over—keeping house clean with dogs around can be quite the endeavor.
If you also struggle to tidy your home, here are top cleanup strategies to ensure a clean and hygienic environment at your home!
1. Routinely clean your dog
The most important strategy to keep your home clean with a lovely furry baby around is to clean the source of this mess: Your Dog!
Regularly groom your dog to reduce shedding and spreading outdoor dirt all around. Here are some tips.
Daily Brushing
Brush your little canine once every day to control fur shedding. It’s especially important if your dog has a long or thick coat. Make sure you use rubber brushes if you own a short-haired breed and slicker brushes if it’s a long-coat one.
Regular Bathing
Bathe your dog once every 4-6 weeks with a pet-friendly shampoo or as the vet recommends. This reduces the amount of dirt buildup on their skin. Don’t overdo it, as it may affect your dog’s skin and hair quality.
Paw Cleaning
Dirt, debris, and mud get trapped in your furry’s paws. So, after every outdoor exploration, they bring dirt into your home. So, clean their paws and trim their nails regularly to prevent it.
If you don’t have enough time, aren’t confident, or have too many dogs to it all alone, seek pet grooming services. There are over 300,000 pet groomers in the US.
2. Clean the house more frequently
One of the most significant challenges is keeping the house clean with multiple dogs. Your entire home becomes full of pet hair, and no amount of grooming is enough to keep the dirt away from your home. So, here are some house-cleaning tips for pet owners.
Get a Vacuum Cleaner
Not all vacuum cleaners are well-equipped to deal with heavy volumes of pet hair. So, research and invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner made specifically to get rid of pet hair.
It must have a powerful suction, a quality brush, and a HEPA filter to pick on allergens and dander. This ensures that the appliance can suck the finest hair off your floor and furniture.
You can also buy an automatic vacuum cleaner for constant cleaning without manual labor.
Sweep and Mop
Vacuuming alone won’t do the job. If you have hard floors, sweep the floor with a broom or dry mop. This ensures you pick up any leftover pet hair and dirt. Then, wet mop the floor to remove dirty paw prints and dust.
Install an Air Purifier
Keep pet dander and airborne allergens under control with a HEPA filter-fixed air purifier. A clean environment will keep you and your pets healthy.
Hire Professional Cleaners
Keeping house clean with dogs all alone is no easy feat. So, you should opt for professional cleaning services with the best professional housekeeping personnel in the industry to deep clean house with pets.
Choose a company that ensures 100% satisfaction and uses eco-friendly, pet-friendly, and non-toxic cleaning solutions to protect your family and your furry friends from harsh chemicals.
3. Build a dog-cleaning station
Keeping house clean with dogs can be way easier if you avoid entering your home right away after walking your dog. Instead, clean your dog’s paws and fur first and prevent them from dirtying indoors.
For this, you need a designated cleaning station with basic essentials at your home’s entrance. For instance, lay a washable, heavy-duty mat/rug at the door. This will catch dirt and debris from your furry friend’s paws.
Keep pet-friendly wipes and damp towels in a basket to wipe their body and paws thoroughly. If necessary, keep a bucket of water as well. During rainy and snowy days, keep an extra dry towel to dry them up before entering the home.
Set up a dog-friendly mudroom if you want to give your pooch the royal treatment. Store all necessities and install a washing tub.
Note: If you struggle to keep your dog still during this swift cleanup, prepare some treats as well. Give them post-cleanup to train them to be patient.
4. Upgrade your furniture upholstery
Dogs love to snuggle on the couch and beds and leave their trail of fur, paw dirt, and even body odor everywhere. While you can’t tell the poor buddy to stay away from furniture, an amazing way of keeping the house clean with dogs is protecting all furniture with these tips.
Buy Washable Covers
Get washable furniture slipcovers for chairs and couches. This way, you won’t have to regularly clean the furniture. Instead, you can wash them whenever they’re fur-covered or dirty.
Invest in microfiber or leather fabrics, as they don’t trap odor much like linen or velvet. Use throw blankets to keep your pup’s smell off your furniture and bedding.
Get Dog Furniture
Get a designated, washable dog bed and blanket instead of letting your dog sleep on the couch or bed. Train them to use their furniture instead of yours.
5. Beat the odor
Your dog is your best buddy, and love them to the moon and back. But nobody shares the same sentiments about their furry friend’s odor. So, to keep your home smelling fresh at all times,
Wash Upholstery Regularly
Whether your dog has separate bedding or cuddles on yours, they can be a major source of bad odor. So, regularly wash these blankets, bedding, and even fabric toys in warm water. This will remove the odor and kill bacteria.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
You can’t clean heavy materials, such as rugs, carpets, and fancy upholstery, too frequently. Instead, pour a generous amount of baking soda on them and vacuum them after a while.
If any specific corner of your home stinks more, place a plate of baking soda. This will absorb the smell for a while.
Use Deodorizers
Nowadays, several pet-friendly deodorizers are also available in the market. If your home’s environment still reeks of your pet’s odor, spray these instead of chemical-heavy room fresheners.
Note: If there’s remaining dog hair on your upholstery, pick them up with a lint roller.
6. Be prepared for accidents
Even if your dog is well-trained, unexpected accidents might occur, such as vomiting or excreting on the floor or furniture. So, it’s best to stay prepared for a quick and mess-free cleanup.
Keep a reliable enzyme-based stain remover around. This can remove the most stubborn stains from the floor and upholstery while also neutralizing any odor.
Make sure the product works for dog poops and vomits as well. It’s best to check reviews and invest in a wise product.
However, if the stain has been on for a while or doesn’t budge with enzyme cleaners, use a carpet spot remover. And if that’s also not a solution, get it professionally cleaned.
Conclusion
Dogs make life so much better with love, joy, and unlimited entertainment. While they often make your home messy and odorous, regular grooming, cleanup, and pet-friendly upgrades will do just the trick to ensure an inviting environment.
However, if you still struggle to clean your home all alone, we at MaidforHeaven offer eco-friendly residential cleaning services. We hire only the top 2% of veteran cleaners, vetted by our unique 5-step process and trained to meet the best industry standards. So, book your appointment today and claim a free cleaning session today!
