Don’t Let Spot Keep Your Home from Being Spotless

 Photo by Pexels

If you’re a dog owner, you know the pure joy and happiness a dog can bring. They are a constant companion and a source of comfort, not to mention they’re always excited to see you. However, you also know the messes they can create, whether it’s fur, saliva, odors, or pet dander. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep your home fresh and clean. The following are just a few budget-friendly tips to add to your cleaning arsenal.

 Get Into a Cleaning Routine

 This sounds like an obvious one, but having a set cleaning routine (both daily and weekly) can help you keep a handle on the mess and prevent those doggy tumbleweeds from building up. Create a checklist to make sure you don’t skip a step, and post it on your fridge so you don’t miss it. If you’re low on time or having issues getting the clean you’re after, you might consider hiring a professional cleaning service to come in once a month to get all the spots and places you might’ve missed. The average cost to clean a home in neighboring Elizabethtown falls between $132 and $200, so knowing the cost can help you decide how often you want to bring in the pros.

 Hair Everywhere

 Unless you have a pooch that’s low or no-shed, you’re all too familiar with dog hair. It gets everywhere, including furniture and clothing. You can’t completely stop your dog from shedding, but you can cut down on the amount by bathing, brushing, and grooming your dog regularly, using an air purifier, or adding olive oil to food (check with your vet first) to promote a healthy coat and skin. Investing in a quality pet vacuum is an absolute must — you can find a pet vacuum for around $65 — and you might take it a step further by getting both a regular and handheld one so you can also easily remove hair from furniture, bedding, curtains, etc. Keep in mind that all that hair impacts your HVAC system as well. Your filters do a good job of keeping fur and dander from circulating through the air in your home, but this means it gets clogged more easily, so change those filters often.

 Doggy Drool for Days

 Some dogs drool more than others, but no matter what, it leaves a pesky saliva stain. It’s important to clean them as soon as possible before they set in, but a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts hot water and a couple of drops of dish soap will do the trick to break up those tough stains both new and old. Your windows may be stained as well with nose prints and drool, but you can use that same cleaning solution here as well. Rather than waste paper towels, use a squeegee or magic eraser. Some dog breeds drool more than others, but make sure you’re aware of other potential drooling triggers such as tartar buildup, gum irritation, something stuck in his teeth, or nausea due to motion sickness. Stay on top of teeth brushing, and talk with your vet about measures and treatments for motion sickness.

 Odors Happen

 You might not smell it, but even if you’re nose blind the odor is still there. The key to controlling the odor is regular washing — this includes linens, couch cushion and pillow covers, dog bedding, and blankets. Also, consider steam cleaning your carpets and any cloth furniture. Stock up on pet-friendly cleaning supplies to keep odors at bay as well such as leather cleaner, odor removers, doggy wet wipes for after those outdoor romps, and waterless sprays for a quick refresh when you don’t have the time (or patience) for a bath.

 Dogs have a way of turning the worst day around. Unfortunately, they have a way of creating the biggest messes too. Like children, a little mess comes with the territory, but a little elbow grease and prevention goes a long way.

Spread the word about the Animal Refuge Center and its work for the homeless pets of Hardin County, Kentucky to all your friends and family! We can't do our work without YOUR support!

Written by 

Related posts

X
0

Your Cart