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Are you struggling to keep the house clean with a dog? Dogs can cause lots of mess, from hair to wet, muddy footprints. It can be a lot to keep up with when you have other commitments. However, you’d do whatever you can to keep your dog safe and happy. Don’t forget, you can easily keep your home happy and clean too.
This is our dapper little gentleman, Odin. He has a *lot* of fur.
How? Using this guide, you can discover the best advice for keeping your home clean with a dog.
Get the hair off of the soft furnishings
Dog hair can easily stick to soft furnishings. On upholstery and carpets, you can use a dog hair remover and make sure your soft furnishings are hair-free. Although you might need to do this often, it’ll help you maintain a clean home when you have a dog. Whether they have long or short hair, their hair will still fall out. Hence, it is essential to use an easy tool to remove hair from things it can get stuck to for maximum cleanliness.
Make a cleaning routine
Regular cleaning is one of the easiest things you can do to avoid feeling like you live in a kennel. Set aside time each day or each week to clean. If you’re not sure where to start, write a list and set a day each week that you can commit to cleaning. When it’s a time that suits your schedule, it’ll be easy to maintain.
Keep a supply of high-quality cleaning tools and supplies on hand
Having a good, reliable vacuum cleaner is a must. Look for new models and accessories designed specifically to remove pet hair. Additionally, keep a supply of sticky tape lint rollers for quick cleanup throughout the house. Microfiber cloths are also handy for grabbing pet hair off upholstery, tile, hardwood, and any other surfaces your dog walks on. Another must is a pet cleaner, an odor neutralizer, and a stain remover. With the right tools, clean-up is quick, effective, and easy.
Create specific areas for your dog
To reduce mess, create areas for your dog to eat, sleep, play, and relax. Place food bowls on washable surfaces such as tile or covers to prevent food debris from softening carpets, rugs, and other fittings. Provide a comfortable bed, such as an abode or a pad, and wash as often as you like.
Don’t be afraid to set house rules
Setting clear rules in your home can help keep your dog out of trouble and your home a little cleaner. Train your dog to wipe his paws when he comes inside, prevent him from getting on furniture, and make him sit and wait at the door to go outside. Consistency and following through with these commands, along with positive reinforcement, can make your pet the ideal companion.
Grooming the dog
It is important to groom your dog on a regular basis. If visiting a professional dog groomer is out of your budget, you can learn some low-cost ways to groom your dog at home.
When my mom came to visit for Leo’s graduation, she told us about the brush she uses for her little doggies. So we got this exact dog brush, and it’s amazing. Just look at what one little pass with it did:
Outdoor cleaning is wise too
Outdoor cleanup routines are just as important as indoor routines in keeping a clean and safe home environment. Always immediately clean up after your dog’s bathroom breaks by scooping up the waste and disposing of it in a designated waste bin. Furthermore, try to keep your yard or outdoor space free of debris and dirt. Finally, do regular inspections of your fences, gates, and landscaping to make sure there are no holes or other escapes.
Proactive measures to avoid problems and odors
Use super-absorbent mats or rugs inside and outside of your doors to capture most of the dirt, water, or mud coming in from outside before it hits your floor. Especially in the rainy season! Durable and good-looking, pet-grade containment or baby gates are a great way of giving your dog the ability to see you & feel part of what is going on around him without letting him access one or more sections of your home. Master bedroom? Formal living or dining room? How about the parlor? Pets also shed and dirty your furniture and hardwood. Protective covers or pet-grade furniture throws can save thousands on your upholstery!
Messes can happen, prepare and clean
Another way to keep the house clean with a dog is to understand that accidents and messes are inevitable when living in a dog-friendly home, but cleaning things up right away will help keep your apartment clean and comfortable. Use pet-safe cleaning products and techniques to quickly clean up spills, accidents, and messes. For liquid spills, blot with paper towels and then use a mix of water and mild detergent or a pet-specific stain and odor remover to clean the area. Do not use detergents or chemicals that may be harmful to your dog.
Veterinary care is important
Some of the best ways to cut down on inside dirt are to provide your pet with regular veterinary care, brush and groom them often, keep their ears and teeth clean, check their fur and feet, and inspect them for parasites. Some of the best ways to provide regular veterinary care are to make sure they are current on their shots, take them for regular check-ups, and do what you can to prevent illness in your pet.
Patience and flexibility
As you navigate the rewards and difficulties of keeping a clean home as a dog owner, practice patience and flexibility. Understand that accidents and messes are part of living with pets, and it will take time to establish good cleaning routines and habits. Be kind to yourself and your pooch, and be happy with your progress and success.
Using air purification
If you suffer from pet allergies but don’t want to get rid of your pets, this is a great option. Place air purifiers throughout your home to help eliminate pet dander, odors, and other allergens in the air. Look for purifiers that sport HEPA filters that are designed to effectively capture and filter out pet-related particles and pollutants. This will help promote cleaner and fresher indoor air quality. You’ll breathe easier if you choose purification.
Washing and sanitization
Anything that your dog interacts with can grow more germs and hold more dirt and odor. Establish a routine for cleaning and sanitizing your dog’s bedding, leashes, collars, and toys. Use a pet-safe disinfectant detergent, or even just a mild soap and hot water will do the trick. You want to wash bedding and blankets weekly and wash the toys, leashes, and collars as needed to keep the germs and allergens at bay.
Cerebral stimulation
Providing lots and lots of stimulation and intellectual activity for your dog can help keep them from getting bored, which can be a precursor to making a mess in your home, whether that is making a mess of themselves or something they shouldn’t. Providing your dog with interactive toys, puzzles, and games that serve to engage your dog in mental strengthening (much like a person would do by reading and studying their schoolwork, for example) can often be a great way to keep a dog mentally engaged and entertained throughout their time in a kennel.
Training for effectiveness
To discourage poor behavior and encourage positive behavior in dogs, you have to do some basic training on effective training and positive reinforcement techniques. Basic obedience training that may be helpful for you and your dog would include commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “leave it.”. Positive reinforcement can be given to dogs when they display the correct behavior.
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