Essential Cleaning Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know and Implement
Keeping your home clean is one of the biggest challenges to owning a dog! From tracking in dirt and mud, shedding all over your furniture, and bringing unpleasant odors into your house, dogs can really wreak havoc on your home if you don’t have a cleaning system in place. We understand–it can be overwhelming! We have rounded up 10 of the most essential cleaning tips to help you keep a clean and odor-free home!
Deep clean collars and toys
Don’t overlook collars and toys! They can get smelly quickly, so you’ll want to deep clean them regularly. If you want a quick clean, you can throw collars and toys in the dishwasher. However, for a deeper and more effective clean, fill up a bowl of hot water with some dog shampoo and let the collars and toys soak for at least an hour. Afterwards, rinse everything with cold water and let air dry. Doing this will greatly reduce the spread of germs, grime and growing bacteria!
Use a lint roller
Lint rollers are a fantastic tool because they can remove hair and lint from virtually any surface. It’s still important to have a vacuum on hand, of course, but a lint roller is fantastic for a quick clean up.
*Hot Tip: After you have vacuumed floors and furniture, use the lint roller on those same areas to pick up any stray hairs that the vacuum didn’t pick up. You’re left with spotless floors and furniture!
Wash pet clothing and beds regularly
Your dog’s clothing and bed(s) can really permeate smells throughout your home if they’re not cleaned weekly! Once a week, gather all your dog beds and throw them into the washing machine on a hot cycle. Even better, sprinkle baking soda all over the load before pressing start. This acts as an antibacterial agent and helps deodorize odors.
*Hot Tip: Choose pet beds that have a removable cover to make cleaning easier and more efficient!
Deodorize with baking soda
One of the best home remedies for removing smells and stains from your carpet and upholstery is baking soda. It helps neutralize stubborn acidic odors without the need for harsh chemicals, which is exactly what you want with your sweet dog in the home! Sprinkle baking soda over your carpet and any upholstery and let sit for a while before vacuuming it up. Now you have fresh floors and furniture!
Stop dirt at the door
Keep your dog from tracking dirt all over your floors by creating a “no dirt” system at the entrance of your house. Keep a shallow bowl of water and a towel by your door so that right when you bring your dog inside, you can stop and preemptively wipe off any dirt or mud. You can also place mats inside and outside of your front door, and train your dog to wait there while you wipe their paws.
*Hot Tip: If your dog does happen to get muddy paw prints on your carpet or furniture, be sure to let it dry first! Once the mud has hardened, use a scrubbing brush to loosen the dirt, and clear any excess dirt up with your vacuum cleaner. If there is any leftover stain, use a warm microfiber cloth and blot the spot until it comes off completely. You might need to spray a bit of stain remover if it’s especially stubborn.
Scrub your hardwood floors
Use an antibacterial product on your hard floors to remove dog hair, dander, harboring smells, and muddy paw prints! A steamer or mop with hot water and a pet friendly solution will keep your floors looking and smelling fresh!
Stay on top of clutter
This is an important one! It’s simple, yet having a clutter-free home can really affect moods in a positive way. Dogs can accumulate lots of chew toys and they often end up all over the house. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to walk around your home and pick up all the dog toys. Throw away any that have lived a good life and put the rest in your toy basket.
Cover up your furniture
Furniture can be destroyed by an excess of muddy paws, dog hair, and general grime that your dog will happily bring into your house. If you’re looking to protect your favorite couch, we suggest using a few throw blankets to drape over any furniture you want to protect. This will ensure your furniture lasts longer and an easy clean up!
*Hot Tip: Consider training your dog to not sit on your couch unless invited to help keep cleaning to a minimum!
Brush your dog regularly
Hair is the biggest challenge of most dog owners. Even the extreme dog lovers don’t want dog hair all over their home! Brushing your dog at least a few times a week can help prevent a house full of hair. Luckily for both of you, dogs typically love being brushed. So you can enjoy a bit of bonding time while also keeping excess hair off your carpets!
Wash your dog often
Don’t overlook the importance of a bath for your dog! Dogs might enjoy rolling around in dirt and grass, but a regular washing and grooming schedule is imperative for health reasons. The cleaner a dog’s fur and skin, the lower their chance of flea and parasite infestations or skin infections and allergies. Dogs should be washed every 2-4 weeks, depending on your particular breed of dog.
*Hot Tip: If you’d like any help with grooming your dog, be sure to give Pooch Mobile a call! We can match you with a local Pooch Operator who will discuss your dog’s grooming needs, and other advice such as diet, skin conditions, and other dog ailments.
