They are adorable, loveable, and part of your family. But boy, don’t they make a mess? Dogs are surely man’s best friend, and we love them. What we do not like is the dog hair all over our carpet, muddy stains on our upholstery, and stains we just cannot get out of our rugs.
So how can we enjoy our furry friends but keep a clean house without spending hours cleaning up after them? With a few tricks and tips, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you can spend that extra time doing more important things like having an extra cup of coffee or taking that stroll.
Read on to learn 8 quick, easy ways to clean up after your pooch.
Try Floor Tiles Rather than Rugs
We all love our oriental carpets and handwoven rugs with a dog, though it is just an added clean-up job when they have an accident or track dirt in after their little rendezvous with your wet lawn. Look, it’s not like you have to pick up all the carpets from the entire house, but consider getting rid of them in high traffic areas.
If you cannot bear to be without carpets or rugs, then consider carpet tiles. That way, if there is an accident, then you only have to get rid of that one tile and can replace it easily.
When it comes to cleaning, floor tile is easy to clean and will take less time than scrubbing your favorite rug. The last thing you want to do is throw out a rug because your dog had an accident. The only place you want to keep a rug for your dog is near the front door, and it should be easy to clean.
Put on Plastic Or Latex Gloves When Cleaning
When trying to get rid of dog hair, one of the biggest complaints is that because the hair is so fine, it is difficult to pull it out of carpet and upholstery. When we use a lint brush, we are often spending an hour cleaning the brush after trying to pull dog hair from the carpet and furniture.
A quick trick and tip are to wear plastic or latex gloves that will stick to the gloves and save time. You can use this trick to get rid of pet hair from your car, too. After you are done rubbing your hands over the surface areas where you want to get rid of the hair, if you wash your hands, it will come off, and you can even reuse the gloves.
Get a Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
If you have a dog, it is a good idea to invest in a special vacuum that is made to pick up dog hair. Regular vacuums are not made for that and will not pick up the hair. When looking for a special vacuum that is made to clean up dog hair, the Shark Vacuum for pet hair is a great product.
There are many models on the market, so you must research exactly which product you need before purchasing. If you need something for a large room with a lot of floor area, then an upright vacuum would be a better buy, but if you need something to clean up hair on furniture or in your car, then a hand-held vacuum might be a better choice.
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Create a Clean-Up Kit that is Ready to Use
Having a clean-up kit ready to go when you need it is one of the most efficient ways to save time. When your dog has an accident or tracks in wet mud, the last thing you want to do is look for cleaning supplies.
These items do not have to be anything fancy; they just need to be together in a place where they are easy to find. You can place them in a cardboard box and set them under the kitchen sink so you can grab them quickly when you need them.
In certain cases, time is of the essence, and the more a stain sits, the higher the chances that it will not come out.
Your kit should have the following items:
Get a Waterproof Blanket for Those Accidents
You are ready to lay down to bed and realize your furry friend has left you a little gift in your bend. Now what? If your dog has accidents, then the last thing you want to spend time doing is trying to disinfect and launder items that they pee and poop on.
A good investment is a waterproof blanket that you can place in areas where they often have their accidents. This long blanket will protect your bed, your sofa, and anything else your lovely dog decides to excrete on. And yes, you can probably think of three more places you need to put that blanket.
Buy a Paw-Cleaner
Why not nip the problem in the bud? As soon as your adorable dog comes running inside with wet mud on its paws, clean it up right away. If you have a paw cleaner, this job just became a lot easier.
These cleaners have soft silicone bristles, making it easier to brush off dirt from your dog’s paws without hurting them. It is a great way to prevent dirt and trash from being tracked into the house on your dog’s paws.
Buy Furniture with Dog-Friendly Upholstery
Instead of complaining about how the dog hair just does not come off your favorite sofa, why not purchase upholstery that is dog hair friendly? What does that mean, and does it sound too good to be true?
It does exist. There is upholstery that will repel dog hair and even prevent tears and scratches. Whether you are looking for leather or fabric, you can choose specific kinds that will make your chore of cleaning up dog hair transformational.
For example, in the case of leather, if you purchase top-grain or aniline, it will disguise any scratches your dog makes because of the way it is dyed. What could be better than that?
In the case of fabric, look for microfiber or microsuede because any fabric that is loose or thinly woven will trap dog hair and make it difficult for you to clean. Anything that is tightly woven will be a better bet.
Another great tip is to look for fabric that is similar in color to your dog’s coat.
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Groom Your Dog Regularly
Finally, a clean, groomed dog will always keep your home cleaner than one that is not. Take the time to make that appointment with your local groomer, or schedule it on your busy day and get it done. Any dog that is not regularly groomed will shed hair and make your job harder.
A great way to schedule grooming days is to have them coincide with the days you have the house cleaned. That way, you have a clean dog and a clean house. Ahh, the simple things in life.
Now You Have 8 Handy Ways to Keep Your Home Clean
With a few tricks and tips, you can come home to a clean, tidy house and still love your dog. Our furry friends pick up on our moods and negative tones. Instead of resenting them for things they cannot help, follow the steps above and take that extra cuddle because the truth is no one can resist that drooling adorable face.
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