Pets bring joy into our lives and, sometimes, messiness into our homes. Furrtunately, there are plenty of house cleaning tips for pet owners that can help you erase messes and even prevent them from happening! The Hounds Lounge team has rounded up our top cleaning tips for dog owners, but much of this advice is purrfectly effective for cat cleanup as well.
Put on your rubber gloves, and let’s get into the nitty-gritty of house cleaning tips for pet owners, from the tools you’ll need to the preventative measures you can take!
Tools for Cleaning Up After Pets
To keep your house squeaky-toy clean, you need the right cleaning tools on hand. Below are a paw-ful of old faithfuls.
Lint Rollers
Lint rollers aren’t just for clothing! They can actually remove pet hair (and hooman hair) from most surfaces. Roll them over furniture like your couch, bed and kitchen table to remove fur, dust and dirt. Always keep a lint roller handy for a super quick and easy clean.
White Vinegar
White vinegar can be used for all kinds of household cleaning needs, from removing fabric stains to making glass surfaces shine. It’s also a great ingredient for deodorizing your carpet if Fido has an accident or creates any kind of smelly mess. All you need to do is fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz the carpet stains. However, do not saturate your carpet! Let the area dry, and it should come out as a stink-free zone.
By deodorizing your carpet, you’re also helping deter your pet from having another accident in the same spot. This is one of the game-changing house cleaning tips for pet owners!
Baking Soda
Like white vinegar, baking soda is another magic bullet of household cleaning supplies. Baking soda is antibacterial and helps neutralize odors, making it a grrreat tool for cleaning pet beds. Throw the beds in the washer with your usual detergent and hot water, and add a cup of baking soda to get your pup’s pads extra clean!
Store-Bought Pet Cleaning Products
While there are many home remedies for cleaning up after pets, store-bought products are often a good option! Some products are even formulated specifically for pet cleanup.
Impawtant Note: Whatever cleaning supplies you purchase and use in your home, make sure they are pet-friendly.
General House Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
Below are solutions for common household pet messes.
Accidents in the House
Sometimes, your sweet woof has to go so bad, he can’t make it to the backyard in time. Accidents happen, and there are plenty of pee and poo cleaning tips for pet owners. As we mentioned above, white vinegar is a good tool for cleaning up and preventing furrther accidents. Here’s what else you need to know about cleaning up potty breakdowns.
- Act fast! Pet urine left on carpet too long can permanently alter the dye.
- Remove any solid residue furrst. You can do this with a poo bag or paper towels.
- To absorb the moisture, blot – don’t rub – the stains with an old, clean cloth, a handful of paper towels or even toilet paper (which you can flush!).
- Apply a pet cleaner or homemade cleaning solution to the stain.
- Blot with a clean towel.
- Repeat steps four and five until the stain is gone.
- Spray the area with white vinegar to neutralize odors!
Skunk Spray
While skunks might look as cute and cuddly as your beloved pet, skunk spray is no joke. If your p-u-p is making you say P U after befurriending a skunk, they’re going to need more than their regular bath. Immediately after your pooch has been skunked, the Humane Society recommends washing your dog with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda (here it is again!) and liquid dishwashing soap, followed by a shampoo session.
Fur in Your Couch
You now know that lint rollers are a grrreat way to get fur out of your couch. However, there are several other fur removal options!
Duct Tape
If you don’t have a lint roller, duct tape can save the day! Wrap a sponge or cloth in duct tape, sticky side out, and pat down your couch. To truly recreate the wonders of the lint roller, wrap a paint roller in duct tape.
Vacuum Cleaner
The vacuum is a tried and true tool for zapping up pet fur!
Rubber Gloves
If you’re cleaning, you should already have your rubber gloves on, so why not let them work overtime? Keep your gloves on your hands and lightly dampen them with water. Rub your hands over the couch, and watch how the pet fur sticks to them! Use your gloved fingers to get rid of pesky fur in every nook and cranny of your couch.
Squeegee
This shower essential can also be used to clean your couch! Simply run your squeegee over the fabric, and you’ll scrape up pet hair in the process.
Mud
Let’s set the scene: Your woof has had a little too much fun in the dog park kiddie pool, and now that it’s time to go home, he’s covered in mud. What do you do?
Don’t let those dirty paws enter your house and bathtub! Instead, stop by Hounds Lounge on your way home and take advantage of our Self-Serve Dog Wash. We have raised tubs to help you avoid back pain, and we provide towels, aprons, shampoos and conditioners, brushes, ear and eye wipes, and top-rated blow dryers.
Preventative Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
Our tips for housing cleaning as a dog owner are not limited to post-mess cleanup. There’s a lot of cleaning you can do to prevent a mess from happening in the furrst place! Check out our preventative house cleaning tips for pet owners.
Stop Pawprints in Their Tracks
If you and Fido are dealing with a wet and rainy day, the chances of your floors getting dirty are high. However, you can minimize the odds by setting up a small paw-cleaning station by your door.
Keep a dry towel and a small bowl of water right at the entry point. This way, when you and Fido come back indoors from the soggy elements, you can dip each of his feet into the water and scrub them clean with the towel.
Maintain Regular Grooming
Simply brushing your dog on a regular basis is a solid way to keep your house clean. The more pet hair you pick up on the brush, the less pet hair there is everywhere else.
Because keeping your house clean also means keeping your dog clean, Dog Grooming at Hounds Lounge is another grrreat preventative cleaning measure. The more you groom, the less Fido sheds. Plus, at Hounds Lounge, spaw days include a free day of Doggie Daycare!
Take Action Against Fleas and Ticks
If fleas and ticks latch onto your pet, they can infest your home and potentially carry diseases in with them. To prevent these pests from taking over, invest in flea and tick preventative products. Talk to your vet about the best option for your woof!
Impawtant Note: For just $6, you can add a Flea & Tick Treatment to any Full Service Groom or Bath & the Works appointment at Hounds Lounge.
Damage Prevention for Pet Owners
It’s no fun to discover that your pet has torn up your belonging(s). The house cleaning tips for pet owners below cover damage prevention.
Chew-Free Electrical Cords
Electrical cords sure do look a lot like chew toys. Obviously, it’s best to keep them out of your woof’s reach. For the cords that can’t be moved, cover them in a protective wrapping, such as rubber tubing. This extra measure will keep Fido, as well as your electronics, safe!
Pet Repellent for Furniture
While we’re all about dogs and hoomans sharing furniture, we know there are some exceptions. Perhaps you have an antique chair you really don’t want Fido to get near. You might be able to separate him from the piece by closing a door or setting up a baby gate.
If you can’t close off the room with the chair, you can deter your woof from sitting on it by making the seat uncomfortable – but definitely not painful. Try placing a piece of plastic carpet protector in the chair with its prickly side up. Your woof will not enjoy the plastic teeth on his rump, and he’ll find a new spot!
Dedicated Dig Zone
If your dog can’t resist digging in your yard, you can create a designated digging area for them, such as a small sandbox filled with buried toys. For the areas you don’t want Fido digging in, set down rocks or chicken wire. You can also scatter orange peels to furrther deter Fido, as dogs don’t like the smell of citrus.
Doggie Daycare
While you’re away at work, you might worry about what your woof is up to in your house or yard. To give you peace of mind, bring Fido to Doggie Daycare, where he will spend the day burning energy under the watchful eye of our on-site staff.
We’re Fido’s Home Away From Home
While we’re dogaholics here at Hounds Lounge, we hope that all fur baby pawrents – of cats, rabbits, hamsters and more – can benefit from our house cleaning tips for pet owners.
Remember, no household – especially one with pets – stays spotless for long. Enjoy the clean while it lasts, and when messes inevitably appear, use the cleaning tips for pet owners above to make your life a little bit easier.
If you need to deep clean without your furry helper by your side, we’ll gladly take Fido off your paws. Make a reservation for Doggie Daycare, Dog Grooming or Overnight Dog Boarding now.
