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House cleaning for Dogs owners

by | CLEANING TIPS, In the Home, PETS | 0 comments

House cleaning for Dogs owners

by | CLEANING TIPS, In the Home, PETS | 0 comments

House cleaning for Dogs owners is not impossible. However, it does require some changes in your cleaning routine.

When I recently broke down and said yes to getting a dog, I felt like I was relatively prepared.  Personally, I had had several conversations about the responsibilities that go along with having a pet.  I had made sure there was room in my budget for the extra expenses such as food, vet bills, and the like.

I had researched the best products for dogs, talked to friends about their dogs, and decided on a training class that my boys and I could take our new four-legged member of the family to.  Then we got her, and I realized I was not really prepared at all.

Our sweet Misty Girl does not always make it outside to go to the bathroom. I knew that was going to be the case, but she did well the first few days. So, I got my hopes up!), she will not come down the stairs by herself, but oh how she loves going up them, and my house just didn’t smell as fresh as before, and my floors were in need of constant cleaning.

She does like to play with the boys, comes running to the door to greet me,  gives puppy hugs and kisses and overall is a sweet, smart and well-behaved puppy who we are all in love.  So, here are a few pointers I have found when  House cleaning for Dogs owners.

House cleaning for Dog Owners

  • Baking soda is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your carpets smelling fresh.

    • Sprinkle a small amount on the carpet and let it sit for a few hours and then simply vacuum it up.
  • Freshen up the house with baking soda is to make your air freshener.

    • Combine 1/4 cup baking soda with water in a spray bottle and shake well.  (You can add vanilla extract, cinnamon or essential oils as well)  The baking soda absorbs the pet (or other unpleasant) odor.  Vinegar sprayed in the air also takes away dog smells.
  • Place a fabric softener sheet next to your pet’s favorite spots.
    • We decided not to let Misty up on furniture. However, she already found her favorite spots to lay around the house. One of her spots is right next to the couch.  I placed a fabric softener sheet under the cushion next to where she lays to also fight against the doggie odor.  She also has a blanket that she lays on which I make sure to wash weekly.
  • Put  mats both inside and outside the door to cut down the dirt from even entering the house
    • There is a lot more in and out of the house now, so we have made a habit for her (HA! really it is a habit for the humans of the house!) to wipe her paws at the door. It is also recommended to put mats in the  inside and outside the door to cut down the dirt from even entering the house.
  • Clean up accidents immediately, so your dog does not think that that spot is her/his toilet.
    • Don’t use cleaners with ammonia as they smell like urine to dogs.  A homemade cleaner you can use for pet accidents is fairly simple to make. It consists of mixing 1 quart of hot water, one teaspoon of dish soap and one teaspoon white vinegar.  Blot the area with towels, wet with the homemade cleaner and let it sit for 15 minutes before you blot again.
  • Always keep a mat under their food bowl to help with easy cleanup and to keep most of the food/water debris off of your floor.
  • Vacuum fairly often.
    • I have increased my vacuuming since Misty joined our household to every two days.  It is not a deep cleaning type of vacuuming but does cut down on fur. Which is not too big of a problem yet, but know as she grows, so will the hair issue.

Keeping a house clean when you have pets is not necessarily harder. Furthermore, not impossible but, it does require different routines.  A little training for your dog and yourself (and kids!) will help ensure you succeed at maintaining a clean house.