Dog Dilemmas: How Dog Lovers Can Keep Their Homes Clean
Guest Blog Written By: dogzasters.com
According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans own 90 million dogs. If you are like most pet owners, you love your furry friend, but he’s just that – furry. And that means your floors, couches, pillows, and carpeting are often covered with dog hair. Add in mud, dirt, and everything else he tracks in, and your best friend can often leave your house a total mess. But dog lovers don’t have to resign themselves to a dirty home. With these tips, you can love your pet and keep your house clean, too.
Brush and bathe your dog often
If your dog sheds a lot, one key to keeping all that dog hair off your furniture is to brush him daily and bathe him every week or two. After you give your dog a bath, blow dry his hair with a pet dryer to help remove excess hair. Additionally, you can keep your dog’s coat healthy, and thus reduce the rate of shedding, by feeding him nutrient-rich, quality dog food. Also, talk to your vet to see if there are supplements that your dog can take to reduce shedding.
Invest in a robot vacuum
Dogs love to roll around indoors and out, so every day a mixture of hair, dirt, leaves, and other debris probably ends up on your floors. Investing in a robot vacuum (available on Amazon for under $160) and programming it to work on a set schedule can keep much of the mess off your floors between regular vacuum sessions. Also, consider switching out your carpeting to tile or vinyl flooring, which will make it easier to clean up dog hair, as well as wipe up dog saliva and other pet messes.
Deal with dander
Petfinder reports that 15 percent of people are allergic to dogs or cats, but many of those people live with animals anyway. If someone in your household is allergic or bothered by pet dander, you can do things to mitigate the issue. First of all, keep pets out of that person’s bedroom at all times. Secondly, vacuum your house and brush your pets often. And finally, get an air purifier with a True HEPA filter. These types of filters are certified to remove 99.97 percent of allergens, such as pet dander. By running the purifier day and night, you can keep as much irritating dander out of the air as possible.
Add more mats
Though you probably can’t teach your pet to wipe his paws off before coming in the house, you can reduce the amount of mud and dirt he tracks into your home. In addition to a mat outside your door, add a large absorbent mat right inside your door as well. Pick a mat that effectively removes moisture, dirt, and other debris from your dog’s paws, but dries quickly and can be cleaned easily.
Get a little help
If you want to really keep your home clean and free of pet hair, dander, and other messes, consider hiring a professional cleaning service to come in once or twice a month. They can get your home hair-free and clean your bathrooms and kitchen, too. Shop around to find a cleaning service with great reviews and affordable rates. The average cost of hiring a maid service to clean the interior of your home in Loxahatchee is $134.
Yes, you’ll love your dog even if he tracks dirt and leaves hair all over your house, but you might love him even more if he doesn’t. Though you’ll never keep your home picture perfect with a dog in the house, try these helpful tips to reduce your dog’s mess and keep your home as clean as possible.
Photo via Pixabay