Keeping your home clean when you have pets can seem like a dark art that only a few master, but that’s far from the truth! However, years of pet ownership have taught us this: keeping pet dirt at bay is as much about knowing these hacks as it is about keeping up with them.
The war against pet hair
Pet hair settles everywhere: on carpets, sofas, curtains, even your face. So, to prevent your home from becoming a giant hairball, you’ll need to vacuum at least once a week (sorry, no easy shortcut there!). However, you can make the job more bearable with the help of a bagless, high-suction vacuum (multiple nozzles and brushes are a plus). A pair of latex gloves or a dry sponge will also work miracles on clothes and upholstery: rub them over surfaces to trap hair and rinse it off under running water.
Groom your pet regularly
Brushing your pet helps reduce the amount of pet fur and dirt lying around your house. And keeping a water spray and a hand towel near your front and garden doors will ensure you can clean up muddy paws and drool before they get smeared on your floor.
For pups that spend a lot of time outdoors, we recommend giving them a wash with dog shampoo from time to time to help prevent dust, dirt and smells from getting into your upholstery. Cats are usually very good at keeping themselves clean, but if a bath is necessary, make sure to use a suitable cat shampoo.
Freshen up your home
Other ways to avoid lingering smells in your home include airing your house for at least ten minutes and disposing of dirty litter clumps as soon as possible every day. To disinfect surfaces and clean up any mess, use Simple Solution Stain & Odour Remover – many a soiled carpet has been revived by this great product.
Keep your pet’s things neat
The number of pet toys left behind by our furry companions can easily get out of control, so having a box or cupboard to store these away can really help make your house look tidier. We like to leave a couple of toys out for our pets to play with every day, rotating frequently and as per their own requests!
Whether you live with a tiny kitten or a huge mastiff, you’ll know most pets make a mess when they eat. To keep their dining area clean, we find placemats do a great job at minimising the mess. They stop food and water bowls from moving too much, absorbing spills and stopping loose kibble from travelling too far.
A comfortable (but practical) bed
Dogs and cats spend many hours sleeping, so a good, comfortable bed is essential. But with beds collecting dust and germs, it’s so important to choose one that is easy to clean. If you’re looking for a stylish bed that you can easily pop in the wash, this Danish Design quilted mattress is reasonably priced. Their Woodland Stag slumber bed, though more expensive, is also a good choice: it’s warm, has a removable mattress and the whole bed is machine-washable.
One more tip: you can lay a fleece blanket on your pet’s favourite nap spots to diminish the amount of hair sticking to them. Besides, pets just love lying on them; and again: easy to wash!
This is one of those moments when we realise that it’s our pets that own us and not the other way around. But for all the vacuuming, laundering and cleaning, they bring immense joy to our lives. And we couldn’t live without them.
