There’s no denying that our pets are special family members, and it’s only logical that you would keep them close. It’s our designated duty to love, feed, pet, and play with them, and basically treat them as equals. However, that also includes cleaning after them and doing other smelly and nasty things. Even though living indoors with your pet can be a fun and dazzling adventure, it also has its fair share of problems. Pets can’t really look after themself as humans, and unless we do their part of cleaning, allergies, bacteria, parasites, and other illnesses can arise. Hence, the key is regular maintenance, both of your pet and your house. Here are some rather nifty tips on how to keep your house spotless when you are living with an indoor pet.
Groom them regularly
The nastiest thing might be the animal hair. It can be found anywhere, on the floor where your baby crawls, on the sofa where you greet your friends, or even stuck on your slippers. You won’t ingest animal hair or other debris and dirt that animals take in from the outside, but you will surely make your life easier, and keep the house cleaner. Brush the pets once a week, wash the paws when entering the house, and every two weeks do thorough grooming. This includes using a special pet shampoo and a bath. To prevent shedding, have your pet trimmed or groomed by a professional. Make sure you wash your pet according to its breed and preference as not all pets require a frequent wash.
Get rid of the “nasty” stuff
If you don’t have time to take your dog for a walk, they will surely do the “job” inside. Cats are the easiest to teach how to use the litter box, but it can be rather difficult for other animals to learn the house rule of not pooping inside. Always clean the litter box and other defecated areas in the house, make sure you disinfect everything around in detail to avoid getting salmonella or some other disease. It would be advisable to wear gloves whenever you are cleaning those areas, and it’s of utmost importance to wash your hands afterward. It would be practical to get a quality hand dryer that would thoroughly dry your hands and avoid spreading bacteria. If you leave your hands wet and continue touching your pet’s food bowls, toys, or the litter bag with droplets, you risk getting some microscopic parasite, or where, get infected with some tedious bacteria.
Vacuum on a daily basis
Before you start the vacuum cleaner, make sure you brush your pet’s fur or hair. This will prevent them from shedding so much, and then bringing in the machine. One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your house clean is to use a vacuum cleaner, often. A strong and professional vacuum cleaner can adequately pick up your pet’s hair as well as any other debris, dirt, and pet leftovers. The key is to get a vacuum cleaner that has a powerful suction that won’t cause excess hair to clog that easily. Plus, ensure that the vacuum cleaner can reach all hard-to-reach spaces and, if necessary, change the vacuum tools for use on curtains, upholstery, and other delicate surfaces. Pets may not prefer this machine, but vacuuming every day will stop the spread of many diseases caused by pet hair, plus your home will look fresh and neat at all times.
Ditch the rugs
You will never be able to utterly clean indoor rugs if you have a frisky little pet. Both dogs and cats like to swirl in warm places or play with eye-catching objects, so you will always have the floors busy. Avoid having wall-to-wall carpets, if you really desire to have lush rugs, opt for a soft coffee table or sofa underfoot. When you place a rug under the sofa, dining room table, or just under the bed, you somehow force your pet not to sit or lay there and save you the burden of having irreversible urine strains. Carpet-free house is the safest and cleanest option for a pet. You can go for a laminate floor or tiles. In the end, you can give a shabby old rug to your pet and let it use as a nice and cozy bed.
Choose the appropriate air freshening and cleaning products
When you need to clean after your pet, it’s not only vital to look after your health but also your pet’s. Don’t use harsh and hazardous cleaning chemicals, amongst all, avoid strong, smelly, caustic products like bleach. Pets tend to swallow things or munch on something, so if you have just disinfected their favorite toy with a strong product, the pet might get diarrhea. Fortunately, there are a few solutions. Firstly, you can make your cleaning product which is a more economical and environmentally friendly option. Secondly, you can get all-natural green cleaning products. This is highly paramount for air freshening products. Aromatherapy diffusers and essential oil candles will instantaneously freshen up your home but bear in mind that some pets won’t prefer it. Cats may want to play with candles, whereas birds have a sensitive smell.
Disinfect your pets’ things
Merely cleaning after your pet may not be enough, very often to upscale the cleanliness of your home you need to upscale the cleaning routine a bit more. Your home will always look fresh and maintained if you keep the good hygiene of your pets’ things. Just as you wash your plates after dinner, make it customary to immediately wash your dog’s or cat’s food and water bowl. If you have a hamster or a bird, it’s vital not only to clean the cages from the feces but to disinfect the toys, spinners, and other amenities. Don’t forget about cleaning the collars, bandanas, sleeping beds, and other items your pet regularly uses. Sometimes it’s not only enough to wipe a drooled-up toy, but you may need to disinfect thoroughly, especially if you have small children.
Stock up with wet wipes
If you are in a rush or when you don’t have enough time to vacuum, you can wipe everything nicely with simple baby wet wipes. Believe it not, but hair and fur easily come from furniture, plus if your pet makes some spills or drools extensively, you can quickly wipe out those things and later clean and disinfect them. Wet wipes also come in hand if you want to gently clean your dog’s paws upon returning inside after spending a day out in puddles.
All in all, you can keep your house meticulously clean even if you have a pet or two. It takes careful organization, and organic cleaning products to have a spotless home.
