As a mom to a fur baby, I know how difficult it can be to keep a house clean with pets. It seems that my dog is constantly shedding and having fur all over your clothes can be embarrassing!
I used to dread when people would come over to my house and sit on my couch because it would be covered in pet hair. I finally discovered some hacks that every dog owner should know when it comes to keeping a clean house when you have a furry pet.
Let’s be honest, we are not getting rid of our pets, no matter how much fur we have to clean up, but it is nice not to have to spend all day long cleaning and still getting to be proud of your home.
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Keep Floors Clean of Dog Hair
So, what is the first thing you should focus on when trying to keep a house clean with pets? Let’s start with getting rid of the constant dog hair that is all over the floors.
I have both carpet and hardwood flooring in my home so I like to keep a few things on hand that really help me cut down on my cleaning time but still get the job done.
Swiffer Sweeper: For my kitchen and bathroom floors, I like to use a Swiffer Sweeper to quickly pick up pet hair, especially in the corners or under the kitchen table. It only takes me a few seconds to run it over the floor before company arrives or before I need to do any mopping.
Shark Ion Robot Vaccum: I am a huge fan of the robot vacuums that are available now. They are a total time saver and can easily help keep floors clean of dog hair.
Shark was kind enough to send me one of their new models for me to try out in my home. I run my Shark Ion Robot Vacuum every single day to keep the pet hair at a minimum.
I just hit the clean button before I leave to drop my daughter off at school every morning and all of the pet hair is picked up by the time I return. I love that it keeps every single room in my house pet hair free! It really doesn’t get any easier.
Squeegee: I think every pet owner should have a squeegee in their home. It makes picking up pet hair so much easier.
If you have a vacuum that may leave some pet hair behind, take a squeegee and rub it along the carpet fibers to pick up any extra pet hair that may be deep down in the carpet.
You can also dampen the squeegee to remove any pet hair that may be on your fabric couch or chairs.
Keep your House from Smelling Like Dog
It seems like it is a constant battle to keep your house from smelling like dog. I know that it is for me. My little fur ball loves to rub all over the carpet and the blankets. Not to mention that marking his territory is a favorite past time of his!
It can really do a number on my carpet and my nerves…..he better be glad he is so cute!
Miracle Carpet Cleaner: I discovered a miracle carpet cleaner that I use for spot cleaning and for running in my carpet cleaning machine. I make it with only 4 ingredients and it does a wonderful job at getting out the urine smell and cleaning up stains.
Invest in a Pet Carpet Cleaner: If you have carpet in your home, I highly suggest investing in a carpet cleaner designed specifically with pets in mind to keep your house from smelling like dog.
I use my carpet cleaner at least once a month to do an overall cleaning of my carpets. This really does help keep the smell to a minimum. It’s a lot cheaper to buy your own then it is to rent when you have a pet.
Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda over your carpets once a week to help get rid of any lingering odors. I like to let mine sit overnight and then vacuum it up in the mornings.
Clean Linens Regularly: Like I said before, my dog loves getting into our blankets. Once a week I will wash the blankets on our couch, his dog bed, and the small rug he likes to lay on. I also like to us a Febreze spray to freshen up the curtains and throw pillows.
Keep a House Clean with Pets
Groom Regularly: One of the easiest ways to keep a house clean with pets is to make sure your dog is cleaned and groomed on the regular. I will be honest and say that I didn’t do this at the beginning, my dog is extremely scared of groomers so I had to learn how to groom him myself.
I bought a good set of dog clippers and I like to give him a bath and clip his hair once every two weeks.
He did not look great the first few times I groomed him, it takes practice but now that I have the hang of it, it is a lot cheaper to just groom him myself and it is a great bonding experience for the both of us.
Lint Roller: Dog hair doesn’t just stay on the floor, it gets everywhere! I like using a lint roller to easily clean lamp shades and fabric furniture in a hurry.
Baby Wipes: Baby wipes are great for cleaning baseboards! They quickly wipe up all of the dirt and hair without any need to scrub.
Choose the Right Furniture: If you are in the market for new furniture, go for a leather or microfiber couch and chairs instead of a fabric one.
Buying a leather couch was the best decision we made. They are so easy to wipe clean and you don’t have to worry about stains.
If you choose a microfiber piece, you can use this hack for the easiest way to clean microfiber furniture to keep it looking clean and new.
These are just a few of the ways I like to keep a house clean with pets. You can use these tips for cats or dogs but since I am a dog mama, I know that they are things every dog owner might want to start doing.
It is possible to have a clean and dog friendly home that everyone can enjoy and be proud of.
Ashley Moore says
I love the articles and helpful tips! My very loving, long haired cat hates to be brushed! But I keep trying. I’ve tried different kinds of brushes to no avail. I’ve talked softly, petted and even sung while brushing :). She will tolerate it for a few moments, then gets mad and swats at the brush or hisses at me! What am I doing wrong?
April Ingram says
Mine is the same way. I gave her a benadryl to sedate her and it was a no go. These are great tips
Summer says
I just want to say thank you for writing this article. Today of all days I needed it especially after spending hours cleaning just my living room and I’m still not done. lol. We have 3 furbabies that we rescued 1 dog 2 cats that I love and they are my babies since our 3 kids are off in college. my husband has been hurt for going on 4 months now and limited mobility I’m having to step majorly up and do everything and with work and dr visits and life in general with the furbabies hair and daily chores I’m pooped. I was at my wits end and reading this has just helped. we got a big new house and it killed my heart pet hair all over the floor now and like you said about guest having hair on them. I dont even want company and I love to entertain. but reading this I’m getting motivated knowing I’m not the only one. I’m taking these tips and going to the store.lol I would honestly love the irobot but right now with him being down for months I will still be sweeping away lol. Again thank you so much
hewella1 says
I’m so glad you found this article helpful! I hope your husband feels better soon!
Jamie says
Having a pet is like having a child…they make messes! We just got a doodle puppy, so there is a certain amount of potty cleanup. This post is really helpful, thanks for sharing.