Pets give much more than they take, but still, while you might love your furry friend as if they were any other member of the family, that doesn’t mean that their presence in your life will be unequivocally positive.
They’ll chew the TV remote. They’ll make trips to the beach or park a nightmare on occasion. And yes, they’ll make keeping your home clean a little less effortless.
If you’ve got a dog in your life, then taking a few proactive steps can make a world of difference. In this post, we’ll run through a few handy tips that’ll ensure your pet has as minimal an impact on your home’s cleanliness as possible.
Add a Mat
Been on a walk around town? You’ll want to take your shoes off when you arrive back home. You’ll only bring in dirt and debris otherwise.
Of course, while you can take off your shoes, your dog can’t — they don’t have any! But their paws might be just as mucky as the bottom of your shoes. Adding a dog doormat to the entranceway of your home will ensure that any excess moisture and dirt are removed before they set foot in front of the house. These doormats tend to be highly affordable, too, making them a budget-friendly way to keep your house clean.
Clean Outside on Extra Dirty Days
A dog doormat should help get rid of the light dirt and moisture that your pet would otherwise track through the house. However, while they’re a worthy investment, they’re not miracle workers. If you’ve been on a rainy (or even muddy!) walk, then a doormat isn’t going to cut the mustard. You’ll need to give your dog a more thorough washdown before you can let them loose in the house.
You can make this job as straightforward as possible by setting up a cleaning station in your laundry room (or any easily accessible room that you don’t mind getting dirty). There, you can wash away any dirt and give them a thorough dry with a towel. You might still need to give them a proper wash later on to get them sparkling clean, but this approach will ensure they don’t get your house dirty in the meantime.
Make the Most of Dark Fabrics
OK, so this tip isn’t really a way to keep your home clean, but it is a way to help keep your home looking clean until you have the opportunity to get things in order. Light color fabrics will show virtually any marks, stains, or hairs that your dog leaves behind. Dark fabrics, on the other hand, will conceal those cleanliness crimes.
The only thing we’d add to this tip is to remember to wash your fabrics. It’s tempting to believe our own lies, and to think that just because we can’t see any dirt, then it’s not there — but remember, it is! It’s easy to keep your fabrics and linens at their best, even if you have a pet, when you clean them regularly. Leave things too long, and they’ll be so mucky that you’ll have no other option than to replace them.
Add Blankets to Your Pet’s Chill Areas
It’s much easier to clean one blanket than it is to clean all of your pillow covers and bedsheets. Adding a blanket to the areas in which your pet likes to relax is an effective cleaning hack. Instead of cleaning your covers, you’ll just need to pop the blanket in the wash. Simple!
Of course, this approach will only work if your pet actually uses the blankets! This might require a little bit of time and effort in the beginning, but it’ll be worth taking the time to train your pooch. It’ll save you a lot of extra work further down the line.
Easy-to-Clean Materials
Your dog’s toys, bedding, and blankets can have an indirect effect on your home’s cleanliness levels. An easy way to prevent the spread of odors and germs is to buy your dog items made from materials that can go in the washing machine. Cotton, microfiber fleece, nylon, and canvas can all be thrown in the washing machine without worrying that they’ll be destroyed. Leather, cheap toys, and sheepskin cannot. Keep in mind, however, that washing machines that clean your pet’s items will need to be cleaned themselves more frequently, so stock up on washing machine cleaner tablets. It’ll help ensure that your own clothes don’t become a target for any dog hairs and dirt that find their way into the machine.
Commit to Short, Daily Cleaning Sessions
As a dog owner, you’ll need to spend more time than most cleaning your home. It’s just the trade you make when you decide to bring a dog into your life! One way to clean more without it feeling like you’re cleaning more is to simply do a little bit of cleaning each day. Spending 15 minutes a day will help you to retain a firm grip on your home’s cleanliness levels.
And Consider a Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Your pet might hate that you get a robot vacuum cleaner — actually, forget that, they will hate it — but it can be worth its weight in gold. Nobody wants to spend half their lifetime pushing around a vacuum just because their home is filled with dog hair. A robot vacuum cleaner will ensure that technology can do the bulk of the heavy lifting while you’re at work.
Consider a No-Go Zone
Looking to minimize the amount of time you need to spend keeping your home clean? Then creating some no-go zones, which are essentially areas where your dog is not allowed to go, can help. No one likes the thought of putting such limits on their pet dog, especially when you consider your property to be their home, too, but it’s worth any guilty feelings you might have. Plus, it’s not as if they’ll be missing out on all that much — they probably didn’t want to go into your home office anyway!
