Tips to Help Dog Owners Maintain a Clean Home

We all love our pups, regardless of the messes they make. This doesn’t mean, however, that you want to live with pet odors. When you leave the house for a while and come back? Yes, and this is the smell everyone else experiences when they come over too. Some dogs are heavy shedders, some have anxiety around house training, and with most dogs there are at least a million ways for one to unclean the house. 

Obviously, getting rid of the dog is not an option. So here are some tips to maintain a cleaner home despite your dirty dog, courtesy of The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team.

Getting Rid of Fur 

You can help your pet with shedding by regularly grooming them, and you can save on expensive grooming services by doing this job yourself and investing in a pair of grooming scissors. You should also brush your pup frequently. When it comes to household surfaces, you could buy a rubber-bristled broom designed to catch fur. You can also purchase a lightweight, simple-to-maneuver vacuum for quick cleanups.

Limit how much hair is noticeable in the home by knowing which fabrics are best. Natural fibers and things like velour, velvet, and loose knits are bound to trap dog hair. If possible, get a sofa that is leather or faux-leather so you can wipe it easily after an accident or mess. Likewise, trade carpet for tile or linoleum to make picking up fur a breeze. 

For deeper cleaning of all the crevices and surfaces in the home, it’s a good idea to wear gloves to protect from harsh cleaners and a mask to protect from dust and dander, as well as allergens and particulates. Giving your place a solid scrubbing is important for good health, but you don’t want to breathe in harsh fumes, and everything you’re stirring up, in the process. 

Avoiding Saliva

Dogs, no matter what, are liable to drool all over everything. Yes, some more than others, but removing dried saliva will be a challenge for us all. Hard surfaces, like walls, counters, and even ceilings, can be cleaned with a magic eraser or a mixture of vinegar and water. You may need to let the mix sit for a few minutes, but it should wipe off easily. For glossy surfaces, like your oven or sliding glass doors, use Windex or another window cleaner to scrub off any remaining crust. Fabrics can be trickier, of course, but not impossible. Spray the marks with alcohol or a fabric cleaner, let it soak in, and then use a brush to rub them out.

Removing Odors

There are certain smells associated with our canine friends, and they’re not always ones we want lingering in our houses. Yet, we don’t need to buy expensive perfumes, candles, or air sprays to make our properties smell nice again. Try to open your windows every few days for fresh air, and wash things that get extra love, like blankets, the dog bed, or whatever part of the sofa your pooch snuggles up on, to avoid odors developing. You may even want to steam clean a few times a month to have a fresh house to come home to at the end of each day. 

Saying Goodbye to Dander

 Dander can cloud the air of our homes, making asthma and allergies worse. Cleaning frequently, like we do to remove odors, fur, and saliva, will help to keep dander levels down, but there is more we can do. You can use an air purifier to remove anything left over and floating around, just be sure that it has a good quality filter to trap as many airborne particles as possible. Give your pup frequent baths to stop shedding skin, but don’t think you have to buy fancy dog shampoos to cultivate wellness. You can make your own using ingredients common around the home, which will ensure your dog’s coat and skin stay healthy.

Untrain Messy Behavior

Sometimes, our canine companions can unlearn their training and associate accidents inside the home with where they should relieve themselves. This can be because they’re rescues who experienced trauma, or it can be because they’re getting older.

If the pet struggles with anxiety, and that’s the root of the problem, decluttering can de-stress the atmosphere of the home, which is good for everyone and part of a healthy lifestyle. Crazy as it sounds, if you eat right and get enough sleep, you’ve helped create a comfortable space where it’s easier to relax.

You can also help keep your pet’s stress at a minimum – and yours, too – by landscaping your backyard specifically for a dog-friendly garden. This is a great way to add some beauty to your property while also giving you and your pet a pleasant leisure activity. If your yard isn’t quite garden-ready, don’t despair. Simply search for professional landscapers in your area. Just make sure you check reviews and request a quote beforehand.

All of this goes well with the philosophy of making your home as positive and unstressful a place as possible – for you and your dog, alike. After all, our dogs bring us so much joy, and we should return that feeling by grooming them regularly and giving them a nice place to live. After all, it benefits everyone when things are fresh and clean. Yet, we needn't break the bank with fancy cleaning products, but instead, know how to use what we have to our advantage.

The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team is one of top real estate teams in the Keller Williams Realty North Atlanta office. Call 678-665-2887. Image via Pinterest, article via Erin Reynolds with DIY Mama.