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by guest writer Brandon
Brandon loves all animals–whether they’re four-legged, two-legged, furry, or feathered. He enjoys writing about pet care and sharing the knowledge he’s gained as a vet tech.
As much as you love your dog, you may not love the mess that comes with him. Dogs have a tendency to drag in dirt, dust and grime with their little puppy paws. Not to mention, the hair and dander they naturally shed. But just because dogs are a bit messy doesn’t mean you should forsake Fido forever. You can keep a pristine home and enjoy the love of man’s best friend with these helpful tools and cleaning tips.
Suck it Up
First and foremost, you need a good vacuum cleaner to remove hair and fur from every part of the home. We recommend investing in a robot vacuumthat cleans your floors on a daily fixed schedule. When your floors are swept every day, fur and dander doesn’t get the chance to ball up and turn into gross dog hair tumbleweeds that accumulate on your baseboards. You’re home stays company ready, and you can stash your upright vacuum, broom and mop for those occasions when you deep clean.
Dog owners should also consider investing in a powerful vacuum that removes hair from furniture and other non-floor surfaces. When looking for a vac that removes pet hair, purchase a model with a HEPA filter like the Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly 31150. Only a HEPA filter can remove microscopic allergens for a cleaner and healthier home.
An Ounce of Prevention
Does it seem like there is dog hair everywhere no matter how diligent your housekeeping? There’s a good chance you’re cleaning the wrong thing. If your dog isn’t groomed regularly, they are more likely to shed excessively all over your floors, furniture and clothes. Dogs should be brushed one to two times a week, depending on their hair and size. Get a brush that is right for your dog’s coat length and size and commit to sitting down together on a regular basis to remove fur and dead skin cells.
Most groomersalso say dogs should be bathed “as needed,” given that some dogs are more active and have different coats. While grooming your dog yourself is a great bonding experience, professional groomers are trained to cut dogs’ hair, reduce shedding and complete those nasty elements of groomingyou may not want to do. We recommend switching it up– feel free to give your dog a bath every once and a while and brush him regularly, but also make appointments with a groomer at least seasonally to make sure your dog’s is happy and healthy.
Remove Odors Easily
No matter how clean you keep your pup, every time you let him outside he is going to drag back in with him dirt, grime and bacteria on his paws. Over time, the buildup of these things can leave a funky odorin your carpets and even on hard surface floors. Instead of masking these odors with perfumed air fresheners, tackle the smell at its source. Sprinkle baking sodaover carpets to eliminate odors. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour as it cleans and deodorizes before vacuuming up the excess. Try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils for an even nicer scent.
To clean and disinfect hard surface floors, use a simple vinegar solutioncomposed of one cup white vinegar into a bucket of water. Mop the floors with this simple solution to kill bacteria and minimize odors embedded deep down in the floors. You can also sprinkle baking soda on hard floors and let it sit for a couple hours before mopping with vinegar solution for even more powerful odor removal.
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There’s a reason why dogs are so cute — they have to use their good looks as leverage so you don’t kick them out for dragging dirt inside, shedding all over furniture, and making your floors smell. Thankfully, your dog’s mess doesn’t have to stick around. With the right tools and tricks, you can keep your home so clean people won’t even know you have a dog.
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