10 Ways Pet Owners Can Keep Their Homes Clean

Did you know that owning a pet is good for your health? Numerous studies have found that pets can reduce anxiety and stress, improve cardiovascular health and even assist with early detection of serious illnesses like cancer. Essentially, we take care of our pets and in return, they take care of us.

But as great as dogs and other pets are for us humans, we know they can make the task of cleaning your home that little bit harder. To give you a helping hand, we've put together 10 tips to help pet owners keep their homes clean.

1. Vacuum regularly

The easiest and quickest way to clean your floors and get rid of pet hair is to vacuum regularly. If you have the time, we suggest doing it daily to avoid any sort of build up. You will need a vacuum with strong suction, a good filter and powerful brush action. It's important to make sure you clean the filter regularly as pet hair is notorious for clogging up vacuums. Not only does it make them work less effectively but it can also spread unpleasant smells around your home when you're vacuuming and no one wants that!

Vacuuming will get rid of any pet hair on the surface of your carpet but if it's stuck deeper in the fibres, you may need to try something a little different. It may sound a little strange but rubbing your carpet with rubber gloves, a balloon or flip flop soles should do the trick. It will create friction, loosen the pet hair and make it stick to the rubber object so it's no longer on your carpet.

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2. Buy a lint roller

Always finding pet hair on your cushions, clothes and throws? It's a small price to pay for all the joy our pets bring us but it's not necessarily something you have to put up with. The solution is simple - use a lint roller! They're super cheap to buy and one of the best tools for getting rid of pet hair quickly.

3. Make use of door mats

It's not just humans who should be wiping their feet before they enter your home, your pets should be too! Doormats are great for catching a lot of the dirt and debris picked up on pets' feet when they've been out in the garden. Just be sure to wash your doormats regularly to keep them clean and hygienic. Some pet owners also like to use outside door mats inside, as they're a little more robust and great for covering flooring areas where your pet likes to sit.

4. Groom your pet often

If your pet has particularly long hair, it's important to make sure they're groomed regularly. It'll not only make them feel good but help to keep your home looking clean and smelling fresh too. Regularly brushing (we suggest doing it outside) your pet's coat will also help to prevent excess shedding, so there'll be less hair to vacuum up!

Bathing your pet is one way to make sure they're not creating smelly odours in your home but it's important not to bath your pet too often, as it can actually strip their coats of important natural oils. Ask your vet how often you should be bathing your pet. You can always use pet wipes in between to freshen them up.

5. Don't forget to wash their bedding

Your pet's bedding needs to be washed as frequently as your own (if not more so) to keep unpleasant odours at bay. The same goes for any soft toys your cat or dog plays with. Toss them in the washing machine on a hot wash to get rid of nasty bacteria and anything else that could be lurking there.

If you're looking to buy a new dog bed for your pet, we recommend getting one that is water-resistant so you can give it a quick wipe down clean every day. It may not be quite as aesthetically pleasing as some of the more decadent dog bed designs on the market but it's sure to tick the boxes in terms of practicality.

6. Freshen your home

All pets have a smell, just like all humans have a smell. Most of us humans are just a little better at managing how we smell because we take daily showers! If you're worried your home smells of your pets, it may be worth investing in things to freshen the scent up a little. There are trillions of air fresheners and candles on the market, as well as pleasantly scented cleaning products (the sprays by Method spring to mind) but if you prefer something a little more natural, flowers and plants will do the trick! Opening your windows for 1o-or-so minutes a day and giving it a quick blast of fresh air can also work wonders.

If you have carpeted areas in your home, you may want to try freshening them with a little baking soda. It'll deodorise while helping to loosen any pet hairs stuck in the fibres. Simply shake it on and vacuum it up!

7. Expect accidents and clean them up ASAP

Even the most well-behaved, well-trained animals can have accidents from time-to-time so it's always a good idea to have some cleaning products in-stock ready for a quick clean up job. The quicker you react to accidents on your carpet or furniture, the less likely you are to have long-term stains and odours in your home. Scoop (if necessary) and then blot, blot and blot some more with a dry cloth. Cleaning products containing powerful enzymes are best for breaking down stains and odours quickly. This post contains some recommendations for dog urine cleaning products that you may want to try.

Alternatively, you may want to try shaving foam. We've scoured the internet for pet urine cleaning hacks and it has come up numerous times as a great alternative to cleaning products. Spray it on, let it sit for a minute and then wipe with a cloth soaked in warm water.

8. Line litter trays

If you own a cat that uses a litter tray, you'll know that they can smell pretty bad. One way to help reduce the smell is to sprinkle a layer of baking soda under the litter granules. It'll deodorise the tray in between litter changes and keep things fresh. We'd also suggest lining the litter tray with a plastic bag to make changing your cat's litter tray quicker and easier.

9. Stock up on cheap and practical throws

If you let your pets sit on your expensive furniture, you may want to consider picking up some cheap throws to cover them with. Your furniture may not look as stylish with them on but they'll protect it from wear and tear and help it last that little bit longer. Cotton throws are best as they're hardwearing and machine washable. If you've got guests coming over, simply whip the throws off and voila! Your furniture will look as good as new.

10. Wash your pets bowls daily

Did you know that your pet's bowls are probably one of the dirtiest things in your home? Yes, unfortunately pet bowls are a breeding ground for nasty bacteria that can easily be passed from animals to humans, so it's important that you wash them daily. Hot and soapy water will do the trick!

We'd also suggest putting some form of placemat under your pet's water and food bowl to help keep the area clean and tidy. Let's face it, some pets (especially dogs) can get pretty messy at meal times, so something with a wipe-clean surface will be ideal.

Cleaning is important for your pet's health too

A clean home is not only important for our health but our pets too. Dirty homes are more inviting for creatures like fleas and it's almost guaranteed that your pet will be their host of choice. Keeping things clean and using flea sprays for the home will greatly reduce chances of an infestation.

Always keep cleaning products stored safely away

Pets are a bit like children - they can be fairly inquisitive and not aware of how things like chemicals in cleaning products can harm them. For this reason, it's always important to keep any cleaning products you use out of their reach.

Domestic cleaning for homes with pets

Following our handy tips, a clean home and pets can coexist but what if you simply don't have time to carry out all that cleaning? Well, the good news is that NG1 City Cleaners can do it for you!

We offer regular domestic cleaning services so you can enjoy a spotless home, without having to lift a finger. Simply choose from our packages and let us know how often you'd like us to come over and clean. We're pretty flexible and can work out a custom schedule that meets your needs.

Our professional cleaners will arrive on time, equipped with all of the tools and cleaning products they'll need to carry out the job to the highest standards. We'll also give them a cleaning specification to ensure things are done exactly how you like them.

Professional carpet cleaning for pet stains

As well as regular domestic cleaning, we also offer carpet spot cleaning and carpet shampooing services, which may be useful if your pet has left your carpets looking a little worse for wear. Just let us know when making your booking and we'll include it in your quote as a one-off service.

Booking a regular domestic clean with NG1 City Cleaners

Booking your first regular domestic cleaning service with NG1 City Cleaners is easy. Simply head to our booking page and select your requirements. The entire process should only take a few seconds and you'll be sent over a no obligation quote to consider. When you get to the 'Do you need any extra work completing?' section, please make sure you specify if you have pets, so we know that your home will need a little extra work. The more specific you are about your requirements, the more accurate quote we can give you and the better job we can do! If you could also let us know if any of your furry friends will be home when we come to clean that would be great. We love animals at NG1 City Cleaners  but it's always a good to know if we're going to have company while we're cleaning for you.

If you're not so keen on the online booking form idea and would prefer to speak to someone friendly, you can give us a call on 0115 9484686. We can chat about your cleaning requirements (and your pets) and come up with a bespoke cleaning schedule that suits your budget and meet your needs.

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