Home

Welcome guest blogger Brandon Butler. He’s is a dog lover and vet tech, who loves helping pet owners. You can find more of his wisdom on Fur and Feathers.

Dog Problems: Keeping Your House Clean on a Budget

For dog lovers, one of the best parts of the day can be the time they spend with their beloved canine companion. After all, a pet’s unconditional love and affection is calming. It can be tough to relax, however, when errant fur tumbleweeds, slimy slobber, and muddy paw prints surround you. If you don’t have the cash for a cleaning lady, what can you really do?

Don’t fret. Here are some ways you can maintain a cleaner, healthier home (and pet) without spending a fortune, so you can truly enjoy your time with your pet.

Control the Odor by Cleaning Often

The first thing you’ll need to control is the odor of your home. Many otherwise-spotless homes have a particular smell attached to them, thanks to their dog. There are several major causes of home odors; first, your dog may have gone to the bathroom indoors.

While prevention is the best way to keep the odors from spreading, if your dog has used the bathroom indoors, it may be in an unexpected or hidden place. Seek out the spot and immediately clean it with powerful cleaners so that the effects will not be long-lasting.

If you find that the odors still stick around, it may be time to do a thorough cleaning of your house. Focus on surfaces that may hold on to odors, like carpet and upholstery. Natural cleaning solutions, such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda, will rapidly remove odors and leave your house feeling fresh without running the risk of harming your dog with dangerous chemicals (plus, natural solutions are less expensive).

Follow the same set of principles if your dog drools a lot — if you notice drool, clean it up right away. You may want to consider putting a towel down on your dog’s favorite spot to make cleanup a breeze.

Thoroughly Clean to Improve Air Quality

You probably will still need to improve the quality of the air inside your house, though, by removing the dander already present. Use a good air filter to remove dander and other particles from the air, and light some natural candles to help improve the smell of your home.

Cleaning can also help solve this problem; use a bagged vacuum to make your cleaning even more effective. The bags help you trap the dirt and debris that vacuuming gathers and allow you to seamlessly transfer it to the trash can. Remember to always compare different models of vacuum cleaners to find one with the features you need that falls under your budget.

Improve Your Dog’s Health Through Regular Grooming

The final way you can keep your home clean is to keep your pet clean. The battle between pet parents and their pup’s hair is one of the most well-known. Regularly grooming with a brush designed for your dog’s particular coat will help to remove loose fur from their coat, preventing it from flying around the house, catching on the legs of chairs, and gathering in the corners.

There are also steps you can take between regular baths. Keep paw wipes by the door to prevent your pet from tracking in mud and other unsavory substances from outside, and use a spray-on deodorizer to combat your pet’s everyday smell. As an added bonus, these sprays are made with ingredients that naturally soothe your pup’s skin to prevent scratching, which just spreads more fur.

Keeping your home clean is just as important as keeping your dog happy. However, many of the best ways to maintain your home, such as regularly grooming your dog, are equally good for your dog’s health.

By keeping your house fresh and clean, you will be able to take full advantage of time with your beloved pup, and all the benefits that come with it.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com