When it comes to tips for keeping a house clean with pets, you'll be relieved to learn that regardless of how much time you have on your hands, there are lots of simple things you can do to keep your home looking its best.
Having a pet can be such a rewarding experience. Not only do they infuse your life with joy, but they're also wonderful at providing unconditional love and companionship. Yes, there are certainly plenty of reasons to adopt a dog or cat but there are definitely some drawbacks, too.
There are lots of ways having a pet changes your life and perhaps the biggest negative is the mess they create – from muddy paw prints all over your cream carpets to piles of fur down the side of your couch, there's always plenty of cleaning up to be done when you have fur friend's in the family.
The good news is, having pets and a clean house at the same time needn't be impossible. Here's how to do it...
keeping a house clean with pets
1. Groom your pets
When it comes to keeping your house clean, regularly grooming your pets is a must. Investing in one of the best dog brushes or cat brushes and using it on your canine or kitty companion daily can help cut down on the amount of loose fur that ends up all over your floors. Plus, regular grooming sessions are also a great way to bond with your pet!
2. Vacuum regularly
While it's probably not your favorite job, vacuuming every other day when you have pets in the house can go a long way in keeping your carpets, floors and upholstery clean.
High traffic areas and soft furnishings are places where fur tends to gather quickly, so giving extra attention to this areas will help enormously when it comes to keeping pet hair to a minimum. To make your job as easy as possible, consider investing in one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.
3. Invest in a good pet bed
Washable dog beds and cat beds are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your home as clean as possible.
Your pets bed can accumulate all sorts of dirt, fur and bacteria, so washing their bed regularly can help keep it clean and hygienic. You'll also find that regular washing kills odors, which is great for ensuring your home stays smelling fresh.
4. Wash their toys and bedding frequently
Just like their beds, our pets toys and bedding are also prime breeding grounds for germs, which can quickly spread around your home and potentially lead to illness and poor health.
These items can get dirty quickly, so investing in washable toys (or ones that can be wiped down easily) can remove any harmful bacteria. When it comes to your pet's bedding, washing this regularly is important, too – however, cats in particular like to be able to detect their scent on their favorite items, so it's always best to wash bedding one at a time to ensure they always have a blanket with their scent on it.
5. Keep pets off your furniture
We know, there's nothing better than having your dog or cat curled up next to you on the couch. Sadly, a lot of furniture does a great job of acting as a trap for pet hair, which means you can quickly end up with a lot of fur down the sides of your couch and all over the cushions.
For that reason, it's worth restricting your pet's access to your furniture to help keep your home clean. If you can't bear to do that, check out our guide to how to get dog hair off your couch – it works equally well for cat fur, too!
6. Don't let them share your bed
It can make you feel so safe and secure, but there are lots of reasons why you shouldn't sleep with your dog or cat. Firstly, there's the risk of parasites. Thankfully, this shouldn't be a problem if you're vigilant about keeping on top of your pet's flea prevention treatment – but if you're prone to forgetting from time to time, your fur friend could easily bring fleas into your bed.
Aside from fleas, our pets also collect all sorts of germs and dirt in their paws and fur, which can end up finding its way onto your sheets. Making your bed a no-go zone can help to keep your bed clean and ensure you stay healthy.
7. Wipe their paws after they've been outside
There's nothing worse than finding muddy paw prints all over your sparkling hardwood floors, white tiles or heaven forbid – cream carpets!
To maintain a clean house with pets, always wipe your fur friend's paws before they come back inside. This will help prevent them from tracking dirt, debris, leaves, and other grime through your house and will minimize the need for frequent cleaning.
8. Upgrade your upholstery
If curling up on your couch with your pet is really important to you, then it's time to upgrade your upholstery. The wrong material acts as a magnet, attracting pet hair and helping it stick in exactly the places you don't want to.
The right material, however, repels pet hair so you can easily brush it off and vacuum it up. Leather or another tightly woven upholstery will make your life a whole lot easier.
9. React quickly to accidents
Whether you're in the middle of potty training a puppy, litter training a kitten, or you have a senior dog who can't always make it through the night without the toilet, life with a pet involves accidents from time to time.
When your fur friend does their business in the house, be sure to react quickly and use an enzyme-based cleaner to get rid of the smell.
10. Use an air purifier
Struggling to keep the air clean and fresh in your home? Investing in an air purifier could be a great way to go. Air purifiers with HEPA filters don't just get rid of all those stinky odors, they also remove any allergens or dander from the air which can help to create a much healthier living environment.
An added bonus of an air purifier is that because it's removing dirt from the air, you'll find that it's not settling on the surfaces in your home as much, which means less frequent cleaning.
11. Decorate with dark colors
There are certain areas of a home that have a tendency to accumulate grime where pets are concerned – lower cabinets and walls are particular magnets for dirt, hair and smudges as these are the places cats and dogs tend to rub up against. The solution? Using dark colors when you decorate.
Painting kitchen cabinets a dark green or blue can work wonders for making marks a lot harder to spot. You'll still need to clean, of course, but no where near as frequently as if you have white or cream-colored cabinets and walls.
12. Replace curtains with blinds
There's no denying it – curtains can add a real warmth and coziness to a room, particularly in the winter. Unfortunately, they're also often the target of mischievous pets! Dogs will often wind their way in and out of curtains, leaving a trail of grime behind them and don't even get us started on how much cats like clawing their way to the top.
Both of these activities can quickly lead your curtains to become dirty and discoloured, not to mention covered in pet hair. Blinds aren't as attractive to our fur friends, they won't harbor bad odors and they don't fade over time, so they can be a really attractive alternative to curtains if you have pets in your home.
13. Create off-limits areas for your pets
Making certain areas of your home pet-free zones can be really helpful as it confines the mess to certain areas and lets you know which parts of the house to focus your cleaning efforts on.
The easiest way to do this is by using a baby gate – simply attach this to the stairs or door of a room and it prevents your pet from having access to that particular area.
14. Air out your home regularly
Airing your home out regularly is a must when you have pets in the family – after all, there's nothing like the smell of wet dog or a cat's dirty litter box to ruin a good social gathering. During the summer months, airing out your home is much easier, so you may decide to leave your windows open whenever you're home.
During the colder months, it's not quite so pleasant, so we recommend airing your home out in short 10 minute bursts to keep as much of the warm air in as possible.
15. Invest in throws and rugs
Not only can washable throws and rugs breathe new life into a room, but they can also stop your pet's fur from gathering in your upholstery and prevent muddy paw marks on your floors or tiles.
Place rugs at entry points to your home and on hardwood floors in your living room to offer your pet a cozy alternative to the furniture. If you'd like them to be able to join you on the couch or your bed, throws can help trap any pet hair.
16. Use a placemat under food bowls
Even if you've invested in the best cat food bowl or dog bowl that money can buy, chances are you still find your pet's kibble on the floor from time to time. Food stations are high traffic areas with lots of munching and slurping going on – and this isn't always done in a tidy fashion!
To help make cleaning up easier, consider popping a wipeable placemat under your pet's bowls, this will ensure tidying up their food station a piece of cake.
17. Bathe your dog often
While you want to avoid using dog shampoo too often as this can strip your dog's coat of the natural oils needed to keep it looking healthy, a quick bath with plain water will help remove any mud and dirt from your pup's coat.
And you don't need us to tell you that dirt removed through a bath is dirt you're not going to have to clean up later around your house.
18. Clean out your cat's litter box each day
Unless you have an automatic cat litter box to do the job for you, chances are you're the one scooping and disposing of your cat's poop. Even with a really good litter, the smell of your cat's poop can quickly infiltrate a room and leave people running for cover.
Scooping out their litter box every day and adding in some fresh litter will do a good job of keeping odors at bay.
19. Have the right cleaning supplies on hand
When it comes to keeping your house clean when you have dogs and cats around, one of the best weapons at your disposal is a cupboard stocked with effective and pet-safe cleaning products.
Things like baking soda, vinegar, organic detergents and enzyme-based cleaners will all do a really good job of tackling a range of different messes, from toileting accidents to dirt and grime.
20. Always have a lint roller on standby
Believe it or not, lint rollers aren't just for clothing. They're also super effective at removing pet hair from your upholstery, curtains, kitchen table and even your car. Roll them over any surface and you'll be amazed at how much fur and dirt these little beauties are able to get rid of.
Edited by Georgia Guerin.
