Editor’s Note: This is a guest post, contributed by Danial Zaman on behalf of FeedFond.com.
No matter how much we love our pets, handling their mess can be quite overwhelming while renting an apartment. They might be cute, true, but they bring in lots of hairs, stains, spills, drools, muddy feet, etc in the house.
Here are a few essential pet cleaning hacks that will keep you from going crazy. It will also control the mess easily and keep your home clean and smell fresh.
Easy Hair Removal
When it comes to hair removal, Lint Rollers can solve most of your problems. It can easily pick up hairs from any surface including carpets, clothing, and furniture.
Alternatively, you can always use rubber gloves, duct tapes or dryer sheets to pick up pet hairs.
Investing in a good vacuum is also a good idea as in addition to stray hairs, it will also pick up lose allergens, dander, and dirt. When vacuuming, use a window squeegee to loosen any fur that’s stuck in the carpet.
It’s unwise to use a vacuum on hardwood or tiled floors and risk scratching. A rubber broom or a microfiber mop can do the job just as good.
Easy Odor Removal
Pets come with their own individual odors. When washing bed covers or clothes that have pet odors, add a cup of baking soda to the load. Washing on a hot cycle will also kill any bacteria or allergen that might be hiding.
You can also get rid of urine smells with baking soda. Sometimes our pets do have accidents which stink up the room. Sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit for a while. Vacuum the excess soda particles so that the area doesn’t become toxic for your pet.
Dog collars can also start smelling funky very quickly. Cleaning it with hot water and dog shampoo will get rid of the smell easily.
Despite all the cleaning and baking soda, sometimes pet smells do linger in the room. So, it’s always a good idea to use products like diffusers, linen spray, scented candles or plug-in air fresheners to deodorize your room.
You can also use plants like Lavenders, Cape Marigolds, Brazilian Orchids, Bamboo Palms and Duffie Ferns to filter room air. These plants are easy to maintain and have an odor-counteracting effect.
Easy Stain/Scratch Removal
Owning a pet means they will stain your house. While training your pet will decrease the number of accidents in the house, won’t go away completely.
Baking soda is not only great at masking odor, it’s also really effective in getting rid of stains. Using of half a bottle of white vinegar, water, and baking soda mix, you can create your own stain and odor remover.
First, soak or clean up the vomit, then apply the spray solution, and after a while vacuum.
If you have a pet that has a scratching habit, simply but a scratching post to quench their scratching needs. To keep them from scratching doors, use a plastic sheet or Plexiglass and adhesive to make a door shield.
Using a stain and varnish, you can cover up any claw marks and scratches. Gel stains work best as it can match any existing finish.
If nothing works, you can use citrus sprays to keep them away from precious furniture.
Other Easy Cleaning Hacks
Well, those were the top three problems that most pet owners get overwhelmed with. However, there are countless more hacks that will make life with your pet a lot easier.
Here are a few.
Pet Toy Cleaning
Plastic or rubber toys can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. It’s easy and keeps the toys in good condition and not to mention germ-free.
Fabric or soft toys can be thrown into the washing machine. Put them in a small garment bag or pillowcase and add a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of vinegar. This will get rid of the stains and odor. Squeeze water from any squeaky toys so that they can keep squeaking.
Keep Their Eating area Clean
Keeping your pet’s belongings clean is as important as it is to feed them proper food. You can easily make a clean area for them to eat by placing a plastic mat under their food and water bowl. Besides giving your pet a proper germ-free eating area, the plastic mat is easy to clean and store.
Clean Their Muddy Paws
There is a chance that your pet will come home with his paws all dirty and muddy. Place a shallow bowl of water and dry towels outside your door. Before letting your dog inside, dip their paws in the bowl and clean them with the towel.
Discourage them from digging
Pets, especially dogs like to dig. To discourage digging your favorite garden you can leave some orange peels around the soil. Dogs really don’t like the smell of citrus. You can use this method to keep them away from certain areas too!
Get them a Bandanna
A bandanna, besides making your pet cool, serves another purpose. For pets who drool, dribble, eat sloppily and roll around – the bandanna will save their coat from getting dirty. When it’s time for a wash, just simply throw it in the washing machine with the rest of the load.
Well, I hope these tips will make your life with your pet much easier. Although they make out life a little messy, we love them all the same. Owning a pet is not easy and comes with a lot of responsibility. Do their loyalty and love a justice by taking care of them properly.