Over 40 million homes count pets among their occupants, which means there are many people cleaning up after their animals. Pet accidents, vomit, and everyday occurrences like hairballs and shed fur make things challenging for pet owners. If you can relate to this, follow these tips when cleaning your home and things will be much simpler and more harmonious.
Potty training is one of the best things pet owners can do to make their lives easier. It should take place within the first 90 days and if successful, should prevent indoor accidents. If small pets must be left alone for long periods, a potty training pad is recommended. If an accident does occur on a floor or carpet, it should be immediately cleaned up using the proper cleaning solution. Carpet cleaning is most effective when an enzyme cleaner is used.
Dogs and cats tend to shed, keeping their owners busy with sweeping and vacuuming. Hard floors should be swept or vacuumed daily and mopped as needed. Vacuuming frequency depends on number of pets. The recommendation is once per week for each large pet or human. Therefore, carpets in a three-person, one-dog household should be vacuumed every other day. A deep carpet cleaning should be performed when carpets appear dingy or vacuuming does not remove debris.
Some pets, especially cats, find a piece of furniture and call it home. To avoid having to vacuum this item every day, place a towel or blanket over it. This protects the upholstery and keeps the pet cozy. Remove this covering weekly, wash it, and replace it. If pets sleep on the bed at night, keep the bedroom door closed during the day or put a cover over the bedding and wash it weekly.
Use pet-friendly cleaning products when dusting, wiping, and mopping surfaces. Otherwise, pets may lick or breathe the substance and become ill. If you must use cleaning products that contain bleach, prevent pets from accessing the area during cleaning and wipe the surfaces with water after applying the bleach cleaner.
Keep an old towel or rag by the door pets use for outside access. Wipe paws before permitting the animal to reenter the home. During winter, wipe paws with water to remove salt from them. Purchase a low-profile mat for both inside and outside this door. When pets walk over it, loose dirt will be removed from their paws and deposited on the mat.
Courtesy of our friends at: BusyBee Cleaning Service