Any dog owner can tell you how hard it can be to keep a clean house with a pup around. By sticking to a cleaning schedule, you can keep on top of all your cleaning tasks, maintaining that clean house feel. However, that is easier said than done! In this guide, we have 10 tips to help you make those cleaning tasks a little bit easier. From keeping your dog clean to developing a cleaning routine, we cover all the basics of keeping a clean house whilst dealing with a messy pooch!
How to keep a house clean with a shedding dog:
-
1. Keep Your Dog Clean
-
2. Regularly Clean Your Dog’s Things
-
3. Restrict Your Pup To Certain Areas
-
4. Make a Dog Cleaning Station
-
5. Only Use High-Quality Cleaning Tools
-
6. Use The Right Cleaning Products
-
7. Upgrade Your Furniture
-
8. Clean Accidents When They Happen
-
9. Air Your House Out
-
10. Develop a Cleaning Routine
-
Keep Your House and Pup Clean with Pawdaw
1. Keep Your Dog Clean
To maintain a clean house with dogs and prevent your house from becoming dirty from a messy pup, keep your dog as clean as possible. Muddy paws trailing around your home will only make things worse! If your pup is muddy from a walk, bathe them with dog-friendly shampoo as soon as possible to remove dirt and leave them smelling fresh.
Also, ensure you dry them off thoroughly so your house doesn’t smell like a wet dog! Use a dog towel or drying bag to ensure your dog is completely dry before letting them run free so the wet dog smell doesn’t linger around your home.
Brushing your pup often can also reduce the amount of dog hair around your home, especially if they are prone to shedding. By brushing your dog, you can catch their hair before they spread it around on your furniture, floors, and your clothes. This also leaves them with a shiny coat!
2. Regularly Clean Your Dog’s Things
A breeding ground for germs and bad odours is your dog's possessions. From dog toys to their dog bowls and beds, these are all items that need to be cleaned regularly. Quickly wash them with pet-safe cleaning products and let them dry out in the sun if possible to remove any bad odours.
Consider purchasing an easy, clean dog bed for an even quicker clean. Getting roped into buying a fluffy bed for your pup can be easy, but this also means it is harder to clean. If you want to make your job a little easier, find a water-resistant dog bed that is easy to wipe!
3. Restrict Your Pup To Certain Areas
You can half your number of cleaning tasks and maintain a clean house with dogs by restricting your pup to certain areas of your home. Using baby gates and dog pens can help you keep your dog in easy-to-clean areas and reduce the amount of mess they leave around the house. You could also opt for placing mats or towels under their dog bowls so you can easily pick up any mess they leave by putting the mat in the wash rather than having to clean the whole area.
4. Make a Dog Cleaning Station
Dogs can be dirty when they come back from a walk, so having a dedicated area to clean your messy pup will make all the difference to a clean house. Find a space to place a heavy-duty doormat, dog towels and dog-friendly wipes for a makeshift dog cleaning station. Having some water on hand is also great for cleaning those muddy paws! This will ensure your pup isn’t dragging mud around your home, making a clean space messy.
5. Only Use High-Quality Cleaning Tools
To reduce the number of times you have to vacuum over the same area, try and opt for a high-quality vacuum cleaner if you are able to. A vacuum cleaner that has the ability to pick up dog hairs and pull them out from the carpet can leave you with a cleaner house. This will make the task easier if you have a dog that sheds a lot, as you don’t want to take a long time cleaning one area.
Alternatively, you can purchase a carpet brush that effectively pulls out dog hairs from the carpet. This cheaper alternative can leave your carpet free from dog hair, but the cleaning process will take longer than if you were to use a vacuum cleaner, so the choice is yours!
6. Use The Right Cleaning Products
Not all cleaning products are pet-friendly. Make sure you research and read the label before using any cleaning products. For example, Zoflora is a pet-safe option when used properly by following the instructions and allowed to dry before your pup enters the area completely.
You probably already have a few dog-friendly cleaning products in your cupboards! Baking soda is a cheap cleaning product you can use to neutralise any odours. Vinegar is also a pet-safe option often used to remove odours from dog toys and furniture.
7. Upgrade Your Furniture
Not everyone can afford to buy new furniture, so why not improve your current furniture? By placing a dog-friendly blanket [link to new page] or throw over your sofa, you can allow your pup to sit on the sofa without making a mess. The blanket will capture dog hairs and prevent any stains from going on the sofa itself. If the throw becomes dirty, simply put it in the wash and replace it with a clean blanket!
If you are looking for a new sofa, ensure it is made of a material that is easy to clean. For example, a leather sofa can be easily wiped, dog hairs won’t cling to the surface, and it doesn’t harbour odours. You can use the dog-friendly throw trick if you prefer a fabric sofa!
8. Clean Accidents When They Happen
Having a pup means accidents can happen; when they inevitably do, you should clean up as quickly as possible. Cleaning immediately ensures minimal staining and prevents any lingering smells in your home. Don’t forget to use a pet-friendly cleaner to deal with these messes.
9. Air Your House Out
If you do find any smells lingering in your home, try to air out your house as often as possible. Opening windows can make all the difference to a fresh-smelling home. By bringing in fresh air, you can remove bad odours quickly and easily without the need for additional cleaning.
10. Develop a Cleaning Routine
With all these cleaning tasks to keep on top of, we recommend you create a routine to keep track of when items were last cleaned and ensure you don’t miss a spot! Some items need to be washed more regularly than others. For example, dog bowls should be cleaned after every use, but dog toys don’t have to be sanitised as often. Keeping track of each cleaning task ensures your pup is happy and healthy and your clean home is maintained.
Keep Your House and Pup Clean with Pawdaw
We get a lot of questions on how to keep a house clean with a shedding dog. At Pawdaw, we know how challenging it can be to keep a home clean with a little pup. With preventative measures such as keeping your dog clean, you can maintain your sparkling clean house. From dog shampoo to natural dog detangler, you can keep your pup smelling and looking squeaky clean with Pawdaw.
Dog-Friendly Cleaning Routine FAQs
How do you clean your house if you have a dog?
The key is to keep on top of grooming your pup to ensure they don’t spread the mess around. From regular bathing to daily brushing, you can reduce the amount of mud, dirt and dog hair around your home by targeting the mess at its source: your pup!
Some other ways to clean your home are:
-
Regularly cleaning your dog’s things
-
Restrict your pup to certain areas of your home
-
Using dog-friendly products
-
Only using high-quality cleaning tools
Is Zoflora safe for dogs?
There is debate over the use of Zoflora and dogs. However, Zoflora is safe for dogs and is pet-friendly. As long as you follow the instructions to safely use the product and allow time for the area to dry after use, your pup will be perfectly safe around Zoflora products!
What cleaners are safe to use around dogs?
Plenty of cleaning products are safe to use around dogs when used correctly, such as Zoflora and Flash. However, you can also find some pet-safe cleaning products in your home. For example, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and essential oils can clean your home safely and effectively neutralise odours.
Related Articles
Keeping Your Car Mud Free: 9 Tips For Dog Owners
How to Wash Your Dog's Towel and Bedding
The Benefits of Grooming Your Dog
