Can You Have a Clean Home If You Have a Pet?

If you have pets, you already know that pet fur and dander cling to both your furniture and your carpet. But fur and dander aren’t the only problems. Pets also track dirt and grime back inside every time they go out to play or for a potty break. While it does create a little more work for you, with a little effort you can keep your home clean even if you have pets. Follow these cleaning tips for keeping your carpets and furniture clean.

Prevention

The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true in keeping the house clean when you have pets. Preventing your pets from spreading shed fur or soil from the outside makes cleaning easier. Try these preventative tips.

Grooming

Grooming your pet regularly is important to keeping him healthy and your house clean. Here’s what you need to do.

Brush your pets every day. The amount of brushing required depends on the breed of your pet. Short-haired dogs and cats can be brushed quickly, but long-haired varieties require more brushing. As a rule, brush you pet until the loose hair is removed and there are no signs of tangles or matting.
Bathe your dog once a month or whenever he is dirty or smelly. Cats typically do not require bathing as they are efficient self-groomers.

Stop Dirt in Its Tracks

Rugs or towels placed just inside the door work well to collect dirt and debris from your pet’s feet when he returns from a trip outside. Placing a second doormat on the outside of the door will collect even more dirt from his furry paws.

Protecting Furniture

Covering the sofa and other upholstered furniture with an old sheet until you have company will protect your furniture from hair and soil from pets. If the thought of sheet-covered furniture doesn’t appeal to you, try placing a blanket on the couch or in Fido’s favorite chair and restrict him to that area. To keep pets off the sofa when you are away at work, place empty boxes or laundry baskets on it to deter them from using your sofa for their afternoon snooze.

Cleaning

Floors

Keeping your floors clean isn’t as difficult as it may seem, as long as you follow a regular routine.

Sweep or dust mop bare floors every day. Use a light application of cleaning and dusting spray designed for floors to help attract and collect pet hair and dander.
Vacuum the carpet at least twice a week. If you have a long-haired dog or cat, or a dog with a double coat, you may need to do more frequent vacuuming, especially during the shedding season.
Shampoo high-traffic areas of your carpet every two to three months.
Spot clean pet accidents as soon as they occur. Make sure to use carpet cleaning products labeled for removing pet stains.
Shampoo your entire carpet twice a year. You may want to hire a cleaning service to do this for you.

Furniture

Wipe down chairs and bare furniture with a soft, damp cloth or use a cleaning and dusting spray once or twice a week or whenever you notice hair and dust.
Vacuum your upholstered furniture once a week or whenever you notice pet hair.
Spot clean the sofa and upholstered chairs with upholstery cleaner as needed.

Don’t be afraid to adjust your cleaning schedule to meet your needs. Each pet is different. Some produce more hair and dirt than others.