How To Maintain Cleanness In The House With Pets
A new tenant, friend, and beloved family member has arrived in your home. Everyone is happy, and the children are delighted. But along with the joyful moments, new responsibilities have come.
How to maintain proper cleanliness when you have a cat, dog, or another four-legged friend (ferrets, rabbits, and other furry creatures) in your apartment or house? Learn the experts’ recommendations!
Even before acquiring a furry friend, you should understand that you will inevitably face some additional challenges. There’s no escaping the presence of fur in the house. Like human hair, animal fur is constantly renewed, meaning old hairs fall out and cover everything: floors, furniture, clothes. Small hairs fly in the air and get into the filters of air conditioners, ventilation shafts, and exhausts.
Battling the Fur
Let’s figure out how to solve this fur problem and protect yourself and your family from allergies. The task of cleaning fur will be significantly simplified if there are no carpets in the house. A carpet accumulates dust, and hairs cling to it with a “death grip.” An uncovered floor is easy to vacuum and then wipe with a wet mop. Purchase a high-power vacuum cleaner with various attachments. If you have a washing vacuum cleaner, a mop won’t be necessary.
If the animal sheds heavily, cleaning must be done every day. A thorough cleaning, moving furniture and looking into every nook and cranny, should be done once a week. You’ll be surprised at how much fur is found in places where the animal seemingly never goes.
Not ready to part with the carpet? Well, then you’ll have to clean it too. A vacuum cleaner only does a mediocre job with this task. Buy a stiff brush and a small plastic basin. Wet the brush in water and thoroughly clean the carpet section by section. Periodically rinse the brush in the basin to remove the clinging hairs. Change the water as it gets dirty.
The same cleaning needs to be arranged for soft furniture. In addition to a wet brush or sponge for cleaning fabric-covered furniture, a special sticky brush with adhesive tape on a roller is suitable. You can also use regular tape; its sticky side collects all the debris along with the fur and holds it firmly. To clean the fabric’s fuzzy surface, you can use a brush for combing animal fur
Special microfiber cloths will help to remove dust and fur from wooden or plastic surfaces. They are much more effective than regular fabric cloths for this task.
Fur quickly clogs the filter of the air conditioner, ventilation grilles, and even the filter on the kitchen extractor. Therefore, either replace the filters and nets on the ventilation shafts more frequently, or (if allowed by the technology) clean them more often.
The fur problem also unfavorably affects the clothing of all household members. You’ll have to accept this fact and simply try to keep all clothes in the closet. Fur can be shaken off clothes with a damp hand or wet brush. If the problem is more serious, the clothes need to be washed with fabric softener. The softener makes the fur softer, and it is easier to wash off. Just don’t wash clothes contaminated with fur together with other types of stains, or the fur will transfer to all the clothes. Regularly check and clean the filter in the washing machine from debris.
Other Problems: Bacteria, Odor, Dirt
Pets, especially those that go outdoors, become a source of additional bacteria, so periodic disinfection should be carried out. Floors and carpets should occasionally be cleaned, adding disinfectant products. Pet stores offer a wide selection of disinfectants, and you can also use bleach or vinegar. After using these not very pleasantly smelling agents, make sure to ventilate the room well.
Another acute problem for pet owners is odor. Puppies and kittens, still poorly trained, may urinate in the most inappropriate places. And adult animals for various reasons may leave their marks in the apartment. The smell remains very unpleasant, but it can and should be eliminated.
- Immediately remove the puddle by blotting it with a paper towel. If the puddle was on the floor, thoroughly wash the marked area, adding vinegar or bleach to the water. Lemon acid, potassium permanganate, or hydrogen peroxide also effectively eliminate odors.
- Dilute vinegar in water in a one-to-two ratio, and wash the area slightly larger than the stain, ensuring that no urine is left behind.
- Odors from carpets and soft furniture are removed with the same agents, but there are some nuances. Dark coverings are wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or iodine, while light ones with hydrogen peroxide.
- A fresh stain will not leave a pungent odor if it is washed with soap, then the foam is removed with damp cloths, and finally, the stain is wiped with alcohol or vodka.
- Soda, a natural sorbent, effectively absorbs various odors. Generously sprinkle the stain with baking soda and leave it for an extended period. Then remove the soda in any convenient way (with a brush, broom, or vacuum cleaner)
Special attention during cleaning should be given to the feeding area, toilet of your pet, and their sleeping spot.
Pet dishes need to be kept clean. To prevent a dog’s bowl from sliding across the floor, buy special devices, or simply attach the bowl to the floor with double-sided tape. To avoid animals splattering walls during eating, cover them with an easily washable material in the feeding area. Do not feed animals in rooms or other places not intended for this purpose.
The pet’s toilet should be accessible at all times and kept clean. Cats especially dislike a dirty toilet, as they are very tidy, and if the toilet has already been used, they may do their business elsewhere.
For sleeping, choose comfortable bedding for your dog and cat. Cats enjoy sleeping in various baskets and boxes. If the animal has taken a liking to a chair or sofa, cover them with covers or use a Waterproof Pet Blanket.
A waterproof pet blanket is an excellent solution to keep your chairs, beds, and sofas safe from pet hair, drool, and even unexpected accidents like urine stains.
The beauty of waterproof blankets is their ease of cleaning. Regularly shake off pet hair and wash the blanket as needed to keep it fresh and clean. Since it’s waterproof, it won’t allow any moisture from drool or accidents to seep through, safeguarding your furniture’s fabric.
Choose a blanket that’s not only protective but also comfortable for your pet. A soft texture will make it inviting for them to lie on, ensuring they prefer the blanket over the uncovered parts of the furniture.
A Few More Important Rules
The better you care for your pets, the less dirt you will have in your apartment.
- Regularly brush your pets’ fur with special brushes, combs, and gloves. This will not only reduce the amount of fur shed on the floor and furniture but also provide a wonderful massage for your pet.
- When returning from a walk, wash not only your pet’s paws but also their belly and the area around their tail.
- Regularly clean your pets’ teeth.
- Animals should receive a complete set of necessary minerals and vitamins, then their fur will not shed year-round, but only during the shedding season.
- Visit the veterinarian regularly, so health problems with your four-legged friend do not turn into serious troubles for you.
Without regular care for the animal, maintaining cleanliness will be impossible. But if you develop a habit of proper daily care and adapt your apartment for keeping a pet as much as possible, your home will always be in order!
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