We all adore our furry as well as feathered companions; they bring immense joy to our lives and become a significant part of the family. However, the cuteness and unconditional love do come with a cost, and that is a clean house. You wouldn’t want your home to smell like your pets or your guests to be covered in cat or dog hair after visiting your house. A clean, germ-free home is also crucial for your family’s health. Now it may seem like an arduous task. Of course, you can’t roam around the house with a mop and vacuum 24/7. For all the worried pet-parents out there, here is a checklist (with some useful tips) for keeping your home shining
Keeping the Carpets Clean
Fur in the carpets can be quite a headache. Before moving on to the cleaning methods, let’s discuss a few tips for prevention. If you have dogs and cats, the best way is to brush them regularly. It will help get rid of dead skin and prevent loose hair from spreading around the house. Bathing your pet will also help reduce shedding.
Vacuum Regularly
Another useful method is to vacuum regularly. Make sure you purchase a device that is specifically designed to suck hair from rugs and carpets. Those with low-pile carpeting can use a sponge mop for removing hair. After vacuuming spray the mop and move it across the carpet.
Another method to remove hair easily is to prepare a solution using one part fabric softener and three parts water. Lightly spray it over the carpet (don’t entirely soak it) and leave it to dry. Afterward, vacuum the area. The pet hair will loosen and can quickly be sucked out of the carpet fibers.
If you have a pet bird, your carpets may get dirty due to the droppings from the cage. Instead of regularly cleaning the carpets, it is best to protect them with a non-porous and easy to clean surface such as vinyl carpet protectors.
Quick Hacks
If you don’t want to vacuum the entire room, and instead need a quick clean up, run latex gloves or a lint roller over the carpet to remove the hair.
Removing Odors
One factor that significantly distinguishes a home with pets from others is the distinctive smell. At times our pets end up peeing or vomiting on the carpet and no matter how hard you try the odor doesn’t go away. Well, there are a few hacks that you can use to get rid of the smells:
Vinegar
Among other useful household products is vinegar. It neutralizes the odor thereby prevents your pet from using the same spot again. Just spray vinegar over the affected area, rub it for a few minutes and let it stay overnight.
Baking Soda
You can also dust baking soda on the carpet; leave it for a few hours and then vacuum.
Remove Stains from Your Carpet
You can apply the same techniques as used for smell for cleaning pet stains as well. Pour vinegar over the rug (you can also make a solution using equal quantities of cold water and vinegar.) Make sure you saturate it without soaking it in the liquid. Afterward, dust a generous amount of baking soda and let it rest for one or two days. When the spot dries out, scoop the excess baking soda and vacuum the carpet.
Clean Up the Furniture
Stains on the sofa and other furniture can be even more embarrassing and need to be cleaned. The appropriate cleaning method depends upon the surface. For instance, mucus or urine stains can be easily cleaned using a mixture of 1 cup warm water and ¼ tsp. of dishwashing liquid. Spray it on the affected area and after a few minutes wipe it off with a cotton cloth. Remember, for fresh stains; it is best to blot the affected area with a disposable towel.
To remove pet odor from furniture, you can use the similar mixture as used for rugs of equal parts vinegar and water.
If your cat or dog urinates on the couch, remove the cushions and throw pillows and wash them with your regular detergent mixed with one cup white vinegar for each load. It will help eliminate the stinky odor.
Remove Hair from Furniture
You can use the upholstery attachment for your vacuum to remove hair from the couch.
You can use scented candles or air fresheners to make the house smell fresh. However, if you have birds in the house, this method can be risky for their health, so it is best to either avoid it or keep your bird locked in another room when using any such fragrances.
Cleaning the Hallway
The hallways are prone to getting dirty because of muddy paws. If your pet uses the entrance to go outside for his bathroom needs, he may be susceptible to soil it. You can use mats at the door to prevent dirt from coming into the house. Keep a bowl of water at the entrance to wash the muddy paws after you come back from a walk.
For hardwood, laminate or other bare floors, use an electrostatic or dry mop to remove the hair.
Bedroom
Our pets are the cutest balls of fur, but they can transmit plenty of germs. This can be particularly dangerous if you share a bedroom. You need to wash your pet’s bedding regularly to clear away bacteria that can otherwise be transferred to other furniture and even your bed (if you share it with your dog.) Use a perfume-free detergent and wash it on the hottest temperature every week.
As for your bed, use an extra layer of the bed sheet on top of the bed and throw it for cleaning regularly.
As for our feathered companions, keeping their cage clean is essential. For your parakeet’s cage, use a cage liner at the bottom or a newspaper to absorb the dirt. You should also clean your bird’s cage, toys, and perches every week. Make a cleaner yourself using two parts water and one part white vinegar to wash the cage.
Author Byline:
Danica Boyd is a bird enthusiast and nature lover. She has been keeping pet birds for several years and now has tons of practical experience in caring for birds. She writes for the team behind https://www.birdcagesnow.com/.
