Pets are a joy to share the home with, and in most instances, they enrich our lives and make us happier and more fulfilled. However, pets can make a mess of the place and make it start to smell if their toys, beds and bowls aren’t kept hygienically clean.
Here’s a list of your pet’s items you should be regularly cleaning, along with how to do it:
Collars and leashes
Your pets collar will inevitably get smelly and dirty over time – not to mention play host to harmful bacteria – and even if you don’t wash it every time you wash your pet, you should take the time to do it once a month at least. For items made of nylon, simply throw them in the machine in a bag and put them on a delicate cycle. Alternatively, wash them by hand with warm, soapy water. Leather collars and leashes can be washed using pet shampoo and hot water, and it’s best to soak them for up to 15 minutes before rinsing them and hanging them up to dry.
Beds
Ideally, your pets bedding (from bed to blankets) should be washed once a week to keep them hygienically clean, and as most items can be put in the washing machine, this needn’t be too much of a hardship. That said, be sure to check the manufacturers guidelines first. If your pet has sensitive skin, you may want to use an unscented detergent, and vacuuming the excess fur up first, can help prevent your machine from becoming bunged up.
Bowls
Often full of germs, your pet’s bowls can be handwashed with hot, soapy water, or placed in the dishwasher and treated just as you would your own bowls. Leftover food, even if not visible to the naked eye, can retain bacteria and harm your pet.
Toys
Often just as germ-ridden as your pet’s bowls, toys need to be washed on a monthly basis to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Here is a brief toy washing guide:
- Soft toys – place them inside a garment bag and run them on a sanitizing cycle. Use your own mixture of baking soda and vinegar on a rinse cycle, or an unscented detergent. Air drying them after they’ve been washed is recommended, but you can also run them on a low heat setting.
- Hard toys – balls, rubber toys and frisbees, for example, can easily be handwashed using a scrubbing brush and some hot, soapy water. Alternatively, you can place them on the top rack of the dishwasher, and add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to the bottom of the machine.
Make sharing your home with pets a joy, by ensuring that their beds, toys and bowls are kept hygienically clean. If you use the services of a cleaner, ask them to include these items in their cleaning schedule.
