Fido means the world to you; he might be a bit smelly and he might leave dirty paw prints all over your freshly mopped floors, he might even leave his fur all over your furniture, but you love him and there’s no way on this Earth you would contemplate getting rid of him for the sake of a clean and tidy home.
Well of course you shouldn’t have to get rid of a pet just to keep your home smelling fresh and looking clean! But if you have a pet dog and wish that you knew how to ensure you’re your home stays as you want it, here are a few things that you can do:
- Groom Fido regularly
We’re not talking about a full on pampering spa session, just a quick grooming with a brush for a couple of minutes every day, and you’ll see less loose hair floating about the place and it’ll keep your pooch looking better, too.
- Fight the doggy aroma
Baking soda is a great product for getting rid of whiffs and pongs in general, and it will certainly do the trick in eliminating any doggy odours that may be present in your home. Simply sprinkle it over rugs and carpets – and even on your pets’ bed – let it stay there for a couple of hours and then vacuum; it will neutralise the bad smells.
White vinegar will also help to eliminate pet smells, and simply spraying it into the air will usually work wonders in getting rid of the pong.
Shop bought odour eliminators such as Febreze will of course work equally well, and may give you a more pleasing scent when sprayed.
- Clean up doggy mess straight away
Whether it be muddy paw prints, as Fido gallops in without wiping his paws first after a walk on a wet day, or stinky deposits as your pooch decides to relieve his bowels indoors! Cleaning up any kind of mess that your pet makes, as soon as you see it, will help stop the entire home for smelling so bad and prevent the stains from becoming encrusted and difficult to budge.
Also, if poop or pee isn’t wiped away swiftly, your pet may associate that area with going to the toilet, and go back there again to relieve himself!
Washable mats placed at all entrances to your home, should also prevent too much mud and dirt from being tracked across the floor and onto the furniture by your beloved hound, as he bounds in and out.
If the weather has been particularly miserable during your walk, or even as your pet has been playing in the yard, you could even try washing and cleaning his paws a little, before you let him into your home.