Maintaining A Gorgeous Home As A Dog Owner

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You love your dog - he's part of your family, and you wouldn't have it any other way. Yet, you're struggling to maintain the appearance of your beautiful home because of his shedding. How can you get back your home's former breathtaking appearance?

These tips will help make your home spotless again.

Creating Good Habits

For everyone who lives in your home, human or canine, establishing good habits is a smart idea. Try these ideas in your home:

• Martha Stewart writes that you should manage dog hair by keeping a towel or sheet wherever your puppy likes to rest. Additionally, buy him a dog bed so that he can learn to sleep and relax there.
• Martha also has tips on vacuuming. Pet hair is effectively removed from carpeting and rugs by vacuuming in different directions. Then follow up by using a rake or a squeegee to remove any remaining hair.
• Regularly bathe your dog. According to Good Doggies Online, bathing can help maintain healthy skin but don't overdo it. Bathing too often can damage or irritate his skin and hair follicles, leaving him vulnerable to infections. Since different dogs require a different frequency of baths, talk to your vet.

Healthy habits apply to humans as well. You can keep your home spotless by making sure everyone takes off their shoes before entering your home and attacking dog spots and stains as soon as you see them.

Cleaning Tips Just For Your Dog

There are a few more cleaning tricks you can do just for your dog that can help:

• Cesar's Way recommends you remember to clean your dog's collar when you groom him. Use a little dog shampoo and hot water, mix it in a bowl, and let the collar soak for 15 minutes.
• They also suggest using a few drops of lavender oil on your dog, which can be soothing and help prevent fleas and ticks.
• To remove stains and urine odors, be sure to purchase an enzyme-based cleaner, which can eliminate smell as well as handling stains. Attack the stain as soon as you see it.

How To Really Remove Dog Odor

No offense to your pet, but your dog smells. Dog musk can be unpleasant for humans but it is a healthy part of his life. Here are some tips from Realtor.com on how to get rid of those smells from your home:

• Keep dog bedding clean by vacuuming it weekly and washing it monthly.
• You should vacuum your floors at least once a week.
• Wash vinyl flooring with an effective cleaning solution and hot water.
• Keep your HVAC system tuned up and your filters changed regularly.

Cleanepedia also advises you use baking soda to remove odors from soft furnishings that do not have a washable cover.

Must-Have Tools To Keep Everything Clean

Here are some tools that you should always keep handy to make sure you can easily stay on top of any messes:

Vacuum: Make sure you have a high-quality vacuum that's specifically designed to pick up pet hair... and light enough for you to pick it up several times a day for a quick clean up. Some lightweight options include the Eufy HomeVac, the Hoover UH30010COM Platinum Collection, and the Dyson V8 Absolute.

Swiffer: These easy-to-use cleaning systems are a great way to quickly remove up dog hair wherever you see it.

Dog Hair Removal Tools: Obviously, you'll need a lint remover but that's only one of 12 tools recommended by Rover.com.

Door Mats: Put these in front of all the entryways your dog uses. Even if he won't stay or wipe his feet, you'll still avoid most of the worst mud and water stains.

Deshedding Tools: How much your dog sheds is mostly determined by breed. However, according to Here Pup, stress, nutrition, health, and the season can also impact shedding. Find the best tools to help from their review.

Rimmed Tray: Modern Dog Magazine recommends you keep this kind of tray under your dog's food bowls to help contain the mess they make.

Keeping your home spotless and beautiful with a dog requires a little extra effort but these tips and tricks can keep your whole family clean and healthy.

Author

Suzie Wilson is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. While her goal always includes making homes look beautiful, her true focus is on fashioning them into serene, stress-free environments that inspire tranquility in all who enter. The Ultimate Guide to Prepping Your Home for an Open House is filled with tips, tricks and other advice based on Suzie's years of experience in interior home design that will set you up for success.