A Clean House is Possible Even if you are a Cat or Dog Owner

According to some estimates, about 68 percent of all households in the US have a pet. Given that the majority of those pets are cats and dogs, we can assume a lot of homes are struggling to keep clean.

Pets shed, they bring in dirt from outside, and they can make a mess in a variety of different ways.

This cat and dog owner knows. Oreo is a master at messes 😉

However, not all is lost. Experts know how to keep your home clean and tidy—despite any shenanigans your pets come up with.

Invest in Some Lint Rollers

If you don’t already have a substantial collection of lint rollers, it is time to go shopping! Even though it is not their intended purpose, lint rollers are great at collecting pet hair.

Your clothes, and especially your upholstered furniture will be reborn after a treatment with a lint roller. I’m sad to report that this is an endless task, though.

But, then again, all cleaning is especially if you are a cat or dog owner and have kids. 

Clean Their Paws after Walks

Both cats and dogs typically enjoy spending time outside. Even though it is good for them, it can pose a problem for you and your home when they return. You might as well forget about a clean house if the weather is rainy or snowy.

They can bring in quite a bit of dirt on their paws. When it comes to dogs, the solution is simple. Before you let them back in from the walk, clean their paws with a wet wipe. There are specialized pet-friendly tissues made for that purpose.

However, when it comes to cats, the solution is rarely so clear-cut. Cats are much more independent and they come and go as they please. That means that you won’t have active control over them when they return into the house.

But there is something you can do. Lay down a small doormat on each side of the cat door so that you can at least get the worst of it out of the way.

Be Ready to Clean More

There is no way around it, you will probably need to clean a lot more than if you weren’t a cat or dog owner. Both dogs and cats shed year-round, although the amount of shedding depends on the time of the year and the type of pet you have.

A simpler way out would be to get a robot vacuum cleaner which will clean your home without your immediate attention and effort.

I’m a big fan of Neato. I own two of them—one for upstairs and one for down 🙂

However, if you don’t want one, be prepared for a lot of vacuuming and cleaning.

Keep Your Cleaning Supplies Handy

We all like to think that our pets are great and that they wouldn’t make a mess. It’s a nice thought but chances are you’ve had to clean a carpet accident at least once.
Whether it was a potty accident or a hairball, professional cleaners say it’s always a good idea to keep cleaning supplies close.

The sooner you get rid of the stain, the more likely that you will be able to remove it completely. This helps lessen the chance that there will be no damage to your furniture and carpets.

Be a Smart Cat or Dog Owner and Use Covers

A less popular solution to the pet problem is to cover your furniture with easy-to-clean covers. The advantage of this approach is that your furniture can be spared the worst of the mess that the pets can do.

On the other hand, the furniture you chose for your home won’t be visible and it may interfere with your interior design, so there is certainly a trade-off to consider.

Pets mean a lot to most people, so it is only natural that we are willing to tolerate some of their bad behaviors. We all make messes after all and it’s something you have to get used to if you want to be a cat or dog owner.