A pet cat or dog can be a wonderful addition to your household; they can serve as a great source of both companionship and fun. However, animals tend to shed, leave dirty paw prints everywhere and (even if they are toilet-trained) may be prone to having the occasional 'accident'. As such, they can leave your house looking a bit worse for wear. Here are three things you can do to combat the mess that your beloved pet creates:
Invest in the right products
Without the right cleaning products, you may struggle to keep your pet-filled house in good condition.
If your dog or cat is prone to shedding, for example, it's a good idea to invest in an extra large lint brush (as well as several replacement heads). This is an excellent tool with which to quickly pick up random clumps of fur from your sofas, cushions, carpets and bedding. Giving your pet's favourite sleeping spots a swipe with this item just once a day should help to significantly reduce the amount of hoovering that you need to do.
Additionally, it's worth purchasing a sweeping brush with rubber bristles; these are extremely effective at picking up hairs from both carpeted and wooden floors. This is because when the rubber bristles are brushed against another surface, the rubber generates static electricity which helps pet hair to cling to the bristles.
Another product which is worth investing in is a heavy-duty air filter. This piece of technology can help to remove unpleasant pet odours (such as 'wet dog smell' and urine), as well as pet dander and hairs, from the air.
Deal with 'accidents' correctly
If your pet is quite young and is not, therefore, fully toilet-trained, or if they are very old and are struggling with incontinence issues, it's crucial to learn how to clean up their little 'accidents' properly. If you don't, your flooring could end up permanently stained and foul-smelling.
To begin, use kitchen towels to blot away most of the urine. Then, pour a small amount of carbonated water onto the affected area; this will help to dilute the urine and 'lift' the stain. Blot a second time with more kitchen towels until most of the moisture has been absorbed.
Then, spritz the area with a cleaning solution (make sure to use one which is safe for pets). These type of cleaning products usually contain special enzymes which help to neutralise odours and reduce the chances of a permanent stain developing.
If your pet has an accident which dries out before you have had a chance to clean it up, you should still be able to eliminate the smell it produces by sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda (a product which is known to absorb odours) onto the area and leaving it for several minutes before hoovering it up.
Get your upholstery professionally cleaned on a regular basis
Like most pet owners, you have probably provided your pet with a very comfortable bed of their own. You may notice that they often seem to gravitate towards your sofas or armchairs when they want to take a nap. Unfortunately, if this happens on a regular basis, you may find that the hair that they shed and the dirt from their paws become so deeply embedded into the fabric that it becomes impossible to remove with a standard household hoover.
This is why it's worth having an upholstery cleaning service come out to deep-clean your furniture once a year. A professional cleaner will have the necessary upholstery cleaning tools required to extract soil particles, fur and dander from the deeper layers of the fabric and as such, will not only improve the appearance of these pieces of furniture but will also ensure that they are fully sanitised.
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