Top 10 Ways to Keep Your House Clean With Pets

Lots of people think kids are the messiest thing to have at home, but I would argue that pets are. You can teach kids to clean up after themselves (although may not all of them do), but you can’t really do that with pets. So, if you want to keep your pets around but also want a clean house, here are some great tips for you!

1. Make sure to groom and bathe your pet regularly. Not only will this keep your pet healthy and smelling good, but it will also prevent fur from building up around your home and the pet from dragging in unwanted grime from outside. Depending on what kind of animal and breed you have, the frequency of baths and combing will vary; so do some research and take charge!
2. Usually getting a pet is a family affair, so cleaning up after it should be too! Don’t feel like you have to take all the responsibility for taking care of the pet—get your kids involved too! Small things like refilling the water and food dish, picking up doo doo, and even giving the animal a bath (if the kids are old enough) are things they can do.
3. During the winter or rainy season, taking your dog (or other pet) on a walk can result in mud, dirt, and other grime getting dragged into the house by your pet. So, make sure to keep a towel next to the door and a bowl of warm water. Then, when you get back from your walk, just dip the paws in the water, rinse them off, and dry them. That way you won’t have any muddy paw prints in your carpet.
4. Vacuum and wet sweep frequently. It may be more work than if you didn’t have a pet, but it’s a sacrifice worth making to have the little furry friend around! Vacuuming will suck up any fur that has collected and using a damp mop or rag on tile or wood will also collect the fur without kicking it back up into the air.
5. Changing your pet’s diet may actually help in more ways than just keeping your house clean. If your pet seems to shed too much, smell, or leave other marks around the home, then their diet may need some fixing. Getting essential nutrients and vitamins in their food can make them happier, healthier, and keep your home cleaner and fresher smelling too!
6. One of the surest ways to not have pet messes is by cleaning them up right away when they happen. Let’s be honest, having a pet means you’re going to have stains, fur, and messes around the home. It just comes with the territory. But make sure you take care of them pronto! Letting things sit will only make it harder to clean up later.
7. This isn’t possible for everyone, but if you’re moving or buying new furniture, then consider getting things that are pet friendly. There are lots of upholsteries that deflect pet fur and are hardy enough to not get worn down by animals walking or sitting on them frequently. Along with furniture, you can choose new clothes based on how “pet friendly” they are, too.
8. One incredibly easy way to prevent pet food mayhem is by getting a placemat. There are specific ones (depending on what kind of animal you have), but they pretty much prevent the dish from sliding around and, if food does fall out, you can easily pick it all up with the placemat. It also adds a fun touch to your pet’s eating area!
9. Set boundaries with your pet and make sure they follow them! By training your pet to only enter in certain rooms, you’ll know you won’t have to worry about pet-proofing certain parts of your home. That can severely cut down on your cleaning time when you start cleaning up after your pet.
10. Teach your pet to sleep in its own bed. If not, you’ll find pet hair and tracks in all the beds at home and pretty much everywhere else. When you teach your pet that it can only sleep in one spot (determined by you), then you begin to contain the mess that comes along with the pet wandering the house all the time.