Pets bring a lot of love, joy, companionship, and into a home.  Pets also come with shedding, furballs, muddy paws, and odors.  What can you do to balance your loving pet with a clean and tidy home?

Vacuuming

Vacuuming several times a week or even daily is one of the best defenses to pet hair and odors. Pet owners with one low shedding dog or cat might make do with vacuuming once or twice a week while owners of multiple or long haired breed cats and dogs might vacuum everyday.  Make sure to invest in a vacuum that is rated well for pet owners and is easy and comfortable for you to use.  Pet owners with stairs might consider keeping a vacuum on each floor of the house and having a small hand held unit for stairs.  The easier your vacuum is to use, the more frequently you’ll use it.

Grooming

Taking care of your home can start with taking care of your pets.  One of the best ways to keep your home from being overrun with hair, fur, and dirt is to make sure your pet is clean and brushed.  Regularly brushing your pet can cut down on shedding.  Washing your pet regularly will combat doggy odors on fabrics, walls, and floors as well as help prevent oily rubbing marks on walls.  Remember to groom your pet outdoors when ever possible to keep fur out of the home.Wipe those paws.  Just as taking off your shoes when you come into the house minimized dirt, wiping off your pets paws can prevent stained carpets, prints, and general dust and dirt. Pro Tip: create a spot for your needed pet items right at your door.  Keep leashes and bags handy in addition to a towel for wiping down fur and paws.

Planning

Where should your dog sleep and rest?  While it can be difficult to resist those literal puppy dog eyes, you should make a decision if your pet can be on furniture at all, or which furniture is off limits and when.  Then you’ll be in a better position to either choose pet resistant fabrics or slip covers.  Allergy sufferers will benefit from keeping pets off furniture.Pets need softness and comfort too.  Imagine how sore you would be if you slept on a hard floor!  Purchase pet beds designed to offer comfort and support.

Toys, Treats, and Feeding

Pets need to be challenged and entertained, just like humans.  To avoid having unsightly pet toys all over the house, choose a few toys that are attractive and have a designated spot to keep them in when they are not being used.  Be mindful of what treats you feed your pets indoors; pig ears and rawhide and stain and smell.Set up a feeding station with a mat or place mat to catch stay bits of food and drips from wet muzzles.

Cats: Scratching and Jumping

Cats need to scratch; it is an intuitive behavior.  You the owner need to plan for scratching by creating an attractive scratching area/item and making your other furniture unattractive to scratching. Prevent cats from scratching by spraying furniture with citrus scents and using removable double-sided tape on target areas.  Spray the cat’s scratching post with catnip to encourage appropriate scratching.  Double-sided tape is also effective for keeping cats off counters.  Cats do like to jump and climb, make sure to give them an appropriate outlet for these natural behaviors.

Like many things in life, planning is the key to maintaining a clean home and a happy pet relationship.  A powerful vacuum doesn’t hurt either! For more helpful household tips, check out our other articles in the COIT Blog.