Having energetic pets around is a real joy for a lot of people, but it can be a bit of a challenge to keep your home tidy. Maintaining the balance between happy pets and a clean home does require a lot of work and commitment, but it’s far from an impossible task, especially if you have us around to help you with it. So without further ado, let us get down to it.
Here are some of the things you can do (on top of regular cleanings) that can help you keep your home clean and your pets happy.
Tire your pet out
If you find yourself cleaning up after your pet’s mess once they have done a bit of home-wrecking after being alone, it probably means that your pet is bored. Some extra exercise daily can help you out with this. Giving your dog daily walks would be enough to tucker them out. As for cats, keep them engaged with toys and scratching posts.
The amount of exercise a pet might need will vary depending on their breed, age and individual personality, so you should do a bit of research to help you out with that.
Pet-proof your living spaces
Another way to keep your house clean is by investing in pet-friendly items. Washable rags and canvas drop cloths can do a lot to keep your furniture clean. You can place these in areas that get a lot of foot traffic, which then act as traps for the dirty stuff on your pets track from outdoors and elsewhere. This includes mud, dust and other debris.
One other way to help manage the amount of dirt your pet brings in is by investing a space exclusively for your pets. There are resources online, or you can ask the folks at The Pampered Pup to help with what a quality pet bed or dog crate looks like.
Groom Them Regularly
Regular brushing and bathing does wonders in keeping your home clean and smelling fresh. Maintaining good hygiene for your pets also helps prevent certain diseases that stem from poor hygiene from taking hold. Properly manicured claws will also save your wooden floors and furniture from being scratched on, purposefully or otherwise.
Clean and replace pet toys often
Now we all had a favorite toy when we were kids. Some of us even end up keeping them until adulthood, too. Unfortunately, this kind of sentiment shouldn’t be shared with your pets. Pet toys can turn into bacterial breeding grounds, so they should be regularly cleaned, or tossed out when they are too worn. Your pets might miss their favorite toy, but they will definitely thank you for a healthier environment.
While pets can be a bit of a hassle to clean up after, the amount of joy and love they give your family is definitely worth it. The enrichment they provide you and the lessons they can teach your family are stuff you just can’t find anywhere, even from fellow human beings. But having messy pets doesn’t always mean living a messy lifestyle. Now you know how to better take care of your pets, and maybe keep your house a little bit tidier in the process. Maybe.