Keeping Your House Clean with Pets

Hair. Dander. Slobber. While we love our dogs and cats, these are all common grievances of pet ownership. As the weather starts to turn (we promise it will happen soon), you’ll begin to notice less dander and more hair, as winter coats give way to warmer temperatures. Slobber, on the other hand, is a year-round ordeal.

Whether you’re a new pet owner or a seasoned caregiver, there’s always a certain amount of vigilance that goes along with owning a furry companion and keeping your house looking (and smelling) like you don’t own a zoo. It is by no means easy work, but here are some tips on keeping your house fresh for all. 

 For those with furball-tumbleweed producers, it can sometimes seem like keeping floors and carpets clean is an endless chore. Brushing your dog or cat regularly will decrease the amount of hair in the air and on the floor.

Brushing at least twice weekly will really make a difference, and if you’re able to brush your pet outside, you can really reduce the amount of airborne hair. If you’re unsure about what type of brush would suit your four-legged friend best, consult your vet.

Not only will brushing your pet more frequently help with keeping hair accumulation at bay, for cats, tidy coats will help to eliminate hairballs, which will certainly help keep your house cleaner.

Bathing might seem like a natural solution to stinky, shedding dogs, but frequent bathing can sometimes result in dryer skin, and even more dander. Cats will clean themselves unless they are sick or elderly. Dogs, however, should not be bathed more than once per month, unless they’ve been rolling around in dirt or mud.

Having just spent the past few months cooped up inside due to cold weather, it’s likely your air filter has been picking up a lot of stray dust and hair. Be sure to check your filters every couple of weeks, depending on how much your pets shed.

As far as solutions for slobber, there isn’t too much you can do, aside from keeping damp cloths available. For larger dogs with droopy jowls, narrow hallways tend to collect drool, so definitely add a wipe-down to your weekly routine.