Home cleaning tips for dog owners

Keep them off the furniture (yeah, right!)  

There are some people who try to keep their dogs off their sofas and chairs (good luck with that one!). But if you are a pushover when it comes to your furry friend, try covering your sofa/chairs with a blanket, sheet or throw. Then you can toss it in the washing machine on a regular basis and your furniture will last longer and smell better.

Also make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed regularly if you have wooden or laminate floors. If they get too long, you could end up with scratch marks everywhere.  

Cleaning

Always have a dog stain cleaning kit on hand – gather a few items together in a caddy and just grab it whenever you spot a stain (or an unfortunate accident!).

Here are some of the things to have on hand:  

• Carpet cleaner
• Stain remover
• Air freshener
• Cloths & sponges

You can also use:

• Shaving foam - simply spray the stain, let it sit and foam for a minute, and then wipe with warm water
• Sodium bi-carb – use as a deodouriser around you home. Just sprinkle on carpets or fabrics (including their dog bed), leave for 5 minutes, and then vacuum.  
• Remove pet smells from your home

Keep the dog hair under control

• Brush your dog often – the hair is better in a brush than all over your house!
• Bath your dog regularly. See our Doggy bath time tips
• Vacuum every day
• Use a lint roller to remove any dog hair from curtains, upholstery, lampshades etc. It’s a great idea to keep a lint roller in each room and tackle any stray hair straight away.  

Alternatives to a lint roller include:

• Dryer sheets – the hair will cling to them  
• Rubber gloves – pop on a pair and rub them over any hair-covered furniture.
• Window squeegee – run it over your upholstery or carpet and the hair will come away into a big fluff ball!

Make the most of your dishwasher and washing machine

Use your dishwasher to wash:

• Ceramic or metal food and water bowls  
• Hard rubber or plastic dog toys to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria

You can also put food and water bowls on a tray to catch any spills

Use your washing machine for:  

• Doggy sofa blankets or throws
• Doggy toys made of fabric  
• Any fabric leads
• Any coats they have for winter
• This will also remove lingering smells  

It’s best to clean your doggy items separate from your human items.

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