Guest article from Tyler Evans of Dogzasters
Humans are good at creating messes, but dogs are right up there with us. There’s plenty of fur, dander, and odors to go around, which can leave your home feeling dirty. Cleaning up after your pooch doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are many proactive steps you can take to keep your home looking and smelling clean no matter how many paws you have running around.
Start with a Good Cleaning
Giving your dog a bath sounds like an obvious solution to the odor, but baths are time-consuming (especially if Fido hates them), not to mention your dog soaks up shampoo like a sponge. Regular baths are recommended, but there are plenty of options for cleaning your dog that don’t require shampoo, water, and the accompanying mess. Use dog wipes or freshening spray for a quick refresh, or stock up on a few bottles of doggie dry shampoo. Make regular brushing via a dog shedding brush part of your weekly routine as well. Not only will it cut down on the amount of fur that ends up on you and your furniture, but you also might even spend less time vacuuming up hairballs.
Suck It Up
Depending on your dog’s breed, you may enjoy a shed-free experience. However, many dogs have moderate to heavy shedding. As a dog owner, you know how quickly hair can pile up. Before you invest in a pricey vacuum, consider using items you already have in your home for easy hair clean up. Those same rubber gloves you use to clean the bathroom and kitchen can be rubbed over furniture to pick up dog hair, as can a pumice stone, lint roller, or piece of duct tape. However, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned vacuum to really suck up all that dog hair. The good news is that there are plenty of cheap vacuums, some under $150. Check out this list courtesy of the Strategist for a list of hair-busting vacuums to meet every budget.
Don’t Let Dander Put a Damper on Things
Contrary to popular belief, it is actually dander, not hair, that wreaks so much havoc on asthma and allergy sufferers. The best way to remove dander is to regularly clean your home, including carpets, furniture, and all surfaces. Carpet is a prime spot for dander to collect, but a HEPA grade filter on your vacuum will pick up particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. Changing your air filters can also help maintain the air quality in your home, but keep in mind that some filters are better suited for pet owners than others. HEPA filters are the best here as well, but there are other options that work just as well. If you’re still having issues with dander, it may be a wise choice to have a professional cleaning service come in on occasion. Cleaning services in Long Beach average $159 per cleaning, but it’s worth the price if it’s in your budget.
What’s That Smell?
No matter how many times you bathe your dog, you’ll eventually walk into a room one day and think, “What’s that smell?” You might even become nose blind to it, but when a guest is over and their nose wrinkles up, you might look to your dog as the culprit. Then, you can look in your cabinets for some DIY odor fighters. Baking soda has many uses, one of which is stopping odors in their tracks. Sprinkle it on carpets and furniture, let it sit, and then vacuum it up. You can even sprinkle a small amount on your pooch during your brushing routine for instant deodorizing. For those smelly urine spots, a blend of vinegar and water will do the trick. The vinegar will leave a pretty strong scent at first, but when it diminishes, it takes the odor with it.
Your dog is an important member of the family. However, hair, dander, and odor are just part of the package. Rather than deal with the mess, use budget-friendly methods to keep your home clean, the humans happy, and those tails wagging.