Tricks To Keeping A Tidy Home When You Have A Dog
Bringing a dog into your life ensures you’ll always have a playful companion by your side. Dogs bring joy and endless entertainment to any household they inhabit. Unfortunately, they also bring hair, slobber, smells, and messes that weren’t present before your furry friend moved in. Thankfully, there are many simple things you can do to keep your home clean and organized if you have a dog.
To keep your home tidy with a dog, add absorbent mats at each entrance and keep a cleaning station with pet wipes to clean paws as needed. Keep food bowls on a waterproof mat, away from foot traffic. Have a tote for toys to keep them off the floor. Invest in a washable rug and furniture covers to make cleaning up after your pet easier.
There’s a reason they call dogs "a person’s best friend.” They are some of the most affectionate and caring creatures on the planet. There are tons of reasons to own a dog. Although these pets can make a mess, it doesn't have to be the case in your home. Below is a list of tricks to keep your home clean and tidy with a dog.
14 Ways To Keep Your Home Clean And Organized With A Dog
1. Use Wipes To Keep Paws Clean
Dogs are notorious for tracking in mud and debris inside with them. If you’ve wiped up more than your share of muddy paw prints from the floor, then you’ll want to find a way to keep mud outside where it belongs. One great way to prevent dogs from tracking in dirt is to have pet-friendly wipes readily available at the entrance. A small cleaning station near entry doors is a fantastic line of defence to prevent messes and keep your home tidy, despite your dog’s messy paws.
2. Brush Your Dog Outside
Pet hair is almost always the number one way these lovable creatures make a home look unkempt. Dogs with long hair that shed are particularly guilty of this issue, but most dogs leave hair on furniture, the floor, and your clothing. One of the best ways to reduce pet hair in the home is to brush your dog daily. Brushing lodges the hair in the brush, so it doesn't fall all over your home. Brush your dog outside whenever possible, so any lose hair stays outdoors.
3. Keeps Absorbent Mats At Entryways
Another way to keep wet paws from messing up your home is to keep a mat on either side of the doorway. Ensure these mats are absorbent, so they can help to remove moisture and mud from your pet's paws. Mats are a great additional line of defence against outside dirt getting inside. Remember to regularly clean the mats so they remain effective and aren’t covered in dirt.
4. Wash Dog Beds Every Week
Most dog owners have at least one dog bed for their furry companion. When you shop for a dog bed, look for one that is washable or has a removable and washable outer layer. When you buy a washable bed, you can easily clean the pet hair and dog smell from the place your dog uses in the most. As a rule, try to a wash dog bed weekly if you have a shedding dog. If you have a small, rarely shedding dog, bi-monthly washing should suffice.
5. Buy A Washable Rug
Washable rugs have become quite popular in recent years. They are lightweight, transportable, and affordable. These rugs are great for dog owners because they can hide messes dogs leave, and if your dog has an accident on the floor, you can simply toss the rug in the washing machine. While there are plenty of cleaning sprays you can use to clean up vomit and excrement, it’s much easier and hands-off to throw a rug in the washing machine. If you have hardwood floors, a washable rug can also help keep them scratch-free.
6. Use Natural Deodorizing Sprays
Part of keeping your home tidy when you own a dog is removing dog smells. Even a clean dog can smell a bit, which can eventually make your house smell like your pet. To prevent this from happening, use natural deodorizing sprays in areas where your dog spends time. You can also use a natural oil diffuser, potpourri, and other fragrances to help your home smell great, despite owning a dog.
7. Sweep And Vacuum More Frequently
No matter how often you brush your dog and wipe its paws, every dog will still shed and track in dirt and debris. To prevent these remnants from building up and making your home look dirty, increase your regular cleaning schedule. In particular, sweep and vacuum more frequently than you did before you had a dog. Sweeping is a chore you should do daily, and you should vacuum twice a week, or more if your dog sheds often.
8. Use Mats Under Food Bowls To Minimize Messes
Dogs need to eat and drink, which means you likely have at least one, if not multiple, water bowls in your home. While most dogs aren’t particularly messy eaters, they can slop up water as they drink. To prevent spills from spreading, keep a waterproof or absorbent mat underneath the dog's bowl. A mat will help keep the surrounding floor clean and prevent small spills from spreading.
9. Have A Bin For Dog Toys
Dogs love toys, but they also love leaving their toys all over your home. If you’re tripping over toys and making them squeak when you walk through your home at night, then it’s time to get a toy bin to keep dog toys organized. Without one, you’ll end up with toys scattered all over the home, which makes your home look messy. Having one container for all a dog’s toys makes it easy to keep them tidy and accounted for.
10. Keep Dog Bowls Away From Foot Traffic
Try to find a strategic location for your dog's food and water bowls. Specifically, keep them away from hallways, entryways, and other high-traffic areas. It’s easy for people, especially guests, to kick food and water bowls that are sitting on the ground. Find a place where your dog can eat and drink in peace, and where no one will accidentally kick their bowls.
11. Invest In Furniture Covers
If you let your dog on your couches and chairs, consider purchasing furniture covers. These washable covers are great for several reasons. For one, they protect your furniture and keep your chairs and couches looking new for longer. They also collect dog hair, which disappears after you wash and dry them. As long as you wash your furniture covers diligently, your furniture will look clean.
12. Use Barriers To Make Certain Rooms Off Limits
If you have certain rooms you want to keep lookin pristine, like a formal dining room and guest room, then consider making these spaces off-limits to your dog. You can either keep the doors to these spaces shut or add barriers, such as a baby gate, to keep your pet out of certain rooms.
13. Train Your Pet To Stay Off Furniture
Training your dog is challenging but very rewarding. In addition to teaching your dog to “sit,” “come,” and understand “no,” you may also want to train your furry friend to stay off furniture. Keeping your dog from jumping on countertops or sitting on couches and chairs is a great way to keep your home clean and tidy.
14. Create An Outdoor Space For Your Pet To Enjoy
Dogs love being outside. The sights, smells, and life all around are enough to keep most dogs entertained for hours. If you live in a mild climate, consider building a structure for your dog and tailoring part of your outdoor space for its enjoyment. The more time your dog spends playing outside, the easier it is to keep the interior of your home clean. There will be less dog hair and smell, and your dog will be happy to have time outside.
Summing Up Ways To Keep A Home Tidy With A Dog
There are endless benefits to owning a dog, but one downside is that they tend to make your home look messier and unkempt. To help keep your home tidy, have a cleaning station with pet-friendly wipes near the entrance, and use mats to prevent your pet from tracking in dirt. Use washable rugs and furniture covers to protect furniture and floors, and consider building an outdoor space so your dog can spend more time in the yard.
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Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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