If you are a dog OWNER, odds are you are a dog LOVER! Long gone are the days when dogs were simply working companions whose place was only at the hearth or out in the barn. They’re now an integral part of the FAMILY! They cuddle with us on the sofa to watch TV, go on long holiday trips in the car (or plane), go out to dinner at out favorite café, and for some, they even have a place as a snuggle-bug in our beds!
What this means is dog hair – EVERYWHERE! The only time when this won’t be a thing is when your dog gets alopecia. But even then, that’s something else that you are going to have to deal with. (You can Visit this website here though for more information on what you can do to solve this). It’s not a common thing for your dog to get alopecia though, so you’ll probably have to deal with dog hair everywhere! What to do? What to do? Just deal with it? Live with our furball’s fur infiltrating every nook and cranny? The mess can be overwhelming, but thankfully there are many ways to help you overcome this! If you own a Siberian Husky, hair is going to be a massive problem! Some Siberian Husky dog food brands contain formulas that aim to minimise hair loss, perhaps this is a good solution for your household! Recently I checked out all sorts of pet stain removers, to find the best one to deal with the mischief my dog gets up to!
I know how hard dealing with a messy dog can be, but don’t give up! We’re here to help you keep loving and enjoying your furry cuddle bug, but also keep things sane surrounding the cleanliness of your home. Here is your ESSENTIAL HOUSECLEANING GUIDE FOR DOG OWNERS!
Read, share, AND contribute your own tips in the comments below!
Tips For Dealing with Dreaded Dog Hair
We all know upholstery is a magnet for dog hair, so if you allow your pooch to hang out on your furniture or bed it is definitely helpful to invest in a few covers, like throws, blankets or even special dog covers. In the absence of a cover, we’ve found the following two tips the quickest and most effective methods to remove dog hair off your furniture.
A) Use a damp sponge or a damp rubber glove. Simply rub these lightly over your furniture and the hair should cling easily to the glove or sponge. Pull the clumps of hair off as you go so you don’t end up depositing it back to to your freshly cleaned surface!
B) Use a pet-specific lint roller. A store-bought lint roller comes in washable and disposable versions. Here’s washable version that features a large head and is designed to do both furniture, as well as carpets and hard floors.
If you’re into DIY, this version is also effective for lifting dog hair from fabrics and upholstery.
* To make a DIY roller simply wrap sticky tape (masking tape is cheaper than Duct tape, fyi) around any handy cylindrical shape (like an old hairspray can) and get rolling! You can store it after you’re finished and pop fresh tape on top next time time it’s needed. If you want to be really cool you could even wrap making tape around a paint roller!
Time Saving Tips To Reduce Shedding
Is It Actually Possible to Stop a Dog From Shedding? The short answer here is no, virtually all dogs shed to some extent and there is no way to completely stop your dog from shedding. The best you can hope to do is reduce their shedding. How? CLICK HERE for a few time-honored tips from none other than Martha Stewart.
Laundry Tips for Dog Owners
While there are detergents touted as “just for pets,” they seem to be a product of marketing! As long as you use a mild detergent without dyes or fragrance you can safely wash your pet’s bedding and toys in your washer.
How To Clean Your Dog’s Laundry!
A) To help neutralize the odor on your dog’s bedding or toys, add one cup of baking soda to the wash water. Avoid liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets as these may irritate a pet’s skin due to the added perfume.
B) Line drying bedding and toys will help to freshen and dissipate odors. If you must use a dryer, be certain to check the lint filter frequently during the cycle – especially if you have large dogs or long coated canines. Dog hair can quickly overwhelm a lint filter!
C) After washing your pet’s laundry, you may choose to cleanse your washing machine by running a cycle of hot water with 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach. Now you’re ready for the next load for the rest of your family.
Do you have any tips for making the laundry more dog friendly?
Share them with us in the comments below!
Floor Cleaning Tips for Dog Owners
A) If you have hardwood flooring, vinyl floors, or tile floors the best course of action is to first vacuum or use a Swiffer-type mop rather than a traditional broom. Brooms can just rearrange the dust bunnies! With both methods make sure to clean beneath and behind furniture and in corners where the big fur balls accumulate.
B) The best way to get all the hair off your carpet is to take this three pronged plan of attack 1. First, lightly dampen your carpet with a spray bottle. Then use a rubber brush to roll all the hair into a ball. 2. Next, vacuum, going over the carpet a few times in alternating directions. 3. Finally, for an even deeper clean, a window squeegee will pull out the last stray hairs.
Dog Afraid of the Vacuum?
Many dogs develop a fear of vacuum cleaners because of their shape, size and the fact that they are quite noisy. They must seem like Zombie Apocalypse Invaders!
If you have a dog frightened of your vacuum, watch how Cesar Milan helps gain this dogs trust and ultimately removes the fear of the vacuum:
How To Clean Pet Stains (urine / feces)
Yep, we love their dogs, but HATE dealing with the nasty messes they can leave behind. Removing pet stains from carpeting and floors is a two fold task. 1. Remove the actual mess and stain, 2. Remove with the odor problem associated with it. These tips are also really useful for the car as well, All Car Leasing found that 21% of people never let their dog in the car – well maybe these tips might help change their minds!
Carpet Pet Stain Removal
A) Urine
Of all pet stains, pet urine is one of the most difficult to remove completely.
- Start by soaking up as much of the moisture as possible using paper towels or an old but clean rag.
- Then, mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of warm water.
- Blot the urine stain with the solution and repeat until the stain has completely transferred to the towel.
- When finished, use clean warm water to rinse and blot until almost dry.
B) Feces
While urine is difficult to remove, feces is probably the nastiest to deal with. However, using the appropriate products and methods, it can be completely removed. First, grab a couple of plastic grocery bags (be careful as sometimes there are tiny holes) and use the bags to scoop the pile off the floor surface. Tie it up nice and tight with the handles. Then,
- Mix of one-cup vinegar and two cups of warm water.
- Soak the pet stain, allowing it to stand for about five minutes.
- Using a clean, white rag or paper towels, blot up the moisture.
Repeat this process until the stain is completely gone. To remove any remaining odor, sprinkle baking soda on the spot, allow it to dry overnight, and then vacuum in the morning.
If the stain is bad (like really really bad – like not not coming out bad), then you might consider using Nature’s Miracle or Ecos, both enzyme-based products available at many retail stores.
Removing Dog Hair from Clothes
For washable clothes or bedding that is covered with pet hair, run the items through the dryer on air/no heat first before washing them. The tumbling action of the dryer will loosen much of the hair and it will be sucked into the dryer lint trap. Be sure to clean out the lint trap immediately after taking this step to prevent odors and to increase air flow.
- Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing loads with lots of lint or hair. The vinegar will help the fabric fibers relax and “release” the hair.
- Tossing the clothes in the dryer – even for a short time – will help remove hair more than air drying clothes. Keep all dryer vents clean and clear of lint so that there is enough strong air flow to pull the hair away from the fabrics.
Removing Dog Odor from Furniture
First, gather the following deodorizing supplies: a big box or two of baking soda and a bottle of apple cider vinegar.
Laundry: Wash all of your linens, blankets and cushion covers in a mix of oxy powered laundry detergent and a ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.
On the carpets, bed, and furniture, sprinkle baking soda liberally, using a cleaning brush to spread it around and into the fabric. Let it all sit overnight so that the baking soda has a chance to absorb the odors.
Air Quality: Use a HEPA filter and change the furnace and A/C filters frequently. Airborne pet odor can get trapped in your air filters and recirculate the odor on a continuous basis.
We all love our dogs, but dealing with the messes they leave behind can certainly be a challenge.
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Have some Pro Tips of your own not mentioned here? SHARE them in the comment section below. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Here’s to Happy Dogs and Happy Dog Owners!
PS. HERE’S A BONUS TIP: DEALING WITH STATIC CLING
Whether it’s doggie laundry or human laundry, static cling is annoying! For those wishing to avoid dryer sheets, here’s a handy tip. Attach a safety pin (or two for large or extra static-prone loads) to one of the articles in the load and it will act like a mini lightning rod, discharging the static build up. (Courtesy Lifehacker)
