Fluffy friends are an essential part of a home. They aren’t just pets—they’re family. As much as you love your furry friend, you have to admit that their shedding, licking, and tracking of the outside inside takes a toll on your home’s cleanliness. Discover how to keep a sanitary house with pets.
Keep Your Pet Clean
All pets need to bathe at some point—even if bathing a cat is controversial. You know your pet better than anyone, and you know their bathing habits. If you have a dog, you know that distinctive, dirty-pup smell and should have them on a bathing schedule. Every two weeks is typical for dogs that are outdoors often or prone to messes. Every month is a good option for dogs that prefer the indoors.
For cats, it depends on the cat. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you may need to bathe your feline friend. If your kitty cleans itself often and avoids messes, you may be able to let it take charge of its own cleaning schedule.
Every pet is different—adjust bathing schedules to its needs.
Manage the Shedding
Short-haired or long-haired, cat or dog, every pet sheds more than its owners would like. If your home gets coated in loose pieces of your furry friend’s coat within the blink of an eye, you’ve got a shedding problem.
For Dogs
When dogs shed too much, it can be an indication that you need to adjust their bathing schedule. It is also helpful to brush your pup regularly to catch any of those loose hairs before they strike.
For Cats
For short-haired cats, you’ll want to brush them daily and ensure their diet promotes a healthy coat. Long-haired cats may shed in clumps or bite out matted fur, leaving it lying everywhere. Brush long-haired cats daily to ensure they don’t get too many hairballs.
Shedding is bound to end up covering your floors and furniture. Invest in many lint rollers, and consider a few house rules to minimize shedding in sanitary areas:
- No pets on the counters.
- No pets on the furniture except for designated spots with pet beds or blankets to protect the upholstery.
- Consider making the kitchen off-limits—it is where you cook and eat, after all!
Disinfect Your Home Often
A few unsanitary conditions are inevitable with pets, regardless of how clean they are or how much you manage their shedding. Some pets lick objects obsessively. Others are known food bandits. There’s also no telling what your pets get up to when you’re out of the house. For this reason, it’s incredibly important to prioritize disinfection. Pets track in dirt, germs, viruses, and more, but as this site explains, you can eliminate the risks by understanding the importance of disinfecting your home.
There are so many different methods to keep a sanitary house with pets. At the end of the day, you know your fluffy friends and their habits. Adjust your cleaning and lifestyle accordingly for a more sanitary coexistence. There are countless ways to keep your home clean, even with the fluffiest of friends. Brush them, bathe them, set some ground rules, and train them to stay away from sanitary areas. By following these steps, you won’t have to choose between a clean home and your pet—you can have both!
