{"id":30720,"date":"2020-04-10T09:32:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T07:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingino.com\/?p=30720"},"modified":"2020-06-06T19:45:48","modified_gmt":"2020-06-06T17:45:48","slug":"essential-pet-cleaning-habits-you-probably-arent-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplehouseholdtips.com\/essential-pet-cleaning-habits-you-probably-arent-doing.html","title":{"rendered":"17+ Essential Pet Cleaning Habits You Probably Aren’t Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(budabar\/123rf.com)<\/p><\/div>\n

Whether you have a dog or a cat (or several), you know how important it is to clean up after them, and how difficult. Dogs, especially, are messy animals, often traipsing through mud, slobbering, or shedding over everything you own.<\/p>\n

To help combat the mess (and smells<\/a>) that comes with pet ownership, there are several things you need to know and that you need to be doing, not only to keep your home and pet clean but to keep your beloved animals happy and healthy too. We\u2019ve gathered over a dozen essential things you should be doing in your home to keep your pet and home clean and healthy. Check them out.<\/p>\n

Dry Shampoo<\/h2>\n

Dogs get stinky, some more than others, but washing them every time they start to stink isn\u2019t an option. Washing your dog even once a week can lead to dry skin, which is bad for your dog.<\/p>\n

Instead of suffering through stinky dog odors or drying out your pet\u2019s skin with too frequent baths, you can use a homemade dry shampoo solution: Baking soda. Just sprinkle it on your dog\u2019s coat and brush it out, and voila. The odor is gone. For extra nice smelling pups, add a few drops of essential oil into the mix.<\/p>\n

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Lavender<\/h2>\n

Another way to combat dog smells is lavender essential oil. Just a few drops on your dog’s coat (aim for the shoulder blades), and you can be smelling the soothing scent of lavender instead of the overpowering scent of sweaty dog.<\/p>\n

There is also some evidence that lavender will help calm your pets. Though the best cure for excitable pets is lots of exercises.<\/p>\n

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Cleaning Toys<\/h2>\n

Dog (and cat) toys need to be cleaned just as much as children\u2019s toys. To keep your pet\u2019s toys germ and dirt free, and ultimately extend the toy’s life, wash cloth toys in the washing machine and plastic ones in the dishwasher.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t use human soaps on them though, just pet-friendly ones. Human ones can contain things that may hurt your dog or cat.<\/p>\n

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Throws<\/h2>\n

If you let your pets on your furniture (or even if you don\u2019t, but they still end up there anyway), buying some inexpensive and easy-to-care-for throws will not only be comfy for your pet, the blankets will help protect the furniture from mud and grime, shedding, and scratching. Throws go from a good idea to essential if you have hard-to-clean, easily damaged, or just plain expensive furniture.<\/p>\n

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Rubber Gloves<\/h2>\n

If you have massive amounts of pet hair on your furniture, rubber gloves are an easy way to pick it all up.<\/p>\n

Your fingers are great at getting in all those hard to reach places most other clean up methods can’t get to, and as long as the gloves are damp (not sopping wet or you\u2019ll just ruin your furniture), the hair will stick right to the gloves!<\/p>\n

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Vacuuming\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Use a vacuum on your pet instead of a brush. There are special attachments <\/a>for certain vacuum cleaners that you can get just to brush your pets.<\/p>\n

These are great to cut down on shedding and are also better than brushes at removing dirt and dead skin, and they are more comfortable for your dog. Unless that is, your poor pet is deathly afraid of the vacuum cleaner.<\/p>\n

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Lint Rollers<\/h2>\n

Lint rollers are amazing for picking up pet hair quickly and easily from furniture, counters, clothes, the floor, yourself, and pretty much anywhere you can think of. They are inexpensive and easier to use on things like pet beds than a vacuum cleaner. Finally, with just this simple tool you can keep your pet hair under control! At least for the 5 minutes before your dog manages to shed all over everything again.<\/p>\n

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Stains<\/h2>\n

The stain remover is a must for any house with pets since accidents happen no matter how well trained your dog or cat. Commercial stain removers are not only expensive; they can be dangerous for you or your pets.<\/p>\n

All you need for an effective stain remover is a mix of white vinegar and baking soda diluted with water. Get a spray bottle for easy application, and your set.<\/p>\n

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Plants<\/h2>\n

Green leafy plants naturally help filter the air in your home. Not only will they add some nice decoration, but they also help combat that ever-present pet smell in rooms where your dog or cat spends the most time.<\/p>\n

Just make sure you get pet-safe plants. Some plants are toxic to dogs and cats, so do your research before you buy and keep your pet happy and healthy.<\/p>

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