10 Handy Home Hacks For People With Pets

Our pets are our best friends; they turn our houses into homes and are proven to have hugely-positive effects on our physical and mental wellbeing.

However, and we’re sure most pet owners will agree, this all goes out the window when you discover your beloved fury friend has covered your couch in dirt and fur or perhaps peed on your new rug.

As cute and cuddly as your pet maybe, they’re also naturally inclined to dig, chew, shed, and – well you get the gist – making it hard to keep your home clean and odor-free.

To make things a little easier, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite cleaning hacks for pet owners, so you can live harmoniously with your four-legged friend and still have nice things.

Shedding Hair

Are you constantly trying to remove pet hair from your couch, cushions, and clothes? Protecting your couch with a blanket is the easiest way to prevent this but won’t be totally effective in stopping sticky fur from taking over. Lint brushes, tape rollers, and rubber gloves are great for removing hair when your vacuum can’t quite get it all.

How to Prevent Chewing

Like all babies, puppies will go through a teething stage and will be happy chewing on whatever they can get their teeth into – literally! The upside is that they will eventually grow out of this but, in order to protect your furniture, there are a few tricks you can try in the meantime. 

• Essentials oils like citrus or clove rubbed onto chewing ‘hot spots’ like table legs and skirting boards should put a bad taste in your pup’s mouth.
• Make sure you have plenty of exciting chew toys on hand to prevent your puppy from seeking out things they shouldn’t.

How to Remove Urine Stains

Even if your pet is toilet trained, accidents can happen. If your cat or dog has mistaken your favorite rug for a patch of grass or their kitty litter tray, don’t despair, this natural cleaning method will banish stains and odors in a jiffy! First, soak up as much of the mess as you can with an absorbent paper towel.

Next, create a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water and pour or spray onto the stain and scrub with a soft brush. Finish by sprinkling over some baking soda and let it absorb, before wiping over with a damp cloth and vacuuming up any residue. Bicarb soda and vinegar are effective at removing stains and neutralizing ammonia.

Kitty Litter

Changing your kitty litter every day is the best way to combat bad smells but adding a layer of baking soda underneath your kitty litter will also help to neutralize odors.

Cats and Countertops

Does your cat love getting up on your kitchen countertop, especially when there’s food being prepped? Keep cats out of the kitchen and away from your dinner by placing aluminum foil along the edges of your benches. Cats hate the touch of foil and it will also cause them to slip (ever so slightly!) so they will quickly learn to stop.

Wet Dog Smell

Get rid of that wet dog smell in between washes by spraying or dotting diluted lavender oil on the middle of your dog’s back where they won’t be able to lick it off. Not only will this naturally eliminate odors but it will also help to keep fleas and ticks away and reduce anxiety.

Muddy Paws

Stop muddy paws in their tracks by always keeping an old towel at your door or in your car and wipe your dog dry after a messy outing. This will save you trying to get the mud out of the carpet or off the couch later.

Washing Toys

When was the last time you washed your pet’s toys? Not only do dirty toys smell, but they also carry bacteria that’s no good for you or your pet. Throw your pet’s toys through the wash when they start to look bad!

Clean Bowls

Cleaning your pet’s food and water bowls regularly is important for their health. To prevent food from building up into a stubborn and sticky mess, brush the bowl with olive oil or coconut oil after cleaning to make future cleaning a breeze.

Pet-Friendly Plants

Does your cat or dog have a habit of nibbling on your indoor plants? This could be more harmful than you realize, as many plants can be toxic to cats and dogs. Do your research and if you know there are plants in your home that are potentially harmful, keep well out of paws reach. 

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.