How Pet Parents Can Keep Their Homes Clean
Nothing beats the feeling of being greeted by a four-legged friend when you come home after an exhausting day. The affection that it shows relaxes the mind and helps you unwind. That may be why pet ownership is on the rise in the U.S.
Data from Forbes reveals that 86.9 million, or 66%, of households in the country own a pet. The most popular pet in the U.S. is dogs, owned by 65.1 million people, followed by cats. About 46.5 million households in the U.S. have a cat.
While pets bring immense joy, they can be a source of mess sometimes. They can destroy the furniture or pee on the carpet or the bed. You love your pet, but not the mess that it leaves behind. Not to worry, though. You can keep your home neat and tidy with a little bit of preparation.
Here, we’ll share some practical home maintenance tips that will help bring order back to your home.
1 Train Your Fur Baby to Stay Off Furniture
Cats scratch furniture to express their emotions, such as stress or excitement, or sharpen their claws. Dogs don’t scratch, yet they dig at furniture due to boredom, anxiety, or marking their own territory.
It is important to teach your fur baby to stay off furniture. Or, prepare to upgrade your furnishings a couple of times a year.
To prevent your cat from scratching the legs of your dining room table or couch, you must provide it with something to scratch. The Humane Society of the United States advises pet parents to provide their felines with a scratching post that is at least 32” tall. Encourage your feline to use it and reward it with treats when it uses the scratching post.
Training your dog not to dig at your furniture can take some time. Until your furry baby learns to stay away from furniture, consider pet-proofing it. Use a commercial pet repellent product on sofas and cushions so that your canine companion doesn’t climb on it.
However, if your pet doesn’t stay away from furniture, invest in pet-friendly furniture. These are often stain-resistant, easy to clean, and highly durable.
2 Maintain Your Air Conditioning System
According to Forbes, you must hire a professional to service your air conditioning system once every year before summer. However, homes with pets may need AC servicing once every few months.
Normally, AC manufacturers recommend replacing air filters every three months or 90 days. However, homes with pets must change their air filters every 60 days or two months. Pet fur and dander can take a toll on your AC. That is why you must replace your air filters every two months.
Not replacing the filters every few months will trigger allergies. It will also reduce the airflow, forcing the system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. This can lead to higher energy bills and shorten the lifespan of your AC unit. The best way to filter pet danders, Air Today Heating & Cooling explains, is to install high-efficiency filters.
In Greenville, South Carolina, for instance, the risk of dust and dander is very high this year. On some days, such as 23rd July, the risk of dust and dander is extreme. Taking allergy medications might relieve symptoms. But your allergy will be triggered if your AC is clogged with danders. Replacing your current filter with a high-efficiency one will help, however.
Consider hiring an HVAC contractor that offers AC repair in Greenville, SC. These professionals will inspect your system and advise you on the filter that would be ideal for your home. Just make sure you choose a contractor with experience working with homeowners with pets.
3 Clean Up Accidents Immediately
When litter training your pets, expect accidents to happen. That is a part of the process. According to PetMD, cats and dogs pee on the bed due to stress, anxiety, or health conditions like stones and crystals in the urinary tract, incontinence, and diabetes.
Anytime your feline or canine companion pees on the bed or elsewhere in the house, you must clean up immediately. Blot up as much liquid as possible with a clean cloth or a paper towel. Avoid rubbing, or the mess will be pushed deeper into the fibers.
If your furry friend pees on the carpet, use an enzymatic cleaner that is specifically designed to remove pet urine stains and neutralize odors. These cleaners contain natural enzymes that eliminate the smell. That would prevent it from marking the same spot again.
In a nutshell, keeping your home spick and span when you have a pet isn’t challenging, though it may seem one. These tips can help you create a clean, comfortable, and harmonious living space for both you and your furry friends. Hence, incorporate them.
Living with pets should be joyful and not stressful. A bit of preparation and maintenance can go a long way in ensuring a happy home for everyone.
