Cleaning with Pets
Few people understand the struggle of keeping a tidy home as well as pet owners. As much as we may adore our furry little friends, it’s difficult to deny the mess they inevitably create. Whether your problem is pet hair, potty stains, muddy paw prints, or rogue feathers in the most unusual of places, we’ve reached out to experts in home cleaning from Sacramento to Miami to give you the best tips on managing the beautiful mess that is pet parenthood. So, grab a broom, put Fido out in the backyard, and read on to learn how to return your home to its former glory and keep it there!
Pet-friendly/non-toxic cleaning methods
A Shopvac and Water is your best friend when it comes to cleaning up after pet urine accidents. Extract the urine as best as you can from the carpet and then apply water to help rinse away any residual urine. This allows you to stay away from harsh chemicals. If odor persists a good enzyme will help eat away any of the remaining odor-causing bacteria.
The ultimate ‘secret’ solution to get dog or cat urine out of a carpet is to dry the area, apply a 1 to 1 vinegar/water solution, then apply baking soda and let sit for 1-2 days. Then clean the stain with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid, and vacuum!
Oft-overlooked areas
One of the neglected and overlooked areas in pet owners’ homes is under the pet crates or the feeding bowls. It is always best to remove the crates and feeding bowls and clean underneath and around it since crates will have lots of pet hair, and pet food under and around it.
Groom your pets regularly
First, make sure you keep your pets groomed regularly. Homes with groomed pets retain less pet dander and less pet fur. Second, make sure you react to accidents quickly. Smells from urine and feces can set and remain in carpets, and rugs. Our team at Green Maids & Co. uses green and organic pet cleaning solutions to fight pet stains and odors at the source.
Deodorize your home naturally
With pets in the home, sooner or later you will want to deodorize your home. One of the safest ways to do so is with an amazing naturally occurring material called diatomaceous earth (also known as ‘DE’). It has no chemicals and is highly absorbent. It is also an organic pesticide. DE consists of fine silica crystals that get inside any insect with an exoskeleton and ‘dry them out’, killing them naturally. DE absorbs foul odors from the carpet without the need for any fancy tools or chemicals. Sprinkle DE on your floor and let it sit there for one to three days. Then use a shop-vac or a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove the used DE. Do not use a regular vacuum as the fine crystals in the DE will destroy your vacuum. – Weekend Maids
Work smarter, not harder
Don’t waste your time vacuuming before you dust, and then vacuum again. Use rubber gloves or nitrile gloves and wipe furniture clean from pet hair in seconds. The gloves act like glue and the pet hair attaches to your gloves into a nice little hairball.
Pet-specific cleaning tips
Cats: I would suggest using odor-eliminating products and doing a thorough cleaning of floors, especially if it’s an indoor cat. Focus on regular cleaning of the cat’s toilet and you’ll be good. The best helpers with cat’s fur are vacuum attachments (I would recommend Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro) and just a regular rubber glove, Cat’s fur is soft and long enough so a rubber glove will help greatly with it.
Dogs: their fur can vary greatly so if it’s long and soft, I would suggest using a rubber glove and vacuum combination. If it’s short and thick then your best friends are vacuum attachment and lint roller (lots of lint roller!). Their paws can constantly leave prints on hardwood floors so if you want it to look flawless and don’t spend an hour cleaning it, just use a microfiber mop and ready-to-use floor spray (like Bona).
Other animals: our cleaners usually don’t experience any issues with other animals, aside from the rabbit’s fur. I would recommend just vigorously maintaining the cleanliness of their place and you won’t have a problem with any odors. That’s a good weekly family exercise if you have kids.