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As a dog mom, it’s important to me that our house is always clean – even if that means taking extra precautions regarding carpets. I know many of you have pets, so I wanted to share tips for keeping your carpets clean and free of pet hair and stains.
When you share your home with pets, it can often mean that you have to make some sacrifices for the furnishings around you. Even the most well-behaved furry friends can come under scrutiny when keeping carpeted areas clean and hair-free.
Hard flooring is often the easiest option to keep clean, but it’s not always conducive with claws. Hardwood flooring can be a nightmare to stay free from scratches, meaning that your beautiful floors may look worn out.
Here are some tips for keeping your carpet clean with pets; some might seem excessive, but I promise you it is worth it!
Doormats At Every Door
It might seem obvious, but if you get into the habit of wiping their paws when they come in from outdoors, it’ll prevent dirt from being transferred around the house.
My latest and most significant purchase is the Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat. I can’t tell you how insanely helpful it has been for our home this winter, especially during “mud season” when all the snow is melting, and our yard is a mud hole!
It is extra-absorbent, machine washable, and easy to vacuum (once the water and mud dry); we have the 60″ x 36″, and it fits perfectly at our side entrance where we let the dogs in out. I can’t believe I am getting that excited about a doormat, but if you have dogs and live in the Midwest, you probably feel my pain when I refer to “mud season.”
Vacuum Your Carpet Regularly
This is the most important tip for keeping your carpets clean with pets. Vacuum at minimum once a week, and more if you have shedding dogs or cats. A good vacuum will pick up all the pet hair, and dirt tracked on your carpets.
I recommend vacuuming your carpets as often as possible (i.e., daily) during the heavy shedding times of year to avoid a build-up of hair and any lingering smells accompanying them.
In this recent blog post, I’ve rounded up the best vacuums for dog owners if you’re looking for a new vacuum.
Keep Your Dog Clean
Groom them often, using a comb or brush that helps to distribute their natural oils around their coat. This will help to reduce the amount of hair they shed, and it will also keep their fur healthy and looking great!
I groom our Akita, Kenzo, about 2-3 times a week year-round. It just is so necessary with his frequent blowouts and double coat. Vik doesn’t shed nearly as much, but I try to comb him to keep his hair silky smooth and free of dust and dander. If you keep your doggies clean and groomed, your carpets and rugs will love you more.
Spritz Your Dog With Pet Cologne
Don’t have time for a bath? Make your dog smell extra sweet by spraying them lightly with pet cologne or dog deodorizer. Not only will this make your dog smell great, but it will also help to keep their fur from getting too greasy.
Snuggles and cuddles from your furry friend never smelled so good! A quick spritz of dog cologne removes offensive odors without an overpowering scent.
Use Baking Soda
If your carpets smell bad, raid your baking cupboard and sprinkle some baking soda over them to deodorize any odors. It’s most effective after a few hours but gets better with time. Just sprinkle on your carpet in the evening, then all you need to do is vacuum it up in the morning, and your carpets will be fresh and clean-smelling once again!
Deep Clean Regularly
In addition to vacuuming, you should also deep clean your carpets regularly. This will remove any pet hair or dirt embedded in the carpet fibers. You can either hire a professional or rent a carpet cleaner and do it yourself.
To keep your carpets at their absolute optimum, it’s always good to treat them to a professional clean now and then.
Have Stain Removers On Hand
When Caleb and I first bought our Andes West Elm couch, we celebrated in our living room with a bottle of wine and watched Jeopardy. You can probably guess what I’m about to say next… yep. I spilled my wine on our new couch, and some dribbled onto our new rug. But! With a bit of stain remover, you would never notice!
Accidents (dog or wine-related) will always happen, so it’s good to have provisions for treating your carpets as soon as mishaps arise. Small portable carpet cleaners can do wonders for small areas and steam cleaners.
| TIP: If you are still in the potty training stages with your dog having a specific spot cleaner for messes is vital. I was searching on Amazon and found this product: Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator: Carpet Stain Remover for Cats and Dog Pee. According to the reviews, it does wonders. We’ve never used it for dog pee, but we used it in our basement for cat pee, and I was relieved that it could fully remove the odor. |
Use Runners for High Traffic Areas
Our home is entirely hardwood or tile flooring, but we have rugs and runners in every room. And, as you all know by now, I am insanely OCD about our home looking like a freshly staged showroom.
I LOVE Ruggable Rugs! They are great for dog owners because they vacuum easily and are washable!
We have a runner along our kitchen island, and several small floor rugs throughout our kitchen, one at the base of the fridge where Vik likes to sleep and Kenzo likes to munch on ice cubes, and we have one underneath their food and water bowls.
Small rugs and runners are easy to wash, and you can always shake them outside if you don’t feel like doing extra laundry this week.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips for keeping your carpets clean with pets. By following these tips, you can keep your carpets looking like new – even with the most active of dogs or cats. Do you have any tips for keeping your carpets clean with pets? Share them in the comments below!
Happy cleaning! Follow these tips, and your carpets will stay looking like new!
Dog grooming refers to both hygienic care & cleaning of a dog, a process by which a dog’s appearance is enhanced.