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Tame That Hairy Beast: Cleaning Tips Every Pet Owner Should Know
They are adorable and we love ‘em like they are our kids, but our sweets pets can be challenging to clean up after and can make it tough to keep our homes company clean. There’s pet hair and potty accidents. There are dirty paws and sharp nails. Some of us have messy eaters (not just four-legged, LOL) and some of us have chewers and shredders. Yes, our furry friends know how to make a mess. Being able to manage and even prevent these messes can make routine cleanup a lot easier and help prevent your frustration levels in check. Perhaps it’s the shedding that drives you nuts or the kitty-litter scatter. Maybe it’s funky pet odors, or water bowl splashes. Everyone has pet-owner woes and we’re here to help you tame that hairy beast with these tips designed to keep your home as clean as it was before you had pets. Unless, of course, you’re an utter slob in which case we’ll need to talk to your mom LOL.
HAIR
- Lint Roller. A lint roller is a great way to remove pet hair from your clothes, but you can also use it on couches, chairs, curtains, and other furnishings in your home. Lint rollers usually have a wide surface area and are effective at picking up pet hair. And BONUS TIP: did you know they are also great for cleaning dust from your lamp shades? For the top 8 rollers that work great on pet hair, click here.
- Furniture Covers. I absolutely cannot say, “no!” when my pup asks to snuggle on the sofa or curl up next to me in bed. If, like me, you can't keep pets off your furniture, use covers to protect the fabric from damage and unwanted odors. Most furniture covers are designed to be easily removed and washed. Wash regularly to help maintain a clean and odor-free environment. The Spruce Pets rate these the top 8 choices. In addition to protecting against pet hair, furniture covers can also guard against stains caused by spills, accidents, or tracked-in dirt. Choose a cover made from pet-friendly material that is durable and resistant to wear and tear. Avoid materials that may be easily punctured or torn by your pet's claws."
- Vacuum & Sweep. Keep pet hair from taking over your home by vacuuming and sweeping regularly, maybe even daily. Last summer I cared for my brother’s two yellow labs for a month while he and his wife were traveling. As the owner of a 12-pound non-shedding dog, I was overwhelmed by the amount of hair. Fortunately, they had a very nice, specialized pet hair model vacuum cleaner which was a game changer. Some vacs are also available with pet hair attachments designed to handle shedding, even intense shedding. Here are the 7 best vacuums for removing pet hair according to RTINGS.com.
- Hair Remover. Getting pet hair off your clothes, carpet, furniture, and out of your car can become an all-consuming challenge. But the right pet hair remover can make the job a lot simpler. You might even be able to wear that black shirt again. Here are the 8 best pet hair removers of 2024, tested and reviewed by The Spruce Pets.
- Rubber Glove. If pet hair is set into your furniture, use a rubber glove to get rid of it. Simply dampen a rubber glove, something that you probably already have on hand for washing dishes, and run it over the furniture to attract and collect hair.
- Groom. Brush daily and bathe regularly to help keep your place hair- and dust-free. Trim nails whenever they get long to protect your floors and doors from scratching damage. It's important to know how to cut your pet's nails to avoid hurting them. If you’re a chicken like I am, consider going to a groomer or your veterinarian. Speaking of nails, keep kitty from scratching your furniture by purchasing a scratching post. Cats scratch to mark their territory and sharpen their claws; offering designated scratching surfaces can redirect this behavior away from furniture and other areas of your home.
STINK
- Baking Soda. Pets can be stinky leaving funky odors in their wake especially in their favorite areas of the home. Baking soda has odor-neutralizing properties and can be used to absorb and eliminate unpleasant smells. Sprinkle it on carpets, furniture, and pet bedding, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, and then vacuum.
- Wash Pet Bedding Regularly. Whether it’s your pup’s bed or your kitty’s tower, pet bedding must be cleaned regularly to prevent odors and pet hair buildup. Be sure to use pet-safe detergents! Consider using covers that can be easily removed and washed. My pup’s bed is small enough to toss in the laundry, but my brother’s 75-pound dogs have sleeping quarters almost as big as a twin bed, so a removable cover is a must. If you do have a cover that isn’t removable, sprinkle the bed with baking soda and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then vacuum.
- Quick Clean Up. Cleaning up pet messes promptly and effectively is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. Start by scraping up as much of the mess as possible. Then, clean the areas by scrubbing them with water and a pet-safe detergent. If odors remain, sprinkle the area with baking soda, let it sit, then vacuum.
- Odor Control Litter. Let littler help control smells. Good Housekeeping tested and reviewed 20 litter brands to find the vest. Their top 11 picks are easy to scoop, control odors and don't stick so much to cats' paws, which can lead to litter particles on the floor.
DRAINS
- Protect Your Shower Drain. Getting pet hair in your shower during bath time is inevitable, but there are ways to minimize shedding for easier cleanup. Brush your pet before her bath to help remove loose fur. Be sure to use a grooming brush appropriate for your pet's coat type to reduce shedding during the bath. Place a hair catcher over the drain, which keeps pet hair from causing clogs. It’s also very helpful in keeping your own hair out of the drain. Find the best ones here.
SPLATTER SCATTER
- Food Mat. My little guy drinks like a crazy animal and splashes his water everywhere. One of my brother’s labs attacks her food bowl with such force, the food flies. A great resolution is to place a mat under their dish. Mats can catch any spills and make cleanup so much easier. Look for a mat that will be easy to clean. A non-skid mat will help prevent your pup from pushing bowls around.
- Litter Mat. If you have a cat, you know they have a propensity for kicking litter out of their litter box. Keep it contained by using a litter mat, which is made with a mesh material designed to trap litter. These textured mats act like a doormat. Even the most well-behaved kitty will track litter granules out of the litter box. A good litter mat catches most of those bits before they spread throughout your house. Find New York Times Wirecutter’s top three litter mats here.
- Litter Box. You can also avoid the spread of litter by choosing the right litter box. A litter box with higher sides prevents cats from kicking or scattering litter outside the box (does your cat love doing this?) People has tested and reviewed 15 of the best litter boxes.
PAWS
- Wipe. Wipe your pet's feet when they come inside. While it might not be necessary to wipe every time they come inside, it's a must in certain instances. A walk during a rainstorm, after a storm when there are mudpuddles, when there is snow on the ground, and when playing in the yard or dog park (where a little time may be spent digging) are all times when paws will get dirty. I once lived in the historic section of a small town, and that old neighborhood seemed to have decades of dust and dirt everywhere. Even when we stuck to the sidewalks, my pups (there were two then) would come home looking like they were wearing brown socks. Sometimes a wipe with a damp cloth will do the trick. Other times a foot wash is in order. With my short guys, sometimes it was a half bath involving feet, legs, bellies, and chests. Chewy has 10 top-rated wipes for dogs and these wipes for cats.
- Cover. When it’s really mucky outside, boots make a word of difference. It took many tries for me to find the right foot cover for my pup; many dogs just don’t like wearing a boot (although they look SO CUTE!). After losing three of four adorable zip-up red boots with fur trim ($50 down the drain) in a snowstorm, I thought we were through with boots and any real chance of a successful walk in the snow. The gamechanger for me – and Ollie – was Pawz Waterproof Boots. They are not only lightweight and waterproof; they also can’t be easily kicked off.
Imagine being able to love your pet unconditionally along with your nice clean home now free of all the dirt, hair, and stink your four-legged baby brings with him. Now you can. You’re welcome, and tell your dog we said, “Hi!”
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The holiday season is upon us! It’s the most wonderful time of the year… provided it does not include an emergency visit to a veterinary clinic for your beloved pet. To keep your holidays merry and bright, and your pup or kitty safe, we’ve come up with a few tips so your pet gets nothing but love, plenty of scritches, and perhaps a new toy from Santa Paws. Here’s our guide with six ways to keep your pet safe this holiday season.
- FOOD
Food and the holidays go hand in hand. Even if you are not entertaining, you will probably have foods in your home that are new to your pet. The best practice is simple: keep all people food out of the reach of your pet. And if your pet is like mine, they can become quite devious in their seek-to-eat escapades. One year I was enjoying a glass of red and a bit of 65% dark chocolate while addressing Christmas cards. When I left the room to get a refill, I tucked the candy into the desk drawer. In the amount of time it took me to top off my wine glass, Ollie had opened the drawer (?!?) and consumed all the chocolate. He was only 10 pounds, the chocolate was dark and gone, so off we went to the emergency animal hospital. I find it so interesting that whenever one of my dogs gets into trouble, it's always after normal vet office hours. Cha ching.
So skip the table scrap snacks. If you’re a softie, and must treat your pup to human food,
Treat your dog to:
- Pumpkin purée (out of the can, not from the pie)
- Unseasoned cooked veggies (sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, green beans, broccoli, carrots)
- Turkey (unseasoned and without bones)
- Apples (no core or seeds) and bananas
- Unsweetened cranberries
- Special treats on the list to Santa Paws include:
- Chew toys that are basically indestructible
- Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods
- Chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible.
- Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the riskiest toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery.
- Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or an interactive cat dancer.
Tell Rover “Absolutely Not” to:
- Bones can easily splinter and can cause serious health problems (even death) for your pet.
- Candy contains the sweetener xylitol which can actually lead to liver failure, so keep sweets of all kinds away from your pup, cat or ferret.
- Chocolate contains theobromine, which can be extremely poisonous when ingested by dogs and may even result in seizures and death.
- Dairy products like milk, cream, cheese, and butter are bad for dogs. They can cause diarrhea and other digestive disturbances as well as allergic reactions in dogs.
- The entire onion family, including onion flakes, onion powder, chives, and garlic, may be an ingredient in many holiday foods, from mashed potatoes to gravy to stuffing. In fresh, cooked, dried, or powdered form, onions can lead to damaged blood cells and anemia.
- Ham and bacon can cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease, in dogs.
- Nutmeg, in significant amounts, can be toxic, causing hallucinations, stomach pain, and possibly even seizures. Other spices can be dangerous, too, so it’s best not to feed dogs treats from your holiday dinner.
- Nuts have a very high fat content and may contain other toxins that can result in stomach upset or other serious health complications. Macadamia nuts, in particular, when fed to your furry family member even in small amounts, can be especially toxic and result in vomiting, tremors, paralysis, rapid heartbeat, and other complications.
- Citrus and pits. Keep foods containing citric acid away from your pets. Foods such as cherry pits, peach pits and apple seeds contain essential oils that can cause irritations, blockages and even central nervous system depression if a significant amount if ingested.
- Caffeine from coffee, tea, or chocolate are an ingredient in some deserts or other holiday dishes. Caffeine can actually be fatal to canines.
- Raisins and grapes consumed even in small quantities may cause rapid kidney failure in some dogs, and fruitcakes are one holiday offering likely to contain them. If you were thinking that you could unload an unwanted fruitcake on your pup, think again.
- Salt abounds in many holiday dishes, and when consumed by dogs, can cause excessive thirst, urination, or worse. It’s especially detrimental to dogs with underlying kidney or cardiovascular conditions.
- Sugar found in most holiday desserts can fuel cavities, obesity, and even diabetes. It’s also bad for dogs with arthritis.
- Alcohol has the same effect on dogs’ livers and brains as on humans’, but it doesn’t take as much to cause serious damage and can even lead to respiratory distress, tremors, coma, and death. That rum cake? Off limits for Rover!
- Eggnog is loaded with fat, sugar, milk, raw eggs, and alcohol, making it a quintuple whammy, none of which is good for Whisker’s health — or yours, for that matter.
- DECK THE HALLS
Who doesn’t love a beautifully decorated home for the holidays? Your pets may love your decorations too much. To keep your pet safe, follow these tips:
- All By Myself. Never leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, a decorated tree, or potpourri.
- Boughs of Holly. Avoid mistletoe, lilies, and holly. Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.
- Tinsel Town. Kitties love the sparkly, light-catching tinsel "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.
- Oh, Christmas Tree. Secure your Christmas tree to keep it from falling over if your dog bumps it or your cat climbs it. A falling tree may injure your pet (not to mention precious ornaments!). A properly secured tree will also prevent the tree water — which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset — from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe. Hanging lemon-scented car air fresheners in the tree may deter your cat from climbing it.
- Make sure your dogs or cats do not chew on limbs or droppings from the tree. Ingested pine needles could become lodged in the intestinal tract, puncturing the lining, or bunching together and causing an intestinal obstruction.
- That Holiday Glow. Never leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, and place them on a stable surface. When you leave the room, put the candle out.
- An Open Fire. If your dog enjoys chewing, avoid fake and fire starter logs. They contain sawdust and paraffin which can cause an irritated stomach or even intestinal blockage when ingested.
- All Wired Up. Keep wires, batteries, strings of lights, and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.
- SILENT NIGHT
Give your pet its own quiet space to retreat, complete with fresh water, and a place to snuggle, and a favorite toy or two. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case, kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place or in a separate room away from the hubbub and to escape the excitement (such as if you’re entertaining guests).
Though the excitement of a party may overwhelm some pets, keep your pets inside during cold weather and provide plenty of toys to keep them busy.
Prepare ahead of party time with lots of play and exercise to discourage barking.
As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. And remember that many pets are also scared of fireworks, so be sure to secure them in a safe, escape-proof area as midnight approaches.
- GUESTS
Inform your visitors ahead of time that you have a pet, as some folks may be afraid of dogs or have allergies to pet dander.
Establish house rules with your guests regarding your animals. These rules should include your food and treat preferences, whether guests can feed from the table, if your pet enjoys being held (or not), and what kind of play is appropriate. If your guests have small children, be sure you and their parents carefully watch to ensure kids don’t handle your pet too roughly or pay it too much attention.
Ask animal-loving guests if they’d like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party. If they are so inclined, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.
Safeguard all of your medications behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.
- TRASH
Pets who enjoy selecting their own snacks out of the trash bin can accidentally eat foods that are potentially poisonous to them. Keep trash in tightly sealed containers or hidden somewhere your pet can't access.
- IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Be prepared for the worst-case scenario:
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Identify your closest 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic before an emergency occurs.
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Write down or store the number for your veterinarian or pet hospital in your phone.
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Research, then save your pet hospital or clinic's holiday hours.
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Write down or store the number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435 in your phone. Note that a consultation fee may apply.
For those of us who love our pets, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without them! Following simple guidelines can make sure your beloved pet stays safe this holiday season. And tell your dog we said hi.
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