How to: 5 Tips to a Clean and Safe Home For You and Your Dog
A clean and safe home is more important than most people think. Here are some cleaning tips every dog owner should know!
A clean and safe home is more important than most people think. If pet hair, crumbs, doggy odour and allergens are making both you and your dog sick, here are some tips that you should know!
1. Keep your home dust- and hair-free
(Picture from irobot.com)
A robotic vacuum can save you a lot of time vacuuming up dust and hair. You can get one from $500-600 – an investment you won’t regret. Let it do its job while you are out and come home to a dust- and hair-free floor!
Many vacuum cleaner brands, such as Bosch and Dyson are also coming up with interesting features and attachments for pet owners. Most of which are to help with getting rid of pet hair from flooring, carpets, furniture, and even directly from your pet!
2. Use only safe and fragrance-free cleaners
Some dogs are particularly sensitive to synthetic chemicals and fragrances. Cleaners should not end up harming your dog instead. Homemade cleaners are a safe bet and can be equally effective.
Just mix equal parts water and vinegar, and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil (mama uses Young Living’s lavender and Citrus Fresh essential oils). Baking soda can also be added into the recipe for more effective cleaning.
In cases where vinegar is not suitable, you can make an all-purpose spray using one cup water, one to two tablespoons of unscented Castile soap and a few drops of essential oils.
Don’t forget about your laundry detergent too. Choose powder form with no Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) and other potentially harmful chemicals.
3. Aim for fresh air
Air purifiers using HEPA filters help remove harmful particles like dust, mould and pollen from the air you breathe in. They will come in especially useful during the haze period.
Battling with doggy odour? Essential oils are my solution. Reed and ultrasonic diffusers, nebulisers, and scenting clays are great options to keeping your rooms smelling wonderful.
With that said, make sure you are using oils that are safe and non-toxic to your pets. Generally, lavender, lemongrass and frankincense are safe to use for both cats and dogs.
4. Keep mess at bay
If your dog is a messy eater or likes to pick food out from the bowl, dining mats may be a good idea for easy cleaning.
Also, absorbent floor mats at the front door and under water bowls help to save you from spills, splashes, and paw prints.
5. Pay attention to places that are often overlooked
Three examples are your kitchen sponges, dog water bowls and walls.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning your dog’s things and change it regularly. Your dog’s water bowl should also be washed, preferably everyday, to prevent harmful slime from building up at the bottom.
Last but not least, mould and mildew can grow on walls and ceilings, causing you and your dog to be sick. Opt for paint that has anti-mould properties and clean your walls regularly with vinegar mixed in warm water.
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