How to Keep Your Home Clean and Fresh with Pets 

If you love to have a clean, fresh home and you love being a pet parent, it can be hard to find the balance between those extremes. Pets aren’t known for their, um, cleanliness. Especially pets that haven’t been housetrained yet, or pets that have fur, or pets that have paws…you get the idea. 

With the right tools, your house can stay clean, even if it’s not exactly tidy. Who needs tidy, anyway? Here are four tips the East Sacramento Veterinary Center wants to share to help keep your house clean(ish). 

1. Enzyme Cleaners Are Magical

A typical house cleaner can mask an odor for a while, but it won’t get rid of what’s causing the smell. Especially if doggy doo, cat pee, or puppy puke is involved. 

This is where enzyme-based cleaners come in. Enzyme cleaners are designed to break down the proteins in urine, vomit, and other organic, err, materials. They get rid of both the mess and the smell, which is crucial. 

Here’s why: pets like to return to the scene of their last doo or wee and do their business in the exact same spot. If you don’t use an enzyme-based cleaner, your pet will still be able to smell the lingering organic materials in your floors or carpets. 

With a good enzyme-based spray on hand, cleanup doesn’t leave any traces for your pet to sniff out. 

2. Choose Pet-Friendly Cleaners

When you’re cleaning regular household messes, it’s key to use pet-safe cleaners. Bleach, ammonia, and other common disinfectants can irritate your pet’s paws, skin, and even their airways. 

With a pet-friendly cleaner, you can keep your space hygienic without harming any sensitive noses or toeses.

Look for non-toxic, fragrance-free products made with natural ingredients. Here’s our tip: vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda go a long way toward getting things clean without risking any harm to your furry family members. 

3. Invest in Pet-Friendly Furniture 

If you love white couches, delicate floral rugs, and antique wood furniture, you may want to put them all in an area your pet can’t access. 

Or, better yet, trade these out for furniture that’s paw, fur, scratch, and slobber-friendly. The joy of pets is worth it—we promise! 

Look for sofas and chairs with (very) tightly woven fabrics that can resist scratches and are easy to wipe down. Whether it’s real or fake, leather is an excellent option because it doesn’t trap hair. Microfiber is another solid option because it’s easy to clean. 

Basically, the more durable and washable a piece of furniture is, the greater your peace of mind will be as your pets roam through the house. 

4. Get a Pet-Specific Vacuum (and Carpet Cleaner) 

Vacuum companies make vacuums specifically for sucking up large quantities of pet hair. 

With this investment, you’ll save yourself a lot of pointless sweeping and clogging of vacuums that aren’t so pet-friendly. And you may as well get a pet-friendly carpet cleaner while you’re at it.

For more pet-friendly cleaning tips, reach out to our caring team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center. We know a thing or two about cleaning up the messes our beloved pets leave behind, and we’re more than happy to share our secrets. 

Call us at (916) 737-5670 to learn more and set up an appointment for your furry pal.