The Key to a Stylish,
Pet-Friendly Home
Don’t let a good dog result in a bad home
One upside to the pandemic was that across America, animal shelters reported huge upticks in foster applications as people saught out a friend to ride out the COVID-19 crisis with. Many who couldn't have a pet before are using this time at home to take care of animals in need of some love and care. Not to mention, more Millennials are buying homes these days not because of kids, but because they want more room and backyards for their dogs. And those of us with pets are getting a whole lot more quality time with these funny, furry creatures. But just because there are animals in the house, that doesn't mean you can't have a nice place that's clean, organized and smelling fresh. Whether you're taking care of your first puppy or the proud parents of several dogs or cats, here are six tried-and-true tips to make cohabitating with your pet more manageable.
Clean House Tips for Pet Owners
Wipe
This one might be a drag at first, but it's nonnegotiable. You've got to wipe your pet's paws when they come in from the outside if you want to keep your interiors in good condition. It keeps them from tracking grime around your floor and staining your furniture. Plus, it provides a daily opportunity to wipe down their fur and keep them soft, clean and smelling fresh. These hypo-allergenic, non-sticky wipes are infused with aloe and Vitamin E to hydrate their skin and coat while wiping away dirt.
Hypo-allergenic grooming wipes,
$14.99 for 100 by Earthbath
React Quickly
to Accidents
The sooner you get it up, the better your chances are of removing any potential stain. And while there are plenty of targeted products out there (Nature's Miracle is handy to prevent dogs from territorial marking), simple shaving cream typically out performs them all. The white foam is particularly good at getting out bodily stains like blood, vomit, feces and urine. Cover the area with the foam, let it sit and work its way into the offending stain for a few minutes. Work it in with a sponge or brush and then allow it to sit a few more minutes. Finish by wiping up the remaining cream with warm water.
No More Marking stain/odor remover,
$5.01 by Nature's Miracle
Thick & Rich original shaving cream,
$2.29 by Barbasol
Cabana rug,
from $295 by Burrow
Consider Different Rugs
Rugs tie a room together. Besides, hardwood floors and animals paws don't exactly get along. Thankfully, there are all sorts of pet-friendly options out there. There are stylish/indoor outdoor rugs (which are often more affordable than all-wool versions), machine-washable styles and modern options like Burrow's Cabana rug, made from stain-resistant faux jute. These rugs won't let any accidents soak in, and any mess will wipe clean with a damp rag.
Stay On Top
of the Hair
Look, when you've got animals in the house, the fur is going to fly. And then it's going to land—on your floor, on your furniture and probably all over you too. You can go for the heavy duty lint rollers (Evercare's have proven to be particularly sticky), but there's a simpler, less wasteful way to rid yourself of pet hair. Standard latex gloves, the kind you might have under the sink right now, literally pulls the hair from the fabric and gathers it up into a tidy little ball.
Cotton knit throw,$80 / $64.99 by West Elm
Get a Washable Throw
A throw blanket laid on the end of a bed or over the side of a sofa always looks good. Toss one wherever your pet prefers to lay. It will let both of you relax while prolonging the life of your furniture. Opt for a 100% cotton style, that way it'll wear well and be able to be thrown in the washing machine now and then to refresh it.
Fight Odors
Candle, $36 by Outdoor Fellow
Some pet smells can be persistent. If you're regularly bathing them (and wiping those paws), you shouldn't encounter these too much. But occasionally, especially during warmer weather, you might need to open the windows to air things out. Just ten minutes of fresh air breezing through will make all the difference. It's also a nice excuse to have a clean-smelling, but not overpowering candle burning in the living room—out of reach for wagging tails or curious cats, of course.
Candle,
$36 by Outdoor Fellow
Fostering a new pet?
The Seattle Animal Shelter has a downloadable manual (PDF) for new foster dog parents. Interested in fostering a cat? Hill's Pet Nutrition has prepared a similar guide for you.
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