After the August winds, our homes are full of dust, hairballs, leaves and even dry grass. Now that spring has sprung, and it has warmed up, we all get the urge to clean our homes. Pack away the winter stock and bring on the summer goodies.
Cleaning does not have to be a dreadful chore if you follow these quick and easy tips. You and your dog will not only be happier and healthier, but ready for some awesome summer fun.
Before you jump right into bathing your dog, think about the area where your dog spends most of the day: its bed. There is no point in bathing your dog if he or she will go back to a smelly or dirty bed. Here are a few things to consider:
Clean your dog’s beds and bedding:
Your dog’s bedding tends to attract a buildup of dirt and grime. Follow these four steps to ensure a clean, comfortable sleep for your pooch.
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Make sure when you buy a dog bed that it has a removable bed cover that you can wash regularly.
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Vacuum your dog’s bed often: this will remove your dog’s hair, as well as the dirt and other debris it carries in. Follow up with a lint roller to pull away any hair the vacuum may have left behind.
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Wash the cover and the bed base (if it’s machine washable) in cold water. Use F10 SCXD Veterinary Disinfectant or a mild laundry detergent. Add a cup of baking soda to help neutralize odour.
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If possible, put your pet’s bedding cover in the tumble dryer for about 20 minutes, this will also help remove more pet hair.
Wash your dog’s collar:
Your pet wears its collar every day, day in and day out. Think about what could be brewing underneath it and what it could do to your dog’s skin. Try to wash your dog’s collar as often as possible or make sure you have a few that you can rotate while one is in the wash. After all, a stinky collar can ruin the pleasures of a freshly groomed dog.
Dog Hair:
To remove pet hair from furniture, drapes, or other fabric-covered items, use rubber gloves. Slightly dampen a glove on your hand and sweep the fabric with it. Hair will ball up and be easy to pick up. Wash and dry gloves between uses.
Muddy Paws:
With Spring being here, we are watering away and waiting for that beautiful rain to do its magic in our gardens, but with a lovely watered garden comes muddy little paw marks all over your home. To prevent this, carefully trim the hairs around your dog’s paws regularly, this will prevent mud from clumping to the paw. You can also keep a bucket of water and a towel near the door. Before you come inside, remove dirt by dipping each paw in the water and gently wiping it with the towel.
Quick Bath:
Try to bath your dog about once a month. Over-bathing your dog can cause dry skin, which results in itching and flaking. Avoid these issues but keep your pup smelling fresh by giving him a quick dry bath. Brush out his coat first to loosen dead hair, dirt and debris. Wipe him down with a towel spritzed with a solution of half apple cider vinegar and half water. Follow up by sprinkling baking soda on him and rubbing it in, which will neutralize the smell of the vinegar. Let it sit for a minute or two, then brush it off. Tip: Give your dog his dry bath outdoors, or another place where a little mess won’t matter! Alternatively, use Kyron’s Purl Fresh Foam, which is a waterless shampoo.
Toys:
Wash your dog’s toys to keep them germ-free and keep your dog healthy. You can pop your dog’s soft toys in the washing machine, ideally in a garment bag. (Be sure to use dog-safe detergent.) Line dry or put them in the dryer inside a pillowcase. Hard toys can be cleaned in the sink, or an easy alternative is to put your pal’s toys in the dishwasher with its bowls.
Garden:
By maintaining your garden, you can cut down on messes inside your home.
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If your garden is mostly dirt, consider putting grass down in those areas. By providing a grassy area for your dog to play, you can minimize the amount of dirt and mud she’ll track indoors.
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Keep your dog’s boredom at bay by providing toys exclusively for outdoor play. If he or she has something to play with, they will be less likely to paw at the dirt, so his/her paws will stay cleaner.
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Some dogs are sensitive to citrus smells. Scatter the peels of a few oranges in places where you don’t want your dog to dig, like flower beds or vegetable gardens.
