6 tips for house cleaning with pets

Pippin surveys our house from many perches.

No one in our house had an indoor pet before. When we brought our dog Pippin home almost a year ago, it was a new and exciting experience. But I don’t think we were truly prepared for what having a house pet meant.

We limited his access to rooms other than the kitchen and den until we were relatively sure we were ready. It took longer than we, and probably he, thought, but he’s happily roaming the house now. Except for the kids’ rooms, primarily because they’re not quite as tidy as they should be. Small toys and dogs could make for frequent vet trips.

Pippin’s newfound access has calmed down our active Lakeland Terrier, and he seems to feel like more a part of the family. And we like having him closer.

We’ve learned that having a house pet means more house cleaning. And we’re learning more tricks to keep the house clean easier and with a lot less effort.

These are six tips we’re using for a cleaner home:

• Vacuum often. Pippin loves to play with a knotted rope with frayed ends and we find those threads all over. Vacuuming keeps them off the floor as well as dust and dirt tracked in from walks. How often? Try two or three times a week (every other day) and each weekend day to cover the surfaces and pick up loose dust and dirt.

• Use a dust mop on flat floors. A large head dust mop or mop with disposable covers on hardwood or tile floors can cover a lot of area in a short period of time.

• Use blankets or towels to cover favored resting areas and to make your pet’s bed. They’re easier to wash, and you should wash them often.

• Brush your pets frequently to reduce shedding. We’re lucky with Pippin. His hair is wiry, a Terrier trait, and he doesn’t shed, generally. We keep him trimmed (every four to six weeks) to prevent any shedding.

• Don’t use ammonia-based cleaning products. They smell like urine to pets. Instead use water and absorbent towels or a cleaner/neutralizer formulated for pet messes. Blot, never rub. Terry cloth towels can be good, but we use our kids’ old cloth baby diapers.

• Consider crate training. If your dog has displayed destructive behavior in the past, you can save yourself some trouble and cleanup. It’s not cruel as long as you don’t use it as “punishment.” We did it based on recommendations from Pippin’s breeder and several other dog owners we knew. It’s worked out very well for us and Pippin will often rest in his crate even when we’re all home.

Cleaning a house with a pet requires a little more prep and a little more training, but so did the kids! But it’s been so worth the effort.