Have Pets? These 7 Tips Will Help You Keep Your Furniture Clean

Have Pets? These 7 Tips Will Help You Keep Your Furniture Clean

If you have cats or dogs, you may find yourself looking for ways to clean your furniture. Some people opt for pet cover solutions to keep it all looking great. If you do not want to use these items to cover up your furniture, there are other things you can to keep your home clean when you have pets living with you.

  1. Duct tape is great at removing pet hair. There are almost too many ways duct tape can be used around the house. If you do not want to use pet cover solutions, sofa slipcovers, recliner seat covers, and the like to cover your furniture pieces, you can get all the hair from your cats or dogs off by using duct tape. It is very sticky and can pull up the fur or hair in a way that is more effective than a vacuum. If you take a paint roller and put duct tape with the sticky side out, you can roll it over your furniture and get rid of the pet hair and fur quickly and easily.
  2. Use products with enzymes to deal with odors and stains. There are a number of products out there that are full of natural enzymes to work on the compounds found in most stains made by pets and the smells they create. These enzymes will naturally neutralize the odor and get rid of the stain. Once the organic material in the stain is gone, the enzymes evaporate. This process works in either several hours or several days. These products also work on pet cover solutions.
  3. Wrap cords with plastic conduits. It is no secret that cats and dogs can enjoy chewing on power cords. This is dangerous for the cat or dog and can be destructive for the cords in your home. One solution is to get flexible plastic conduits that can be wrapped around all of the cords you want to protect. Also, as an added bonus, you can bundle several cords in these pieces so that you can make it all look less cluttered. Pets often lose interest in the cords when they are less fun to chew on.
  4. Get some pet repellent. If you do not want to use one of the pet cover solutions but you want to keep your cat or dog from jumping onto your furniture, you may want to think about getting some products that repel the animals from your furniture. You can spray your furniture with something they do not like but will not stain your furniture. Some people put plastic protectors that have a prickly side. When that is placed face up, animals will learn that jumping on the couch is not a pleasant experience.
  5. Use baking soda. Baking soda us a great product for getting rid of any odors you cat or dog left behind on your furniture. All you need to do is sprinkle it on the furniture and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. This is non-toxic and will not stain your fabric so you can use as much as you want. Vacuum up the baking soda after it has been allowed to sit on the furniture and you will notice the pet smell is gone.
  6. Keep pets off your furniture with tin foil. If you place a strip of tin foil on your couch or chairs, your cat and dog will not want to sit on it. It is not very comfortable for a dog and it will drive your cat to distraction. This is a safe yet effective way to break them of the habit of sitting and sleeping on your furniture.
  7. Vacuum your pets. One way to get rid of excess hair or fur on Fluffy or Fido is to use the vacuum directly on the pet. Cats are well known to be scared of vacuum cleaners but if you start early, you may find that they like it.

As much as Americans love their pets, they can be messy. Getting furniture with tightly wound fabric can help you avoid pet stains. For everyone else, these seven tips can help you clean up after your cats or dogs.