How Clean Up After Your Dog Without Spending a Fortune

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

We love our dogs. They’re a wonderful source of companionship. They’re faithful, playful, sometimes goofy, and they always love us.
 
But they can really stink and cause our homes to stink.  
 
And it’s not just the times when they wallow in a patch of dead, wet leaves, or when they form an accidental friendship with a skunk. Just like human beings, dogs do perspire, but they do it from their paw pads and from their hair follicles. Plus, they have dander, the tiny particles of skin that they (and all animals, actually) shed, which can cause allergies. And dogs can make a mess as well. They drool, throw up and sometimes have accidents if they don’t make it outside in time.
 
Even though we love them dearly, all their dander, the results of accidents, and general smelliness can make our homes have a certain odor that says to visitors, “Yes, a dog lives here, too.” But there are a few things you can do to keep your home free of “dog smell” so that the only way visitors can tell if you have a dog is if one greets them with a wagging tail when they walk into the door. 
 
1. Invest in an Air Purifier or Filter for Allergies
Purifiers simply keep the air in your house clean by ridding it of airborne particles like pet dander. They range from the simple such as a filter that replaces the one in your HVAC system to a home purifier system, which is professionally installed and intended for anyone with severe allergies.  Using a purifier system would be a great way to keep the air in the entire house clean and free of dander and all other types of allergens. There are some filters that are better suited for pet parents than others, so be sure to compare different models to find one within your budget with features that will work best for your needs.
 
2. Use Household and Natural Ingredients for Spot Cleansers
When your dog has a mishap on your carpet or hardwood floor, you should tend to it immediately before the urine, fecal matter, or vomit has a chance to set in. On hardwood floors, for example, urine can permeate into the wood. And on carpet, it can become absorbed deeply into the fibers. While there are many fine products that can remove the stain and odor left behind, they tend to be expensive. And if your dog becomes ill, or even if you’ve brought a new puppy into your house, you’ll find yourself dabbing up lots of messes and exhausting your expensive supply. Consider, instead, using a combination of items you might already have around the house, such as dishwashing liquid, water, vinegar and baking soda to remove urine, feces and their stains from carpet. 
 
3. Deep-Clean Carpets and Rugs
Pet dander and other odors aren’t only in your home’s air, but they’re also trapped in your carpet. In fact, Michelle Manetti in The Huffington Post states that a carpet can be 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat. Sometimes our dogs accidentally use the carpet as a toilet, whether it’s to relieve themselves or throw up a dinner that didn’t set well. Over time, even if you spot-clean any place where the dog left you a present (even if it’s drool), bacteria and odors can set into the carpet fiber. Consider purchasing or renting a deep-cleaning system for your carpet. These systems not only remove stains, but they also can help scrub out any pet dander as well. 
 
We do love our dogs, but they can stink and make a mess. Fortunately, we don’t have to invest a lot of money into making sure our home stays nice and fresh with them in it.