Maintaining a household with pets - Top tips

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At Housesitmatch we often hear from both our housesitters and our homeowners about maintaining a household with pets. In this article we offer some of those curated top tips to help you manage your home.

improve home security — Pets like to be where you are in the home – make note

Tips for Maintaining a House With Pets

One of the biggest challenges pet parents face is keeping their homes clean and free of odors. When you’re looking for decorating ideas, look for items that are easy to maintain and won’t pose a hazard for your furry buds. Always focus on things that can be easily cleaned by tossing into the washer or simply wiping down when you shop. Check out these practical tips to help you pet-proof your home.

Get Hair-Proof Upholstery for the Furniture

maintaining a home with cats — Cat hair is a challenge around the house

Training your fur babies to stay off the furniture is hard, and when you’re cuddled in with a good book or watching TV, you need the little guy snuggled next to you. But, this indulgence will result in dog hairs everywhere. A good option is to choose upholstery that is unlikely to attract hairs. Go with leather, short-pile cotton velour, and other tightly-woven fibers that repel hairs. If you can find colors that closely match your four-legged pal’s fur, that’s even better. A quick vacuum or brush down with sticky tape will instantly make the furniture look as good as new.

Dealing with Accidents and Urine Stains

Accidents and urine stains are a normal part of a household with pets. The best thing to do is to deal with the stains as soon as they occur. Mop up the liquid until almost dry. Next, spray with an enzyme product or a solution of baking soda and vinegar mixed with dishwashing liquid. You can also invest in washable throw rugs or slipcovers to protect the fabrics. This option is also a great idea if your pet is allergic to leather. You’ll avoid their skin coming into contact with the upholstery. Getting a faux leather dog collar and leash set will also prevent reactions like red skin, rash, hair loss, and lesions.

Prevent Scratch Marks

Households with pets often have a problem with scratch and claw marks on the furniture, doors, and windowsills. An excitable pet trying to get attention or chase after something interesting outdoors will result in unsightly damage to the wood. Despite your best efforts to train them to stay off tabletops, you can’t always be in the room to enforce the rules. Get around the problem with specialized shields to cover the areas where scratching is most likely to occur. As for tabletops, treat them with a layer of deep pour resin. Epoxy resin can create a hard, durable cover resistant to damage from claws. An added plus is stain-proofing and protection from spills.

maintaining a home with pets — Some pet need special accommodation to ensure their comfort and yours

Eliminate Breakable China and Glass

Your furry babies will launch into the air when playing to catch a ball or tossed toy–that’s an accepted fact. And, cats love to climb anything with the tiniest room for a paw-hold. A household with pets should be free of fragile decorative items like china, crystal, and even, glass-framed pictures on the walls. Not only can they get knocked down and break, but the shattered glass is a hazard for delicate paws. Instead, go with wall-mounted paintings encased in tough, unbreakable plastic, or say, a custom home painting made on museum-grade paper.

Bathe and Groom Your Furry Pal Regularly

Bathe and groom your furry pal regularly. Grooming ensures that the brush picks up loose hairs in place of shedding all over your home. And, washing away the mud and dirt will prevent it from settling on your furniture. Avoid shampooing too often, but a quick rinsing or mopping down with plain water after a walk will do the trick.

A final word on maintaining a household with pets

Maintaining a household with pets is easily done with the proper planning, substitutions, and a little effort. You’ll have a cozy, beautiful home that is a perfect environment for your furbaby family.

Maintaining a household with pets – Top tips