collaborative post | Any dog owner will know that dogs mean a certain level of mess. While it’s often not a massive issue, it can be very obvious if you have an otherwise clean home.
Photo by Taylor Kopel on Unsplash
So, what can you actually do about it? Well, in this article, we’ll cover the top tips for how to keep floors clean when you have a dog.
How to Keep Floors Clean with a Dog
1. Be Proactive
One of the biggest sources of mess on the floor will be paw prints and dirt. You can avoid this by having a paw cleaning station near your front and/or back door. At the most basic level, it should be a towel you can use to wipe your dog’s feet.
Having a fabric doormat will help too, just in case you’re not there to clean their feet. You can also get specific paw cleaners, but these won’t do much that you can’t already achieve with a towel.
2. Keep Your Pet Properly Groomed
Staying on top of your dog’s grooming will go a long way to preventing excess shedding around the house. This doesn’t mean you need to take them to a professional groomer every week, though.
A cost-effective alternative is to simply brush your dog’s fur yourself. Unless you have a hypoallergenic breed, all dogs will shed some fur, and brushing at least means you can contain where this is shed. Also, keep your dog’s nails trimmed to avoid scratches.
3. Make Good Use of Rugs and Mats
Whether your house has hard floors or carpets, throwing down some rugs and mats can make a huge difference. Focus on key areas, such as by entry doors and the living room, to minimise the amount of mess that transfers onto the floor. Ideally, you should use washable rugs for obvious reasons.
4. Use an Electrostatic Broom
While a broom will never do as good a job as a vacuum cleaner, an electrostatic broom is ideal for a quick sweep. Tackling busy areas regularly will prevent excess pet hair from building up and making its way into corners. So, if possible, run the broom around a few times a day to capture hair before it forms dust bunnies.
5. Consider Using Baby Gates
One of the best options for keeping your floors clean is prevention. If you’re fed up with cleaning carpets regularly, consider shutting your dog in a room that has hard floors, such as the kitchen. While this might not work for everyone, it can be a good solution if your dog has muddy paws.
6. Set Up a Space for Your Dog
Similarly to the above tip, having a dedicated space for your dog to sleep and relax will help contain any potential mess. This doesn’t have to be in a separate room but should be made up with items that can be washed as needed.
For example, in a corner of your living room, have a dog bed on a washable mat. Hopefully, this’ll mean the dirt and hair your dog carries will be contained in this area, minimising the amount of cleaning you need to do, or lessen the burden of your domestic cleaning service.
You can also restrict your dog to eat in specific areas, since even the best dog food can get all over the floor. Keeping them contained while feeding reduces the risk of spills all over the house.
In the summer, you can feed your dog outside and don’t have to worry about mopping or sweeping too much. But in the winter, it is usually better to put their meals in a mud room (keeping them out of harm’s way). You don’t want squelchy dog treats oozing up between your toes in the morning when someone left them on the floor!
7. Think About Your Vacuum Cleaner
A good quality vacuum cleaner is a must-have if you have a dog. Stick with a corded hoover, as these have far more suction power than cordless models. Consider getting a pet-specific one because they’ll come with special attachments and even more suction power to help lift hair out of carpets.
Another option worth considering is a robovac. An automated robot vacuum cleaner is ideal for taking the hard work out of cleaning up after a dog, particularly if you get one that mops too!
8. Don’t Forget About Mopping
Hoovering up dog hair is one thing, but you’d be amazed at the difference a good mop will make. A Swiffer-style mop is fine for daily use, but you’ll want an old-fashioned mop for deeper floor cleaning. Make sure you use high-quality, pet-safe floor cleaning products too.
For homes with pets or heavy traffic, deep cleaning can become time-consuming and physically demanding. In such cases, bringing in professional cleaners can make a significant difference. Services like We Clean Homes and similar others, specialize in thorough, pet-friendly cleaning solutions that help maintain fresh, hygienic floors and a healthier living environment.
You might also want to consider a steam mop. They’re ideal for tile floors (less so for wood) and will make quick work of even the dirtiest dog mess.
Final Thoughts
The most practical advice for keeping floors clean when you have a dog is to simply clean regularly. This might not be groundbreaking, but it’s true. Other than proactively cleaning your dog, the next best thing is to clean every day or two. Failing that, learn to embrace the mess!
