A few weeks ago, I posted a photo on my IG stories of one of the cream-colored sofas in our den, covered in muddy paw prints after the doods ran in from outside and jumped onto their furniture (yes, their furniture). I must have received two dozen messages from friends exclaiming, “oh, no!” before I posted a photo of the same couch 10 minutes or so later looking good as new.
No, I didn’t just flip the cushion (though, it crossed my mind…). Rather, a quick once-over with a pet tool coupled with a pre-treated fabric on the sofas to begin with ensured no staining remained. I started thinking of all the preventative measures and household habits we have that makes life with dogs (even dirty dogs) super manageable.
Plan. I know that not every house is pet friendly. I grew up in a house where the dogs (and cats, and cows) stayed outside on the farm. Inside was just for humans. However, Bryan and I have always had indoor dogs that enjoyed the outdoors as well. When we buy furniture, we look for fabrics that are durable and will hold up against puppy paws, and we always say “yes” when asked if we want our fabrics or furniture pre-treated against any sort of staining or liquid resistance. It may cost a smidge more up front, but knowing that we can take a cloth and cleaner to our sofas (and rugs, and throw pillows) is worth it. If the day ever comes that we’re a dog-free household, we have the built-in knowledge that we’re protected against things like wine spills, as well.
Scheduled Professional Cleaning. This is a relatively new one for me. Growing up, I can’t ever remember my parents or grandparents hiring a company to come in and clean carpeting or upholstery (though I do remember my grandma professionally cleaning her drapes every few years). With dogs that love and deserve to play outside, and love and deserve to come live inside, I know that no matter how well I vacuum the sofas, there’s going to be hidden dirt or stubborn grime that just isn’t going to come out unless I bring in a pro. We have a local steam cleaning company come in to take care of steam cleaning our rugs and our upholstered seating every two years.
Research Cleaning Tools. This one was big for us when we decided to bring the doods home. We’d never had puppies before, so preparing for “accidents” was new to us. We found the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser at Target and gave it a shot. It’s easy to use, stays charged for quite some time, stores easily, and can remove things like poo, upchuck, or the aforementioned muddy paw prints in a matter of seconds. I’ve also put it to the test with a bolognese sauce on those cream couches. Works like a dream.
Vacuum Regularly. In a house with dogs that love both romping in the grassy yard and lounging by the fireplace, this means a lot of in-and-out. Leaves, grasses, dirt, and dust are constantly making their way inside, and the only way to combat them are with a floor care routine. It’s as sexy as it sounds. We have a cordless Dyson mounted just inside the garage door, so grabbing it for a first floor once-over is quick and simple. Our Roomba can be set on a schedule so that daily sweeping doesn’t even have to be given a thought. We also make sure that we regularly vacuum our sofas and chairs once a month.
Keep Tools for Paw-Cleaning Within Reach. We have a small Tupperware bucket and a stack of small towels tucked under the couch in the sunroom for when- inevitably- the doods run through mud or have the impulse to dig. As soon as they’re in the door, they know to stop and get their feet wiped down if we ask them to. This definitely keeps the floors cleaner, and gives us the opportunity to check and make sure nothing painful is lurking between their paw pads. If it’s super dry outside (as it can sometimes get here during Kentucky summers), we’ll dip one of the rags into the water, wring it out, and give the dogs a quick wipe-down to remove any dust from their fur.
Brush. Admittedly, one thing that helps our house stay clean is having dogs that minimally shed. However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t brush the boys on the regular. Not only does regular brushing remove any loose or dead fur, but brushing also shakes loose any outdoor debris caught in your dogs coat, allowing you to control where said debris ends up. It’s so much easier to clean up one little pile of hair/dirt/etc. than it is to try and keep up with it all around the house.
If all else fails, cover it up. I once read that designers will often have extra upholstery material sewn into a cover for any sort of seating that their pets are allowed on. When the cover gets dirty, they just throw it in the wash. Whether you go to that extreme, or just cover your sofas with blankets to protect from paw prints, a cover of some sort is probably your best bet against the dirt/dust/fur that can come with allowing pets on your furniture.
For my dog parents out there, what tricks do you have for keeping things clean at home? I’d love to know if I’ve missed anything!
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
** photo by Don Lehman **
