Cleaning with pets: hair, odours and safe products
Dog or cat at home? Tips to tackle hair on the sofa, unpleasant odours and which cleaning products you’re better off avoiding around animals.
Pets make a home cosy, but also get dirty faster. With the right approach it stays fresh without you having to vacuum every day.
Hair under control
- Vacuum more often, but for shorter periods: two to three times a week the spots where your pet lies.
- A rubber glove or squeegee removes hair from dust surprisingly well.
- Brush your pet outside; that saves a lot of hair indoors.
Odours
- Wash blankets and baskets regularly.
- Accidents? First dab, don't rub. Then use an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down odour compounds.
- Ventilate daily.
Be careful with products
Some cleaning products and essential oils are harmful to animals. Keep pets away from wet floors, rinse well afterwards and store products out of reach. If in doubt, ask your vet.
A cleaner with pets in the house
When booking, indicate that there are pets. That way the cleaner knows what to expect and can arrange whether your pet stays in another room during the clean. If there's a lot of hair, allow an extra half hour.
