Our pets are special beings and what joy they bring into our lives. But what a mess they can be, too! Sometimes the amount an animal sheds, or their habits, can affect whether or not a person is willing to get a pet or where the pet is allowed to spend their time. If you’re hesitant to let your pet on the couch because of fur or odors, here are some quick solutions to ease your fears. Make your home pet-friendly by arming yourself with the knowledge and tools to take care your furry friend.

Tackling Odors

For larger furniture and carpets, you don’t need anything fancy to get ride of a lingering pet smell. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar will do the trick for most items in your home. For mattresses, couches and carpets, sprinkle baking soda liberally and use a brush or your hand to spread it around and let it sink into the material.

Let it sit all day or overnight to do its thing. Then, vacuum it up. If it’s a small rug or couch cushions, you can start by shaking them out (outside, of course) and then vacuuming to make it easier.

When you wash sheets, towels or your pet’s bedding, mix a ¼ cup apple cider vinegar into the washing machine along with your regular detergent. For comforters, quilts or larger materials, dry cleaning is the best option for removing pet odors and oils safely.

Stain Removal

If it’s a fresh accident, soak up as much of the liquid as you can with paper towels or newspaper then rinse with cool water. Then spray with a baking soda and vinegar or peroxide mixture. There are lots of pet stain & odor removers but generally, they are as effective and sometimes less safe than natural remedies and cleaning products you already have.

For set stains, mix vinegar, warm water and baking soda together to spread or spray on the spot. You could also put out the baking soda first and then spray the vinegar and water on top to help it soak in.

You can also mix hydrogen peroxide and a small amount of dish detergent to spray on the baking soda if that’s easier. After letting the mixture sit and dry, vacuum up the remaining baking soda.

For clothes, sheets or other machine-washable items, add a small amount of baking soda to the load when you wash. For larger blankets, pillows or quilts, consider dry cleaning as soon as possible to avoid the stain setting too long. This will also help preserve the items when they might otherwise get worn out in a machine wash.

Pet Hair Problems

Depending on the dog or cat, pet hair can cause a lot of problems. It can get stick to clothing and blankets, clog up air filters and fill your vacuum in seconds. One solution is to get furniture that doesn’t attract the pet hair and instead, it falls to the floor. Washing blankets or pillows regularly can help reduce the amount of hair floating around the house and help keep them from building up odors.

Vacuuming regularly is your best bet. Get a vacuum that can really get hair out of couch cushions and carpets. Vacuuming blankets, pillows and all seating in your home is a great idea. Sweeping out the loose hairs is also a quick way to keep the hair off our clothes day-to-day. Shaking out blankets doesn’t always do the trick, but it’s an option for a quick removal of hair.

Don’t let pet fur, odors or stains keep you for making your home a loving, pet-friendly place.

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