Photo by Pixabay

By Tyler Evans

Do you love your dog but hate the mess? Your four-legged companion is a vital part of your family, but you may have a hard time keeping up with the cleaning. Dogs can leave behind a lot of fur, dander, saliva, and unpleasant odors. Keeping your home clean doesn’t have to cost a fortune, so here’s our best advice on budget-friendly home cleaning hacks for busy pet owners.

Combatting Dog Odors

Little is less pleasant than coming home to an offensive odor. Unfortunately, carpets can hold the biological material left over from pet accidents or doggy dander, making it hard to eliminate that scent. However, HomeAdvisor explains there are a few tricks for dealing with the smell.

Vacuum all your carpets, then use a budget-friendly steam cleaner to remove any fur, dander, and odors that are trapped in your carpet. Then use an inexpensive enzymatic-based solution to clean the area and remove the smell. This will combat the smell by breaking down the bacteria, and ridding your home of the odor. Finally, air out your home, turn on your ceiling fans, open the windows, and let out all the offending air.

Change your air filters often, and combat odors before they become a major problem. Order your air filters in bulk to save on costs, and keep extras on hand to make it easier to change them on time. 

Address Underlying Issues

Every now and then your pet will have an indoor accident. If you’re home at the time, soak up as much of the urine as possible with a paper towel, and prevent it from soaking into the carpet. Then treat it according to the enzymatic cleaner instructions.

If your pet is having accidents routinely, there may be an underlying medical condition, and you should see your vet. Along those same lines, pets who are not neutered are often inclined to mark in the house. If your pet is not neutered and you’re watching your pennies, plan to attend a free spay clinic to help both you and your pet.

Tackling Dog Fur

Dogs often shed everywhere, and you might find fur and dander all over the house. Getting rid of dog hair can seem like a daunting task, and the best budget-friendly way to keep a clean house is to commit to regular vacuuming.

With the right vacuum, you can suck up all that dog fur before it takes over your home. Make sure you regularly wash any clothing or bedding that’s been covered in fur, and you can find great budget-friendly detergents that easily remove fur and dander from upholstery.

You can prevent fur from spreading with regular brushing. Your pooch will love the attention, and an inexpensive grooming mitt or glove can help you get rid of hair before your dog tracks it all over the house.

Removing Dog Saliva

Do you have a dog that drools? You can easily remove dog saliva from your home and clothes without spending a fortune. For saliva that’s found its way onto the walls, a magic eraser is an inexpensive fix. Say goodbye to scrubbing, and easily wipe away drool. Another budget-friendly way to remove saliva is with a mixture of vinegar and warm water. The acidic vinegar softens the dried saliva, and you’ll be able to wipe it away with ease.

Did your dog drool on your favorite shirt? Don’t worry—PetSecure explains that you can lift out that protein stain, and won’t have to sacrifice your shirt. You don’t need to invest in expensive detergent, and pre-soaking your clothes will remove stains. Put warm water in a bucket or in the sink, then add some dish-washing detergent and a dash of ammonia. Soak your clothes for 10 to 15 minutes, lightly scrub the stain, then wash normally.

When you have a dog, keeping your home clean and fresh can be time-consuming and expensive. However, if you tackle pet fur, dander, saliva, and odor as soon as possible, you can enjoy a clean home, and save with these budget-friendly cleaning hacks. When you walk through the door you can focus on the wagging tail that greets you, instead of an unclean home!