Maggie Evans 
Having pets at home is wonderful. They keep you company, amuse you, and offer you something warm and fluffy to snuggle with. Unfortunately, they can also have a significantly negative effect on your house, leaving fur everywhere, having unpleasant accidents on the floor (particularly when they are young), and generally announcing their presence in the form of a ‘pet smell.’
For example, when you own a dog or a cat, there are several simple and inexpensive methods to keep your home clean, stain-free, and smelling fresh. Here are some tips for making your house more attractive if you have pets.
Getting Rid Of Fluff
Cats and dogs lose fur regardless of breed or hair type (assuming they have hair, of course). Some of them do it all the time, while others only do it while changing between their summer and winter coats, but as a pet owner, you’ve probably noticed that your clothing and furniture have a considerable amount of hair on the most of the time.
While several specific brushes are available for removing animal hair from furniture or clothes, one of the easiest and cheapest methods to remove the fluff is to put on a pair of rubber gloves, gently wet them, and then swipe over the area. The static will attract the hair, which you can then pick up and throw away. You can also invest in a good vacuum cleaner to finish the job.
Wood Floor Stains
Toilet training mishaps are common in puppies and kittens, and metals in urine may leave black stains on hardwood floors that may be difficult to remove if they aren’t wiped up immediately. Using oxalic acid wood bleach (information readily available on the internet) is the best method to remove these stains without actually bleaching the wood and producing even more discolored areas. In addition, this is a low-cost method for successfully removing these stains. Note that this may not work with wood that is finished or waxed.
If you can, also install an automatic sliding door from evoproducts.com. In this way, when your pet needs to go outside to ‘do their business,’ they can without you having to be there to let them out. This can prevent accidents on your wooden floor or your carpet.
Reducing Pet Odors
Pets, especially dogs, have a natural odor that is beneficial to them in the wild but not so helpful when they are in your house. You might not even notice the pet odor since people get used to scents that are always about them, but you may notice it when you return after being out for a while, and guests are likely to realize you have a pet the minute they walk in the front door!
If you want to get rid of the smell, there are several inexpensive at-home remedies. One method is to sprinkle baking soda over the affected carpet or furniture, leave it for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up. This eliminates the odor. Vinegar is another natural technique for neutralizing pet odors; just use it as you would a cleaning solution.
