How to reduce bacteria on your rugs, pet beds, couches and stairs!

Many pet owners are hiding something – and that includes me! A recent survey states that nearly 80% of pet owners admit to masking pet stains in their homes due to ineffective and costly stain remedies. I have to admit that even I move furniture, cover rugs and couch pillows, hide dog toys and spray air freshener before my guests arrive.

The Woolite Carpet & Upholstery survey reveals the lengths people go to mask their pet’s stains. They found that 33% flip cushions, 23% rearrange furniture, 23% cover furniture, 20% entertain guests and visitors in other parts of the home and 8% dim the lights. In addition to these techniques, 63% of pet owners say they have given up on cleaning the stains altogether and have instead replaced the items their pets’ messes have ruined, with 40 percent spending more than $100 in the past year.

I’m constantly cleaning up after a house full of active boys and a circus of furry pets. While I adore my Beagle mutt mixes and my Tortoiseshell and Tabby cats, I don’t always love their messes, especially when they leave unsightly stains and strong odors. We have carpet upstairs and hardwood floors downstairs. I can’t tell you how many times my kids declare, “Mom, Monkey threw up another hairball in my room!” Or while watching TV I hear them say, “Gross! Snoopy is on the couch with muddy paws.” I’m living proof that five sweet animals do indeed lounge, play and mess up my home.

Here are a few key tips that will help you keep your home clean while minimizing the bacteria on soft surfaces.

Choose washable and synthetic fabrics for your seating and bedding areas
Denim, leather, micro-fiber or nylon are super easy to clean and pet hair tends to wipe off easily.  

Weekly pet washing with pet shampoo
I know it can be a pain and time consuming, but washing your pet can minimize dirt and bacteria from their coats. If you have an outdoor cat you can wet-wipe him with a warm washcloth. For your pooch, you can do it the old fashioned way with a tub outdoors or with the hose if it’s warm out.

Give your pup or kitty her own blankie that matches your home and bedroom décor
All our bedrooms have nice micro-fleece blankets in bold colors at the end of all our beds. When guests visit they can’t tell that the perfectly folded blanket draped fashionably across the bed is actually Bailey, the kitten’s blanket! Once a week I toss it in the washer on the hot/sanitize setting to keep it fresh and clean.

Have a No-Shoes-Rule in the house
We can’t blame the entire mess on the kids and pets now can we? Our shoes carry in pollen, dirt and bacteria as well. Having a no-shoe household greatly decreases indoor allergies and cuts down on some of the mess that shoes bring in.  

Use a handheld vacuum or one with a hose attachment
The hardest areas to clean are the nooks and crannies in the couch corners and between the stair steps.  A good handheld vacuum or a one with a long hose is great for getting the hidden particles that you can’t see. Most of the time I find a cat nail that’s been shed or Lego brick in those areas! Nonetheless it’s gross and all the soft surfaces need to be vacuumed frequently.

Use Pet Stain & Odor Remover that also sanitizes
I need an effective cleaner that does it all since Monkey is the senior cat in our home and often leaves a vomit-filled hairball for us weekly. I’ll do most anything to keep her healthy, keep my house clean and kill bacteria. I not only want to get rid of pet stains and odors, but also want to kill the bacteria from carpets and soft surfaces that my kids and pets sleep and play on. With the new Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize, it takes one minute to sanitize soft surfaces, like upholstery, pet beds, cushions, etc. and one hour to sanitize carpeted† surfaces, like nylon & polyester.

No more excuses! Your home doesn’t need to be a bacteria haven. With a little bit more effort, the right pet-friendly fabrics, and with a lot of love, you too can keep a clean home.