So, you’ve rented your first apartment and want to get a dog or some cats to come home to at the end of the day. Or, maybe you’ve already rented for a while and have decided that there’s just something missing from your home. Either way, deciding to adopt a furry best friend is a great decision but keeping your apartment clean and odor-free has to be a top priority, especially if you have any hope of getting your security deposit back. You can invest in a dog’s basic training but you still need to plan preventive ways so your dog can still move freely.
What are the best ways to keep your apartment clean and odor-free now that you’re living with an accident-prone, messy little friend who gets into just about everything? Here are our tips.
Spot clean messes before they turn into stains
First is our most important tip: spot cleaning messes before they turn into stains or start to smell. Don’t wait until you have the time to wash the entire floor. Your pets’ messes can quickly turn into stains that can be nearly impossible to get out, especially if accidents happen in the same place over and over again.
There are plenty of fantastic, natural stain prevention and odor remover carpet cleaner options out there for both dogs and cats, including Particular Paws Pet Stain and Odor Remover and Natural Doggie All Natural Pet Mess Cleaner for All Animals. Make sure you get messes from urine and vomit every time, never let them sit. (Take this from someone who let stains gather in a hardwood floor and tried every home remedy to get them out, to no avail.) First, use either a cloth rag or paper towel to soak up the mess completely then follow up with a natural pet cleaner.
A product with an odor remover helps dissuade your pet from urinating in that area again, as their scent will (hopefully!) have been removed.
Stay on top of fur buildup
Investing in a good vacuum is never a bad move, especially when it comes to keeping on top of the inevitable buildup of pet hair caused by excessive shedding. Get a vacuum that is made specifically for pet hair removal if you can and look for attachments that get into the nooks and crannies. After all, there’s only so much the old lint brush can pick up! If you really want to go the extra mile, you can buy the Bissell Robot and Hand Vacuum off of Amazon as a bundle.
Not only can you effortlessly remove pet hair buildup from your furniture, but you can also schedule floor cleanings even when you’re not there. Just make sure that the robot doesn’t scare your furry friend..
Wash pet beds and blankets regularly
This is something we don’t really think about but could be the cause of a lingering smell that won’t go away no matter what you try. Our pets’ beds and blankets easily start to smell if not washed regularly.
Unfortunately, there’s always a chance that your pet has been sick or urinated in the bed and you never noticed, which intensifies the smell tenfold. Even worse, your pet may be consistently urinating there now that they’ve marked their territory. When choosing a bed for your pet, make sure that it’s machine washable so it’s easy to just pop into the washing machine. Wash your pet’s bed once a month at the very least but every week or so is even better. Your pet will be happier with a clean, soft bed, and your apartment (and roommate) will thank you for the fresh smell.
If you only wash your pet’s bed once a month, there are freshening sprays that can be used in between washes that are specifically meant to keep fabrics like your pet’s bed odor free. A great example is the Fresh Wave Lavender Odor Removing Spray, which uses natural ingredients to remove pets odors from furniture and fabric. It’s
completely safe to use on your pet’s bed without having to worry about them sleeping in any harsh chemicals.
Clean the litter box often
This probably goes without saying but you seriously need to stay on top of cleaning your cat’s litter box, especially if you are living in a small space. That smell travels quickly, even after only a few uses. What’s even worse is your cat won’t use a dirty litter box, guaranteeing they’ll find another place in your home to do their business. There are a few general rules when it comes to cleaning your cat’s litter box.
Number one, if you smell an odor, clean it – period. Next, if you have one cat, you clean the litter box once a day. If you have two, clean it twice a day. If the smell from the litter box lingers, it’s a sure sign that you need to dump out the entire box and use fresh, clean litter. When you dispose of the litter, use an outdoor trash bin or toss it down a garbage shoot. As long as you keep up with these rules, you should have little problem with smell.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to keep your apartment clean and odor-free when renting. You can train your dog to pee at the right place and ensure to give them CBD dog treats when they deserve it. There are damages to floors and furniture that cannot be undone and you could be faced with a heavy bill when moving out.
Maintaining your home from the beginning with our helpful tips can and will leave your apartment the way you found it in the first place.