Pets make our lives fuller, richer, happier, and… messier.

We love our pets, but they can sometimes make our homes feel a little too lived-in. Between going through dozens of lint rollers or scraping mud or tackling not so little accidents, cleaning up after pets can be overwhelming. But American Humane wants to make pet care as easy as possible so you can have the healthiest, and happiest, home for your four-legged family members.

Pet Hair

• For smaller areas, dampen a rubber glove and run it across the surface. That will quickly take away most fur as the hair will stick to the damp glove and not the fabric/tile/etc.
• For larger shedding situations, pull out your vacuum, but make sure to clean out the bag if it starts to get too full of pet hair. Supporters like Black+Decker have products specifically made for pet hair that can help with this furry job.
• In the winter months, apply a static removal spray to any fabric or upholstered surface, then vacuum. This will help the hair come up more easily despite the static.
• Try your best to get as much hair as you can off of your clothes before you put them in the wash as it collects in the wash. That will keep your machine running smoothly for longer.

Mud

• After Fido had his fun in the yard and tracked in some mud, let it dry completely. This makes it easier for a vacuum to pick up or for damp paper towels and wipes to scrub off.
• If there is a stain, blot what remains with a mixture of dish soap and warm water.

Poop and Vomit

• Similar to mud, let the mess completely dry and then start cleaning it up. Pick up any larger clumps with a paper towel, bag it, then throw it away.
• Apply a laundry detergent and warm water mixture to the area with a paper towel and blot, applying pressure, to transfer the mess onto the paper towel.
• If a stain remains, try combining equal parts baking soda, water, and salt until you make a paste, and apply it to the spot. Let stand for ten minutes, then wash away and let air dry.

Urine

• Absorb what you can with a paper towel then blot while applying pressure with a detergent/warm water mixture until the stain is gone.
• Dab area with a mixture of two parts ammonia with one cup water then rinse with warm water. Dab again with white vinegar mixed with water to prevent you pet from wanting to remark the spot.
• Cover with layers of paper towels with a heavy book on top. Swap out the paper towels until the area is dry.