How to Maintain a Healthy Home with Pets
Pets, those bundles of fur that bring so much joy to our daily lives… but also their fair share of hair and mess! Everyone has their own little tip for helping you maintain a healthy home: don’t let the dog into the house, ban the cat from curling up on the sofa, or perhaps limit their access to certain rooms. The number of suggestions is often inversely proportional to their effectiveness—or even the possibility of putting them into practice. Embrin is here to help, and, thanks to its team of animal enthusiasts, shares its most reliable advice for keeping your home healthy.
Get a helping hand
If you have one or more pets, you’ll be endlessly told that cleaning must be done daily. Easier said than done. That’s why robotic appliances can become your best friends: robot vacuum cleaners and/or robot mops (there are even 2-in-1 models) can truly make a difference, at least when it comes to fur and dirt. For an initial outlay very similar to that of a standard appliance, you can almost entirely offload two time-consuming chores: hoovering and mopping the floors.
Opt for natural products
Don’t be swayed by the miracle products pushed by television adverts: not only are these expensive, but they generally contain chemicals and endocrine disruptors. Black soap, vinegar and warm water (or hot) remain the most effective trio known to date for tackling dirt as well as bacteria.
Ventilate as much as possible
It’s important to air your home as much as possible, whether you have pets or not. Furniture, fabrics and objects emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which pollute the air we breathe. Plants and animals also release allergens and unpleasant odours, which can be eliminated by ventilating your home as thoroughly as possible.
Choose linen home textiles
Did you know? Washed linen is a hypoallergenic fabric. This means it greatly reduces the risk of allergies. Linen retains very few allergens and bacteria, unlike many other fabrics. Whether it’s curtains, bed linen or even your sofa, your interior textiles won’t trap your pets’ bacteria if you choose linen.
Wash your home textiles regularly
Throws, sofa covers, sheets, rugs, and so on. Don’t hesitate to wash your home textiles very frequently if your pet has access to them. This helps eliminate bacteria, as well as stains and, of course, odours.
Brush their coats as much as possible
Animals shed fur—it’s a fact. Especially during moulting season. To limit the amount of hair found here and there in your home, don’t hesitate to brush them outdoors—or on the balcony, or even in the bath if you live in a flat. This will catch a significant proportion of the fur before it ends up on your rug or sofa.
Wipe their paws after walks
Whenever possible, try to wipe your dog’s or cat’s paws when they come in from outside. This reduces the amount of bacteria they bring in from the garden or street—and prevents dirt on your rug or sofa!
Keep their toys indoors or in certain rooms
Dogs and cats are very attached to their little toys and it’s adorable. But these toys also harbour a huge number of bacteria: from their mouths, as well as from soil and other organic debris brought in from outside, which can thrive on the same surface for a long time. Our tip: restrict access to these toys. It might sound harsh, but it’s simply a matter of defining spaces and times when your pet can play with them. For example, you might only give the dog its ball when outside, or not allow it on the sofa.