It’s no secret that we’re huge animal lovers at Shark, but we know that pets can make your annual spring clean more of a chore! From muddy pawprints on the carpet to cat hair on the curtains, here are our top spring-cleaning tips for homes with furry friends…
- How to freshen up sofas
Worried your sofa smells of pets? Regular cleaning should help, but giving your upholstery an occasional deep clean can remove any lingering odours.First remove and wash all throws, blankets and cushions, following the instructions on their care labels. While they’re in the wash, vacuum your sofa – make the most of your upholstery and crevice tools to get right into every corner! Next, check your sofa’s care instructions and warranty – if it’s ok to use a water-based cleaning fluid, choose an odour-removing product and use a colour-fast cloth to blot away any moisture, followed by an antibacterial fabric spray. If you can’t use a liquid cleaner, try sprinkling baking soda liberally over your sofa – leave for an hour to absorb odours, then vacuum away.To prevent staining and further odours, try to keep wet pets off furniture until they’ve had their paws thoroughly dried!
- How to remove mud stains from carpets
Muddy walks and rainy adventures are plenty of fun for pets – but not always for carpets!Always let mud dry, as trying to clean wet mud can drive it further into the carpet and even result in damage to the fibres. Vacuum the area thoroughly to remove loose dried mud. To tackle the stain, mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid with 500ml warm water and gently blot with a colour safe cloth. You can repeat this as many times as needed until the stain is gone! - How to remove pet hair from upholstery
Whether it’s embedded in the curtains or trapped in the sofa, fur is a fact of life for pet parents!Rubber is great for removing short pet hair from fabric. Don a pair of rubber kitchen gloves and simply run your hands over upholstery – pet hair will stick to the gloves which you can simply rinse off. A rubber window cleaning squeegee also does the trick. Masking tape is also a great option if you don’t have a lint roller to hand, as the glue is strong enough for pet hair to stick but not to leave sticky residue on your fabrics. - How to clean pet bedding
Maintaining your pet’s bedding is key to keeping your home clean and bad smells at bay.Start by vacuuming the bed to remove loose hairs, dirt and debris. Many pet beds have removable, machine washable covers – if you’re able to, remove the covers and follow the instructions on the care label. If you don’t have this option, start by spot-cleaning any stains with a pet-safe stain remover. Next, soak the entire bed in hot water to kill any fleas or eggs – in the bath is often easiest. You can use a pet-safe laundry detergent. Finally, dry your pet bedding outside or in a tumble dryer, then hang in a well-ventilated space until completely dry to prevent any mildew.
