There’s nothing like the bond between you and your pet. When you arrive home from a long day of work, they are the first to greet you as if you’ve been gone for years. However, your floors probably don’t share that same bond with your pets.
Pets can be a floor’s worst nightmare if not handled properly. There are, however, some great strategies to ensure your pets don’t ruin your floors. Let’s take a look at some of those strategies.
Dry Those Paws
This is especially important during the wet months, but it’s also important during the dry months as well. Whether it’s raining or a dry, sunny day, your pets are going to collect dirt and debri in their paws. Make sure you’re always cleaning their paws when they make their way back into your house.
Runners and Welcome Mats
Fortunately, animals are a creature of habit, which means they’ll most likely use the same door to go in and out of the home, and will also use the same route to get to and from that door. So protect those areas with welcome mats and runners. There’s going to be times when you don’t catch your pets before they get in the home to wipe their paws. So a nice welcome mat and carpet runner is your second level of defense.
Consider a durable floor for the entryway
Once you’ve established where you will let your pet in and out of the house for potty breaks, consider installing a durable floor that is resistant to water in the entryway. A great option is a waterproof luxury vinyl tile, as it is easy to clean and not effected by water.
Vacuum and sweep often
Pets never stop shedding. It’s the reality of owning a pet, so before that unwanted pet hair makes its way deep into your carpet or in areas that are hard to get to, clean it up with frequent vacuuming and sweeping. Pets will to shed more in the spring and early summer as they begin to shed those winter coats, so more frequent vacuuming and sweeping is in order.
Your pets and floors can coexist, but you’re going to have to intervene and make sure they get along. By following these steps, you’re on the right track for protecting your floors from your pets.