How to Protect Your Floors from Pet Damage
Pet ownership is rewarding and enjoyable, but it can also be challenging. Keeping your home clean and pet-friendly isn’t easy. In fact, caring for pets can be exhausting! Your pet will shed hair, track dirt into the house, and scratch the floor. Plus, pet ownership comes with additional costs outside of routine vet visits and food expenses. The price of pet toys, kennels, food bowls and other accessories adds up quickly! Fortunately, with a little planning and preparation you can avoid a lot of these common pitfalls that come with owning a pet. Here are some practical tips on how to protect your floors from pet damage .
Keep the house clean
Keeping the house clean is a great way to minimize the potential for pet damage. It’s also important to keep your pets’ nails clipped as long nails can damage floorboards. If you notice your pet’s nails are getting too long, there are many options for quick, easy and inexpensive nail clipping. You can also try using a barrier to protect the floor from your pet’s nails. Many pet owners report success with felt pads. These are inexpensive and can be placed anywhere in the house where your pet likes to hang out. Another helpful strategy for keeping your house clean is changing your pet’s bedding often. Pets shed and your beds are the perfect place for pet hair to accumulate. Regularly washing your pet’s bedding will help keep your home clean and prevent the buildup of pet hair on your floors.
Invest in flooring that’s pet-friendly
Some types of flooring, like ceramic tile, are great for pet owners. However, many types of flooring are not pet-friendly. If you own pets, it’s important to choose flooring that is easy to clean, durable and pet-friendly. That way, you’ll save money on costly repairs and maintenance. Hardwood flooring is a great choice for pet owners. Hardwood is easy to clean (you can mop it with a solution of warm water and vinegar) and durable. It’s also available in a variety of types and styles, so you can find the perfect look for your home. Laminate flooring is another great choice for pet owners. Laminate is easy to clean, durable and inexpensive. It’s also available in a wide variety of styles and types, so you can find something that matches your existing flooring.
Train your pet to stay on the leash
Certain breeds of dogs are known to be more aggressive than others. Regardless of your dog’s breed, you can train it to stay on the leash and off the floor. Some pet stores sell leashes designed to clip to your pet’s collar and clip to the leg of a nearby table or chair. This training method trains your pet to stay off the floor and not to pull on the leash when it’s not necessary. Another option is purchasing a special mat that becomes a barrier between your pet and your floor. These mats look like large placemats and are designed to keep your pet from tracking dirt and debris onto the floor. You can also place child-style play mats in areas of your home where your pets like to crawl and play.
Create a designated play area for your pet
If your pet is particularly young, destructive or wild, you may want to consider creating a designated play area for your pet. This is a great solution for owners whose pets are out of control, or who want to protect their floors from excessive scratching and wear and tear. Pet owners who live in an apartment or who want to protect their floors from damage can use a pet playpen to contain their pet. Pet owners who own their home can create a play area for their pet by sectioning off a portion of the house. You can accomplish this by closing and covering doors, placing baby gates or putting up curtains around a portion of your home. You can also purchase special play mats designed to be used as a pet area.
Conclusion
Caring for a pet is a big responsibility and comes with a lot of challenges. One of these challenges is protecting your floors from pet damage. Luckily, there are many ways to protect your floors from pet damage. Some of the best ways to protect your floors from pet damage are keeping your house clean, investing in flooring that’s pet-friendly, training your pet to stay on the leash, creating a designated play area for your pet and using protective gear to protect your floors from claws and dirt.
