Making a Doggy Clean-up Kit

Whether it is a puppy that is not yet housebroken or an older dog that got into the trash, dogs occasionally make messes in the home.  In order to easily deal with these messes, it is a good idea to make a dedicated doggy clean-up kit.  Here is a list of things that go in the kit and things never to use around your dog.

Things to have in your kit:

Paper towels.  Soak up as much of the urine or other liquids as you can with paper towels.  If there is a lot of solid matter in the mess, clean that up first then tackle the liquid.  Be sure to put the used towels in a dedicated trash bag, along with everything else you used to clean up, and place it in an outdoor trashcan or your house will smell bad.

Dish soap.  Dampen the area with cold water, then dab with a paper towel or cloth that has a little dish soap on it.  This will help keep the stain from setting up and becoming permanent  If the accident occurred on a blanket or something that can be thrown in the washing machine, first dilute the stain with cold water and dish soap, then wash the item  in the washing machine.

Baking soda.  This is a good thing to have to address pet odors and stains.  Spread a layer of baking soda over smelly beds.  Wait fifteen minutes and vacuum the bed to remove the baking soda.  To address accidents on the couch or other fabric, spread a layer of an equal mixture of baking soda and salt and allow the accident to dry.  Then vacuum up the mixture.  You can finish by dabbing the area with club soda, which will help keep the stain from setting.

Pet odor neutralizer.  After you have cleaned up an accident, you will need to treat it with a pet odor neutralizer with enzymes that eat whatever substance is left.  Most pet stores carry enzymatic cleaners for this purpose.

Vinegar.  Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with a quart of warm water.  Use this to prevent stains from setting.

Towel.  When pets play outside, especially if it is muddy or wet, they track that mess into the house.  Having a towel by the door allows you to wipe muddy feet and wet dogs before they spread the mess and smell throughout your house.

Things to never use around your dog:

Bleach, ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, phenol and isopropyl alcohol are often in cleaning products.  These substances are very toxic to dogs.  Contact with them can cause skin problems and even chemical burns to your dog’s skin.  Ingestion of these products can kill your dog, depending on how much he ingested versus his weight.

Floor cleaners.  Most dogs spend a lot of time on the floor.  If you use a product you would not put in your mouth, do not let your dog near it either.  Dogs will sometimes lick the floor if the product has an odor that is attractive to them and then get sick from ingesting the chemical.

Toilet bowl cleaners.  Does your dog drink from the toilet?  If so, don’t use those stick on toilet cleaners or the ones that hang on the side of the toilet.  These products can cause serious burns to the dog’s mouth and digestive system.

Most of these toxic chemicals have safer alternatives that you can use around your dog.  Read the label on any cleaning product you are thinking of purchasing.  Be sure to keep your dog away from the chemicals you do use until they are dry.