It is widely established that pets are members of the family. However, those who have both children and furry companions are facing problems daily especially if they keep their cats and dogs inside the house. Many kids are born with or can develop allergies to pets which means that there need to be measures taken to protect their loved ones. Here are some tips on how to do that.

How do you keep your house clean and your children safe?

1. Use automatic vacuum cleaners

Even if your pet's fur is not shedding, you always need to vacuum the floors, and especially carpets. Their hair isn’t the only thing that the carpets need to be cleaned from because they always roll around the yard and other places outside so they bring in leaves, dirt, and other debris. This is not an environment where you want your children to run and crawl around. A smart investment in a situation like this is an automatic vacuum cleaner (Roomba) because it fulfills the constant need for cleaning even while you are away.

2. Use a lint roller to clean tricky areas

A lot of areas in the house are made out of material that is hard to clean right away. When pet hair sticks to these parts of your house it can be a challenge to clean it. That is why lint rollers are among the favorite tools of pet owners. They can be used to clean lampshades, clothes, pillows, furniture, etc. Make sure you include them on your shopping list.

3. Frequently change your HVAC filters

All homes have some amount of air pollution inside of them, but when it comes to domiciles with pets, that is a whole different story. You, of course, need to keep your house constantly clean to protect your kids, most of all you out there whose children have allergies, but the troubles don’t stop there.

A lot of hair and other contaminants stay in the air even after a good cleaning session. This is why it would be a smart investment to change your HVAC filters more frequently. These filters will be overflown way faster than in petless homes so it is crucial for your, and more importantly, your children’s safety to keep the HVAC system up to date. This especially goes out to people with long-haired dogs.

4. Keep stain removers close by at all times

Pets always find chew toys and play with them even if they sometimes affect their stomach. This causes them to throw up or relieve themselves urgently inside the house, so make sure that you constantly have a stain remover on hand.

5. Wipe the paws of your pets

Rainy weather means more dirt on your pet’s paws, which ultimately means a bigger mess in the house if you don’t prevent it. Never let your pet on days like this inside before thoroughly wiping, washing, and drying their paws. This should not apply only to your furry friends, but also to all the other family members, and that way the damage will be far less.

A useful tool could also be something you have at your home regardless of whether you have pets or not. Doormats can be a lot of help if you teach your house animals to wipe their feet on them. If you combine this method with a washable rug on the other side of the door you’ll make your life much easier since your furry friends will leave behind a lot of dirt and filth on them.

6. Cover up their favorite hotspots

After some time you will notice what the favorite spots are for your pet to lay down or take a nap. Make sure that you cover those places with rugs and sheets you can easily wash. This way you can protect your furniture from stains and odor. A lot of families train their pets so that they don’t ever go to sit on the furniture and it makes life easier for them.

7. Contain the mess

Pets tend to be sloppy while eating. It is a good idea to put a rimmed tray under their food dishes so it would catch some of the filth. The rest should be easy to clean. Rugs are also recommended to put under their bowls so that they contain the spilled food and water.

8. Keep track of their health

Fleas in the house can create a huge mess and a danger to your children. If your pet catches them you are bound to be spraying, combing, bathing it, and start vacuuming more often. This is why it is important to prevent these scenarios with flea controls that include collars and powder. Always pay attention to what your pets are doing since some of their actions, such as scratching and skin biting can indicate that there is trouble ahead.

All owners love their pets and consider them as parts of their family, but children should be a priority when it comes to health and safety. This is why all households have to be aware of the potential dangers that furry companions could be to kids, especially little ones. This is why you must keep your eyes open so that everyone in your home is safe.