Dogs aren’t just animals you keep around; they’re beloved family members who add new dimensions of comfort, joy, and companionship to daily life. For all the endless snuggles and loyalty, however, unique housekeeping challenges are also part of the equation. Maintaining clean carpets can be particularly challenging. If you’re sharing your home with an indoor dog, routine carpet cleaning is more of a necessity than a luxury.
The Importance of Keeping a Clean Home With Inside Dogs
Keeping your home clean with indoor dogs maintains appearances, but it is also vital for comfort, health, and the longevity of many items in your living space. No matter how well you groom your dog, dirt, bacteria, and allergens are going to come inside your home. Their paws will track in debris and mud, and even a dog that stays indoors all the time will have fur shedding dander. This, and pet hair itself, can get embedded into the fibers of rugs and carpets.
A clean home is a space that reduces allergens known to trigger respiratory issues in both pets and humans. Bacteria, pet dander, and dust mites accumulate quickly in homes with dogs, but they do so even faster when there’s carpet present. These accumulations can create flare-ups for individuals with asthma or allergies. Even your pets might wind up facing unhealthy living conditions. Mental health can also be impacted; a clean-smelling and fresh home is a more inviting and relaxing space.
Why You Should Get Carpet Cleanings Regularly With Inside Dogs
Even if you vacuum your carpets regularly, they can still harbor deep-seated grime that can only be removed through professional cleaning. There are several compelling reasons to have regular carpet cleaning done in a home with an indoor dog.
Odor Control
Even a clean dog has a unique odor that will gradually seep into carpeting. Natural oils from their coats, drool, and accidents all contribute to lingering smells that vacuuming and retail cleaning products might mask instead of eliminate. Professional carpet cleaning can penetrate deep into the fibers and neutralize odors at their very source.
Pet Hair and Dander Removal
Pet hair is infamous for weaving itself into carpet fibers before forming clumps that household vacuums can’t extract. Dander also gets trapped and triggers allergies. Professional cleaning can lift these out more thoroughly to improve indoor air quality in your home.
Stain Prevention and Treatment
Even the best-trained dog can still have an occasional accident. These stains might be muddy paw prints, vomit, or urine, but any of these can become permanent if not treated properly. In the worst cases, stains might go unnoticed until someone smells them. Regular cleaning removes both fresh and set-in stains before they result in lasting odors or damage.
Longer Carpet Lifespan
Carpet can be a significant investment, and replacements aren’t always cheap. When carpet fibers break down prematurely, the excess wear and tear can expedite the end of the lifecycle. Regular professional cleaning revitalizes carpet fibers by removing abrasive debris, maintaining their appearance, and extending their longevity.
Keeps Your Home Looking and Smelling Fresh
Dogs are playful and active, and that makes them fun to have around. However, they’re never worried about wiping their paws. A carpet can quickly go from fluffy and soft to dingy and dull. Carpet cleaning makes an entire room feel fresher, creating a space that’s more pleasant and inviting for you, your dog, and any friends or family you have over.
What Can Happen if You Do Not Get Your Carpet Cleaned With Inside Dogs
Neglecting your home’s rugs and carpets with inside dogs can result in many different problems, and you might not notice some of them until it’s too late.
Persistent Pet Odors
Over time, general pet odors or the specific scent of dog urine can get ingrained into your very home. When carpet padding absorbs these smells, it can be nearly impossible to remove them short of entirely replacing the carpet.
Allergen Build-Up
Without regular cleaning, a carpet accumulates dust, dander, and allergens. This build-up can exacerbate allergies, instigate asthma, and generally contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.
Permanent Stains
Pet stains that are not addressed promptly and professionally treated can become permanent. That reduces a home’s visual appeal and lowers the flooring value.
Increased Bacterial and Mold Growth
Moisture from humidity, accidents, or spills, combined with pet traffic, results in an ideal breeding ground for mold and bacteria in your carpet. At best, this smells unpleasant; at worst, it poses a health hazard.
Flea and Pest Infestations
Dirty carpets and rugs can harbor flea larvae, eggs, and other pests that bother people and pets. A clean carpet, conversely, disrupts pest lifecycles. This keeps infestations at bay.
Faster Carpet Deterioration
Oils and dirt can grind against carpet fibers over time. Without regular cleaning, this process wears down the fibers. The result is a shorter carpet lifespan, and expensive replacements are necessary faster than you expected.
Health Is a Two-Way Street
Having a dog can keep you active, reduce your stress, and help you live longer. However, an inside dog means regular carpet cleaning is included with your home care routine. It’s more than just keeping things looking good; your family and pets both deserve a healthy, comfortable, and safe environment. Given all the joy your four-legged friend brings to your home, they deserve a fresh, clean space as much as any human family member. Keep your home an excellent place for you and your dog by scheduling professional carpet cleanings on a regular basis.
Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning
photo credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/white-short-coated-dog-lying-on-floor-uTkSTBYxKGE
