How to keep your home clean if you have a dog – from pet showers to hair hoovers

Are you in the doghouse? Well, that might not be such a bad place after all. About half of all UK households have a pet and our furry friends have never been more spoiled.

But one thing that makes all owners cry (sorry) is the mess that four-legged friends often bring with them.

So what can you do to prevent your sofas from being destroyed and your carpets getting muddy?

Build a shower room

According to interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch: ‘In a household with dogs, an animal shower never goes wrong.

‘These are often kept in a trunk or utility room and are a must-have for those wanting to keep a clean and tidy home, especially after long and muddy walks.

‘The shower can be integrated into the design of the room by using the same tile on the floor and walls of the shower. This not only looks good, it also makes the shower practical and easy to clean.’

You want a dog-height shower, with a solid waterproof barrier around it, and preferably a hefty towel warmer.

Put the shower at waist height so you don’t have to kneel to clean your dog, and a small step would be handy so they can walk in rather than having to lift them (and it can also be used for muddy Rain boots ).

Victorian Plumbing has a 3-Spray Dog Shower Handset for £96.24.

Turnkey Spas

If you don’t want to build a dog spa, you can buy a ready-made, enclosed laundry room to keep in the garage or basement. You just need to connect it to the water supply and drainage.

Vevor manufactures a range in stainless steel such as the 50 in Pet Bath Tub, big enough for a large dog, which comes with a shower attachment, leashes to keep your dog in place and steps so they can clamber in (£917, 99).

Try a ‘car wash’ for pets

Don’t have enough interior space for a shower room? Consider building a laundry area outside, with a shower connected to the hot water supply.

To make it light, try the Woof Washer 360, a hand-held, hoop-shaped hose that you run your dog through, sort of like a car wash (£22, amazon.co.uk).

Choose furniture wisely

Ask any dog ​​or cat owner where Rover or Fluffy messes up the most, and nine times out of ten the answer will be “the couch.”

You might like your canine friend a fabric couch (try telling a cat where to sleep and where not…), but those hairs will somehow find their way onto the pillows anyway. And good luck with cleaning it.

So choose smooth materials, such as leather, or hard-wearing short synthetic fibres, and stay well away from anything that could collect dirt or fur or be scratched (intentionally or intentionally) by sharp claws. That means velvet and velor are definitely out.

Wooden or wicker legs are also inviting for dogs who like to chew, or cats who want to sharpen their claws. Stick to metal frames if you can. A special scratching post is a must for cats.

“The choice of floor is essential,” says Emma Sims-Hilditch. ‘We recommend avoiding loop pile carpets, which can be easily damaged by your pet’s claws.

‘We recommend installing a natural stone floor instead. These not only look great in a garden room, kitchen or trunk, but are also incredibly durable.’

Zone your house

Your canine friend sometimes needs their own space. You can also keep all their toys there so they don’t invade every nook and cranny of the house.

A play pen will do the trick, such as the wooden puppy pen from Lords & Labradors in white or gray (£129.99).

One of the reasons dogs often climb on couches is because they like elevated sleeping places. If you buy them a nice raised bed, they will be less tempted to climb on the upholstery. The Dog Bed Company has an attractive, large, handcrafted oak bed with Queen Anne legs for £299.

Watch the walls

Cats often sneak past walls, while dogs get overexcited and bump into them. Either way, if you have expensive textured wallpaper, it can take the brunt and become dirty or torn. So stick with washable paint, such as Dulux Easycare (brilliant white emulsion, £50 for 10 liters from B&Q).

Ban those hairs!

Pet fur can get absolutely everywhere. Address the problem with the Dyson Groom attachment, which allows you to vacuum your pet for stray hair. You won’t find out what he or she thinks until you try it (€65).