DR BECKMANN ISSUES TOP LOCKDOWN TIPS FOR HAPPY PET HOMES
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE CLEAN AND KEEP YOUR PET STRESS-FREE
WHILE Brits flocked to stores to stock up on paper and pasta during the first lockdown, they are now being urged to ensure they look after the third ‘p’ – their pets – during the UK’s new lockdown.
The whole country has been forced to adapt to a change in routine as the UK has gone on lockdown.
But family members with waggy tails have had to adapt too. And with many pet owners reporting changes in their pet’s behaviour since the start of social-distancing, even if they’re enjoying the constant company, it’s time to pay special attention to all our four-legged friends.
Experts say every pet will respond to lockdown in different ways. And some pets, accustomed to their owners leaving home during the week, may be confused or even stressed by the changes.
While the Government has recommended walks and outdoor exercise just once per day per member of the household, it means that homes with two or more people should take turns walking the dog, but households with one member must limit their dog walking to once per day – another confusing change for pets.
And pets who experience changes to their exercise schedule might well display behavioural problems such as restlessness, destructive chewing, going to the toilet inside or barking and whining.
So keeping on top of household cleaning is essential.
Susan Fermor, spokeswoman for Dr Beckmann – the makers of the new Pet Stain & Odour Remover, said: “We love our pets here at Dr Beckmann and there’s no doubt that they’ve been affected by lockdown as much as we have. The changes that come with this new lockdown can cause them huge stress, which can cause problems with their behaviour.
“We can’t stress enough the importance of looking after pets during this new lockdown, especially if they’re feeling out-of-sorts. That can result in increased mess in our homes too – with that change adding even more to their stress.
“So, with pets potentially being at home more, keeping your home clean is really important to help alleviate that stress, making things seem more normal for them too.”
Dr Beckmann has today issued guidance on how to keep your home clean if you have pets, during lockdown.
TOP TEN EXTRA CARE CLEANING TIPS FOR PET-LOVING HOMES DURING LOCKDOWN
- Carpets
Whether it’s muddy paw prints or an abundance of dog/cat hairs, carpets are the battleground for all pet stains. If you’ve found that you’ve got mud on the carpet, resist the temptation to wipe at the stain. Let the mud dry and scrape off the dried dirt, then tackle the mark with a stain remover. Dr. Beckmann’s Pet Stain & Odour Remover is always handy to have in the cupboard – perfect for your mucky pups
- Floor
Floors often have unseen dirt and germs and need a deeper clean, especially when your pets are roaming free. Brushing hard floors and then mopping with anti-bacterial products is a good way to keep on top of the dirt and germs
- Pillows & cushions
These items will be getting some extra use during lockdown, who doesn’t enjoy cuddles with their pooch on the sofa?! As a result of this, these items need to be washed regularly. Place cushion covers in the washing machine and for cushion pads or pillows use a non-bio detergent and tumble dry
- Bedding
Similarly to the above, lockdown will potentially see people let their dog sleep in the bed with them. A treat for our pets, but can soon lead into a dirty disaster for us. To get rid of pet odour from your sheets, check the car label and then wash them on the hottest temperature possible. Hotter water can kill most germs and bacteria and will remove pets smelly scent - Front doors
Door knobs, handles and letterboxes are common items that are usually forgotten about when doing your cleaning chores. When your four-legged friend is all hyped up ready for its daily walk, it’s likely that they’ll jump up at the front door – eager to escape lockdown. It’s important to regularly wipe down the front door with soap and water and apply a surface cleaner to the objects. Save money and time by not leaving the metal lift unwiped, the longer it is left the harder it’ll be to clean afterwards
- Clothes
Pet hair can get all over our clothing as many dogs aren’t hypoallergenic so use a roller or sticky pad to remove any pet hair from clothes before washing them. Tests have proven that washing your clothes at 60 degrees with a good detergent can be just as effective
- Furniture
Similar to our clothes, as our pets lay on them for hours on end (alongside us) dog and cat hair can often remain on furniture, the best approach is to use a sticky roller or pad to remove visible pet hair followed by using the vacuum cleaner to capture any unseen hair and dust
- Car
Keeping your car clean is a tough task, especially when you’re driving home from a woodland walk. Invest in seat covers, which are easy to take off and place in the washing machine. If you don’t have covers, tackle tough seat stains with washing-up liquid and warm water. Use a damp cloth and sponge the stain until it disappears
- Stairs
As we spend more time in lockdown, the stairs will be getting extra use, so you’ll need to keep on top of these regularly. Firstly, tackle your stairs with a vacuum to make sure you remove all the extra dirt and debris. Then use Dr. Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover’s brush head to clean your stairs of stubborn stains and marks. If you have a pet in the home, then the Pet Stain & Odour Remover does the trick and helps eliminate the pet’s odour.
- Pet bed and accessories
Your pet’s bed, toys, blanket and any other accessory you have in the house have a tendency to pick up the strong pet odour, as they are used daily. Make sure you clean these regularly, a machine-washable pet bed is advised. Simply place the bed and the other accessories in the washing machine for a deep cleanse, which will leave the products smelling fresh and fur free (fingers crossed)
Dr Beckmann Pet Stain & Odour Remover is available instore now at Aldi & wilko and on dr-beckmann.co.uk
