Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[Mylocalcleaner]

Cats

Cat's Nails

Clip your cats nails every six to eight weeks. Your cat may be more docile after a nap. First hold your cat close to your body, lift a front paw and gently press on the center of the pad to extend the nails. Use a good quality clipper and clip only the clear hooked end of each nail, avoid the pink.

Fleas from a Cat

To properly get rid of fleas you must address both your cat and her environment. Using special flea shampoos, flea collars and flea combs can help control the fleas on your pet. You must also treat your home with frequent vacuuming and washing of your pets bedding.
Generally a flea bath will rid your pet of fleas in combination of using the previous mentioned steps. New flea birth control taken internally by your pet is very effective at controlling fleas. In this case prevention is far better than trying to control fleas after the fact (have you ever tried to bath a cat?). Consult your Vet for the latest and most effective method for your pet.

Groom My Cat

While cats do a good job of grooming themselves there are good reasons for you to groom your cat.
1. Brushing situates new hair growth and removes dead hair.
2. If your cat swallowing to much hair when grooming themselves they can get hairballs, which can be a health concern if the hairball becomes impacted in the intestine.

So brushing your cat frequently with a brush or grooming mitt will reduce the amount of hair your cat will consume.

Dogs

Dog Leashes

From time to time your leash may get heavily soiled. If your leash is nylon just place it in your wash. Wash with plenty of clothes to protect your washer or tie a towel around the clasp. Just hang to dry.

If your leash is leather use a leather cleaner or wet a cleaning towel with a mild soap and water and gently wipe the surface. Be sure wipe off any excess water.

Dog Shower

I installed a hand-held shower head because washing my white terriers in the tub can be back-breaking work. They don't seem to mind the water as much and you can really rinse their legs and bellies well.


Dog vomit from fabric and furniture

Pets are great for companionship, but they aren't so good about cleaning up after themselves....

The first thing to do is remove as much of the vomit as possible. A spatula and paper towels work great for the big chunky stuff, however it is the liquid portion that does most of the staining and smelling. The solutions for both surfaces are similar; however the furniture has the added dimension of cleaning the cushioning, or padding, which has soaked up this offensive liquid.

Depending on the type of fabric, there are different care guidelines. An excellent resource is http://www.fabriclink.com. The best general advice is to pick up an active enzyme (often marketed as enzyme based) detergent or additive. The enzymes will actually digest the proteins contained in the vomit. Allow the mixed enzyme to soak into the stain for at least one hour before laundering as normal following the regular care instructions for the fabric.

The furniture will require the same attention; however, since your sofa won't fit in the washing machine, you will need to rent an upholstery extraction machine, which is just a carpet cleaner with an upholstery attachment. Once the surface residue has been removed, apply the enzyme mixture, and allow it to soak. The powerful suction from the extractor is needed to remove the vomit residue, the enzyme solution, and the rinse water from the padding. Using too much chemical, or leaving excessive rinse water in the area being cleaned, can result in mildew forming inside the cushion, so thorough extraction and proper drying is a must!

Good quality chemicals, specifically enzyme based detergents, can be found at commercial janitorial supply stores while an extractor can be rented at almost any large grocery store. Given the expense of renting the equipment, and the cost of chemicals, it is often a better value to hire a professional for the job. A reputable company will have much more powerful equipment, and so long as you alert them to the specific problem (vomit), they will be able to provide the proper chemicals for the job.

Hair Balls Stuck in Carpet

Tired of having your dog's long hair entangled mercilessly in your carpets and rugs?
Well hair a way to end that problem for good.
If you have a hard kitchen floor, simply get a baby gate and confine your lovable little demons to the kitchen.
This will keep shaded coats within easy cleaning distance, and the dogs probably won't even notice the decrease in freedom.
After I partitioned my house with a baby gate, the house became considerably cleaner and dust free.