Can You Have a Pet and a Clean Home?

Keep the box as clean as possible. Scoop solid waste every day, and clean the box thoroughly once a week with hot water and dish soap. For extra freshness, spread a thin layer of baking soda under the litter. If you have more than one cat, get two or more litter boxes.

Many cats don't like strong smells, so skip the scented litter and air freshener. These products may discourage your kitty from using the litter box at all.

Most cats keep themselves clean and don't usually need a bath. A good brushing once or twice a week will keep shedding to a minimum. But, your cat may need a bath if they get especially sticky or dirty. If you're allergic, you might consider bathing your cat once a week to help remove dander. Ask your vet for tips on safe bathing, and use only cat shampoo.

Once every 3 months is a general guideline. But it really depends on how much time your dog spends outside and how healthy their skin is. Although it's safe to bathe your dog as often as you need to, bathing them too much may remove the natural oils in their fur and cause dry, itchy skin.

Be sure to always use a dog shampoo; products designed for people can be too harsh, even baby shampoo.

Experts don't know for sure why dogs like to roll in things that smell bad, but one theory is that it's a way to mask their own scent, so they can be better hunters. Keep in mind that what smells terrible to you may smell great to your dog!

If your dog rolls in something stinky, use a brush to remove any solid material. Then give your dog a bath using regular dog shampoo. You don't need to use any special cleaners or deodorizers.

Unneutered males are most likely to spray, but all cats may spray when they're stressed or have a urinary issue, such as an infection.

You can help stop urine marking by spaying or neutering your cat and coming up with ways to entertain them. Your vet can tell you if the reason is behavioral or medical, and they can tell you more about correcting behavior and treating medical issues. Be sure to clean urine with an enzymatic cleaner. If you use other cleaners, your cat may try to mark the spot again.

Vomit has acids that can stain carpets quickly. To remove the smell and prevent staining, try this:

Pick up solid material right away with a wet paper towel. Then sprinkle salt or baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum, then repeat with baking soda. Once you've vacuumed, pour some club soda on the spot and blot it dry with paper towels. Don't rub. If the spot is still stained, try using a special cleaner formulated for pet stains.

Chewing is natural for dogs -- it's a way for them to explore the world and relieve stress. The trick is to teach your dog what's OK to chew. Give your dog plenty of safe chew toys, and move things you don't want chewed -- shoes, books, pillows -- out of reach.

If you find your dog gnawing on something they shouldn't, say "no" and hand them a chew toy instead. Giving your dog plenty of attention and exercise can also help stop unwanted chewing.

Anxiety, fear of the outdoors, a urinary tract infection, or territory marking may make dogs pee or poop inside. Cats may go outside their box if they're stressed, have a urinary tract infection, the box is dirty, or they don't like the litter.

If your pet has accidents, a vet can rule out a medical problem. Ask about ways to stop them, like keeping your dog on a schedule or changing your cat's litter. Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleaner to stop your pet from soiling the area again.

Don't give up! Pet hair may seem impossible to clean, but there are ways to remove it from your furniture, carpets, and clothing.

Use lint brushes, sticky rollers, or packing tape wrapped around your hand to rub the hair off. Or mix 1 part liquid fabric softener with 3 parts water, spray it on the surface, wait a few hours, and vacuum.

Although you can't stop your dog from shedding, regular brushing can help cut down the amount of dog hair in your house. Most short-haired dogs only need brushing once a week. Use a rubber or bristle brush to get rid of dirt, dead skin, and dead hair.

Dogs with long hair may need daily brushing, first with a slicker brush to remove tangles, and then with a bristle brush to get rid of hair and dirt. Feeding your dog a high-quality dog food can also help with shedding.

To your cat, scratching is normal. Cats scratch to sharpen their nails, to stretch, and to mark territory. Instead of trying to stop your cat's scratching, give them plenty of good places to scratch in your home.

Try scratching posts with several different textures -- cardboard, wood, upholstery -- to see what your cat likes best. Encourage scratching by sprinkling these surfaces with catnip or hanging toys on them. Then praise your cat when they use them.

If you're trying to get rid of the pet smells in your home, dry food is your best bet. You can leave it out during the day and it won't go bad.

When picking a food for your pet, choose a brand with high-quality ingredients. These are more easily digested and are less likely to cause gas. Whether you choose wet or dry food, give your pet fresh food in clean bowls every day to prevent bacteria and pests.

If your dog lets loose something "silent but deadly," their diet may be to blame. Some dog foods contain poor-quality ingredients. Gulping food too fast or eating table scraps can also cause gas.

Ask your vet to recommend a high-quality dog food, and don't share people food with your pet. If you think speed eating is the problem, try feeding them smaller meals a few times a day. There are also special bowls with projections that are designed to slow down how fast your dog eats.

You can encourage your puppy by keeping them on a regular feeding schedule, supervising them while inside, taking them outside often, and praising them when they go outside.

Don't ever punish your puppy for having an accident. And don't use an ammonia-based product to clean up. Ammonia smells like urine to dogs and may tempt them to go on the same spot again. Use an enzymatic cleaner instead.

When used the right way, crating can really work for house training. Most dogs like having a cozy, safe den. And because dogs don't like to soil their dens, crating is a good way to prevent accidents when you're not home. Crating can also help curb bad behaviors like digging and chewing.

You shouldn't use the crate for punishment or leave your puppy in a crate for more than 4 hours. For best results, ask your vet how to crate train.