We all love the rain and what it does; it’s soothing and calming for us.  Those lazy days lying in bed watching movies and just relaxing all day is all great for us.  But for our furry pets when a dog’s got to go, is when a dog’s got to go! So it’s necessary to let the dog outside even when it’s raining, or snowing.  At the end you can’t crate your dog all day long.  So it will take some time and effort on your part to make your pets happy and your home mud free. So, how do we deal with the mess and muddy paws?

Here are some simple tips to make your life a little easier:

  • Leash your dog when you take them outside to have control.
  • Always keep a towel by the door to wipe excess water and mud off the paws before you let them run free in your home.
  • Pre-moisten towels usually come in a handy container filled with individual wipes.  Try to find alcohol-free ones, so they’re safest for your dog.
  • If it’s real severe you need to rinse the paws off with water and towel dry.  Usually using the dog’s water bowel outside works great for me.
  • To remove dog smells simply wipe your dog down with a dryer sheet. This instantly makes your dog smell fresh.
  • Make sure you vacuum daily to pick up dried up mud you might have missed.
  • Brush your dog’s hair daily
  • Give your dog a regular bath once a week sometimes more often.  Use an oatmeal shampoo so it does not dry your dogs skin.
  • Wash the bedding weekly with hot water and a little bit of bleach.

Some mud will make it to your carpets and a professional carpet cleaning company that extracts the mud is the best solution.  But in the mean time you can follow these tips:

1. Let the mud dry, and then vacuum up as much as possible.

2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water.

3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.

4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears.

6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

For other flooring surfaces like ceramic tile, vinyl floors and wood floors can be easily cleaned with a household cleaner diluted in water. Following these simple tips will make your life a little easier and mud free.