Written by Angela Reviewed by Daniel

5 Baking Soda Hacks For Pet Owners That Nobody Told You

We people of Great Britain are a nation of pet lovers. We all have a soft place in our hearts for our furry friends. But sometimes that love is tested by pets that can be guilty of making our homes smelly and messy.

If you have pets that make a mess (and let’s face it, they all do at some point), and you don’t want to use chemical cleaners any more, this is the article for you. Because in this short guide we’ll show you how to clean up after your pets using nothing more sinister than a natural product that you will almost certainly already have in your kitchen cupboard.

Keep reading to find out more.

Table of Contents

How To Clean Up After Your Pet Naturally

Of all the household pets, cats and dogs are often the worst offenders when it comes to making our homes messy. They either bring some unsavoury trophy home with them or decide to leave you a “treat” on the carpet.

Let’s look at 5 ways you can deal with mess from pets using all natural ingredients.

1. Clean Up Pet Mess With Bicarbonate Of Soda

Your carpet called, it’s begging for this magical potion after your pet’s ‘oops’ moment! If your dog or cat has been sick on your finest Axminster carpet you’re going to want to clear it away ASAP. Or maybe it isn’t sick and its smell lets you know exactly what end of your pet it came from!

Either way, the solution to both of these unsightly and bad smelling dilemmas is simple. All you need to do is fill a bowl with 1 pint (568 ml) of warm water and add ½ a cup (125 ml) of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda).

Mix well and then clean away as much of the mess from the surface of the carpet using kitchen paper. Then apply the bicarb/water to the affected area using a soft cloth or a brush until all signs of the deed are removed.

The bicarbonate of soda will take the stain away as well as the lingering odour. This also works to disinfect any areas where a cat (or dog) has brought in a dead animal and ceremoniously dumped it on your carpet too!

If the stain proves to be too stubborn for a quick clean, apply a paste made from water and bicarbonate of soda and allow to soak for 10 to 15 minutes before removing. The stain and any lingering smell should now be gone.

If your pet has accidentally made a wet mess on your carpet or soft furnishings, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda directly onto the affected area and allow it to sit on the wetness and absorb it into the bicarb. This typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

Once the time has passed, simply vacuum the bicarb and pet accident away.

Warning: Before applying bicarbonate of soda to a large area, either on your carpet or upholstery, always test in a small inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t discolour the fabric.

2. The Natural Way To Deodorise Cat Litter

If you have a cat, you will almost certainly have a tray of cat litter so your pet can go about its business. When you empty the tray and wash it clean, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the litter tray before filling with cat litter to deodorise the tray and neutralise any future smells.

Say goodbye to Eau de Kitty Loo and hello to freshness in a sprinkle!

3.Give Your Dog A Naturally Cleansing Bath

When it’s time for your dog to have a bath, add ½ a cup of bicarbonate of soda to the bath water to remove that “wet dog” smell from your pet. You can also sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto your dog’s dry coat and comb it out when you don’t have time for a full on bath.

Turn your pup from stinky to snuggly with this simple bath hack!

4. Removes Fleas From Your Dog Naturally

Make up a spray of bicarbonate of soda and water (4 parts water to 1 part bicarb) and spray your dog’s coat to help remove and deter fleas from taking up residence. Because your dog deserves love, not freeloading fleas!

If you bathe your dog regularly in a bicarbonate of soda solution, this might not even be a necessary step.

5. The Best Natural Way To Clean An Aquarium

If your aquarium is starting to smell bad or has unsightly stains on the glass, simply remove the fish and any other contents (like plants, rocks etc). Then wipe all of the glass using white vinegar before making a thick paste from bicarbonate of soda and water.

Apply the paste and allow it to sit for around 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Ensure all traces of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda have been removed before replacing rocks, plants etc and fish.

Keep your fish’s home sparkling clean, it’s like a 5-star hotel for guppies!

Bonus Tips

So there you have 5 all natural ways to clean up after your pets. But the usefulness of bicarbonate of soda doesn’t stop there. Here are a few more tips;

Keep Your Pet’s Toys Clean

Pets’ mouths are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Everytime you play with your pet with their ball or squeaky toy, you expose yourself to those germs. Your pet’s toys shouldn’t smell like their last meal, clean them up like a pro!

Give your pet’s toys a good clean every now and then to disinfect and deodorise them. Fill a bowl with 1 pint (568 ml) of warm water and add ½ a cup (125 ml) of bicarbonate of soda. Mix well and then give your pet’s toys a good clean.

Depending on how often your pet plays with that particular toy, you should give it a wash at least once a week.

Deodorise Upholstery

Cats and dogs like to sit on people chairs and snuggle up to their family. That’s sweet and all, but it can lead to smelly sofas. To neutralise that smell, simply sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto the cushions and let it sit for around 10 to 15 minutes.

Then just vacuum it away to leave the fabric fresh and not smelling like a wet dog anymore. No more playing guess that smell when you sit on your sofa!

How To Deter Ants From Entering Your Home

If you’ve ever had ants in your home, you’ll know just what a pain they can be. To prevent this from happening to you, just follow this simple advice; Simply sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all around the inside of your door frame.

This will deter them from entering your home at all. Ants may be tiny, but your resolve to keep them out can be mighty (with bicarb, of course).

How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches

Thankfully, most of us have never even seen a real cockroach. But if you were unfortunate enough to have an infestation in your home, bicarbonate of soda can save the day! All you need to do is make a 50/50 mix of sugar and bicarbonate of soda and sprinkle it where the cockroaches have taken up residence.

Namely in the dark damp recesses of your kitchen sink or skirting boards. The mixture of sugar and bicarb will make them disappear magically. Well, not magically, but they will be on their way.

Turn your home from roach haven to no-go zone with this simple trick!

How To Treat Insect Bites

You know how it goes, you’re enjoying a nice day out in the garden during one of those rare warm dry days we get in what is laughingly called the British summer time. When BAM! You get bit by an insect that you didn’t even see coming.

You try to brush it off but it either starts stinging really bad or it’s driving you mad because of the dreaded itch. No matter how hard you scratch it, it keeps itching until it starts to bleed. Well, before you get to that stage, mix up a paste from bicarbonate of soda and water and apply it directly to the bite.

Just leave the paste on the bite and you should soon feel relief, either the pain will ease or the itching will stop. Banish that itch and get back to enjoying the great outdoors, without clawing at your arm!

Your Turn

Do you have a go-to natural cleaning product for when your pet makes a mess? Have you tried one of these methods? Let us know in the comments.

If you have found this short article helpful or interesting, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family. Maybe put it on your socials so everyone can benefit.

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