The holiday season is quickly approaching, which means that it’s the perfect time to transform our homes into warm and inviting spaces. Before you adorn your windows with twinkling lights and hang up the festive decorations, it’s important to remember the added responsibility of a clean and organized environment. If you’re a pet parent, you know that sharing a home with a furry companion requires a thoughtful approach to cleanliness and organization. From preventive grooming care to neatly organizing your living room space to be both people- and pet-friendly, check out our guide on how to keep your home clean and organized for the holidays for everyone in your home.
Source: Okrasiuk/Shutterstock.com
- Use Child-Safe and Pet-Safe Decorations — Having safe decorations is important for our furry companions and children’s safety. They’re naturally curious, so it’s only natural that they’ll want to play with decorations and traditional ornaments. Yet these traditional decor elements pose risks to our little ones and furry friends if they’re accidentally played with and ingested. Pet-friendly and child-friendly alternatives ensure a festive atmosphere without compromising the well-being of our loved ones. Stick to sturdy, non-toxic materials and unbreakable decor to minimize the potential for accidents. Once the festivities are over, it’s much easier to stow away decor that’s durable instead of delicate ornaments that are prone to easily shattering.
- Secure the Tree — Securing the holiday tree is crucial for everyone’s safety. Having the tree secured in place also helps the ornaments on the tree look more aligned. If you have young children or pets in your home, a Christmas tree can quickly become an irresistible playground. Prevent accidents and ensure a stress-free environment by safeguarding delicate decorations. That way, you can enjoy a beautifully adorned tree without worrying about it becoming a source of unintended mischief or danger. Even if you don’t have a Christmas tree, you should still be mindful of seasonal flowers and plants that could be poisonous to dogs and cats. The ever-popular poinsettia is a classic holiday bloom that’s dangerous to cats and dogs. According to Dr. Mary Gardener, a veterinarian and founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, lilies, mistletoe, English ivy, rosemary topiary, holly and amaryllis are all toxic plants to our furry friends.
Source: bedya/Shutterstock.com
- Designate Cozy Corners — Designate a cozy corner in your home to provide a retreat for anyone amidst the festive hustle and bustle. Alternatively, you could designate a cozy corner or area of your home as your holiday space. Clean-up will be much easier if you’re hosting for the holidays if you know exactly where all the guests’ food, drink, gifts and other knick-knacks ended up. Guests may be curious to see other rooms in your home, but don’t be afraid to set boundaries and gently remind guests that certain rooms or areas of your home are off-limits to guests. These rules can be especially helpful if you have pets or children at home who need private time and space away from guests. These boundaries ensure a harmonious and joy-filled holiday season for everyone.
- Practice Mindful Gift Wrapping — Navigate the holidays with confidence by practicing mindful gift wrapping. Traditional wrapping materials like bows and ribbons can be messy and also pose digestive risks and choking hazards to little ones. Opt for child-safe and pet-friendly alternatives to ensure a secure yet festive environment. Encourage your guests to wrap presents in recyclable wrapping paper, like gently used wrapping paper from previous holidays or even newspaper, which can simply be recycled or used again next year. It makes cleanup easier instead of just throwing away wrapping paper you’ll never use again.
- Regularly Groom Your Pet — As a preventative care measure, regularly groom your pet with the best pet hair remover before and after any holiday gatherings. That same grooming tool can be used to remove dirt and debris from clothing and furniture. After so many guests come in and out of your home, you’re bound to have both pet and human hair everywhere. Routinely brushing your pets keeps shedding and dander at bay.
Source: Okrasiuk/Shutterstock.com
- Help Your Guests Feel at Home — As a host, you want to make sure your guests truly feel at home in your home. Show them you care by asking them questions about any dietary needs or preferences for meals. If they plan on staying over, make sure the bedding in their room is clean and help them settle in. Provide them with the Wifi password in advance if they need access to the internet during their stay with you.For guests who are staying the night or holiday weekend and plan on doing laundry, give them dryer sheets for pet hair so they can have fresh-smelling and fur-free clothing.
With a little planning and consideration, you can create a festive environment that accommodates your needs and your guests’ needs. The joy of the season is only amplified when we share a clean and organized space with every guest in our home, including our furry BFFs. A bit of mindful organization and a cozy corner here and there for your pet where you can bond with them as you groom them with a pet grooming kit makes all the difference. Go ahead and enjoy the festivities with your pets and the humans around you this holiday season as you revel in the warmth of your beautifully adorned home.
