Realtor.com: 8 Ways To Keep Your House Organized and Spotless With Pets

Maeve shares the history and origins behind 'The Lazy Suzan' with Realtor.com.

Thanks to Realtor.com for featuring us in their recent post, 8 Ways To Keep Your House Organized and Spotless With Pets by Jennifer Geddes. Check out Maeve's tip below!

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We love our pets, but we don't love the damage they do to our homes. Whether they relieve themselves on your sofa or emit funky odors, fur babies can foil your best efforts to keep your place looking and smelling its best.

"And once an odor soaks in to an absorbent fiber, it can be very difficult to extract," points out Maeve Richmond, an organizing and cleaning professional and founder of Maeve's Method.

Don't let your pets rule the roost! Here are eight tips for keeping your home clean and organized when an animal is in residence.

4. Pick pet-friendly furniture fabric

If your pets tend to lounge on your couch or other spots meant for humans, over time the spots will start to smell like your pets—and certain fabrics absorb odors more than others.

Pick pet-friendly furniture fabric

"Natural fabrics like cotton and linen hold more odors," explains Richmond. A better bet for pets? "Man-made materials like polyester, polypropylene, and olefin."

If you must stick with cotton or linen, get a slipcover so you can easily pop it into the washing machine.

5. Give the sofa a scrub

Another benefit of couches made from synthetic materials? They can withstand a light bath.

Give the sofa a scrub

"One cushion at a time, spritz your sofa with distilled water, followed by a drop of dish soap and then use a soft-bristled brush to create a lather," says Richmond. Wipe away excess liquid and soap with a clean cloth.

If your couch has a cotton or other natural fabric on it, resist the temptation to clean with water as the material may shrink.

"If your cotton sofa is stinky or dirty, a professional clean is worth the effort. A good piece of furniture like this can last 10 or 15 years if it's well-taken care of," Richmond notes.

8. Consider washable or replaceable flooring

Let's face it: Only certain messes can be vacuumed up. Other, wetter accidents require a trip through the washer.

Consider washable or replaceable flooring

For these, Richmond votes for carpets like the polyester-based ones from Ruggable ($89.99, Amazon).

"No stain or smell is a match for man-made fibers," she says.