Keeping Your Car Clean While Transporting Your Pets
Provided By: CarInsurance.com
Last Updated: Monday, October 27, 2008
Whether you are driving your pet to its veterinarian’s appointment, to the park for some fresh air or on a long trip or vacation if you do not take the right precautions your car can really show the wear and tear of having an animal riding in it. Most people that own pets feel that their dog, cat or other animal is a member of the household just like the parents and children are. And like the adults and kids that drive and ride in a vehicle, animals need to be placed in a car correctly so not to make a mess of the interior.
If you are not careful with the trimming of pet’s “nails” or claws they can get caught up on your upholstery and rip or pierce the fabric. This can cause major damage whether your upholstery is leather or fabric. Other common problems caused by pets traveling in your vehicle will be dirt and mud from their paws and hair or fur that sheds.
Dirty or muddy paws can cause stains on the seats, floor, and other parts of the interior of a car. This is why it is important to clean off your pet, especially their paws and claws before allowing them into the vehicle. Wet fur can also leave not only stains on your upholstery but a bad odor that stays in the car for days.
Pet hair or fur that sheds can leave your car looking dirty and unkempt. This look can transfer to the owner and family of the pet if they sit in the area where the hair has fallen off and get those hairs onto their clothing and belongings.
Some people just throw an old towel or blanket in the car and think that will be enough for their animal. If you take your pet in your vehicle on a regular basis but want to keep your car clean, invest in some items that keep the pets from making a mess of your interior.
The first way to protect your upholstery is to get a seat protector. Seat protectors specifically made for pets can be found at a pet supply store, in specialty catalogs or online. If you find that seat protectors made for animals are too pricey or not exactly right for your needs, try looking at seat protectors made for other reasons but that could serve your needs, such as a seat protector made for under a baby’s car seat. This would protect against claws and paws and keep hair off the seat if your pet stays on it for the car ride.
You may try a seat protector along with a pad for your pet that is made of something they find to be comfortable to lay in, such as a soft fleece fabric. Look for something that is washable so that when the pad begins to smell you can throw it in the wash. Some such pads may be made of waterproof material, which will be quite helpful if your pet has an accident. The pad will stop any accident soaking into the upholstery.
To pick up the pet hair or dandruff, get a lint brush and wipe the seats off at least once a week. This will keep the hair from piling up and stinking up the car. If a smell does emerge use a fabric fresher, such as Febreeze, to spray into the interior and neutralize the pet odors. To keep mud and dirt from getting into the seats and floors, wipe off your pet’s paws before placing them in the car. Having a towel to do so, or even baby wipes, will allow you to clean the animal’s “feet” before allowing them into your car’s interior.
To avoid accidents stop and let your pet do their business every few hours, if on a long trip, and also allow the pet to get some exercise when stopping. If you are ready to stretch your legs then your pet is probably just as ready to get out and romp around for a few minutes in the fresh air.
Keeping your car clean with just having human passengers can be hard enough, when you add in a pet or two, it becomes that much harder. The best solution is to put in a seat protector for the upholstery along with routine interior cleaning. If you do these simple steps you will be able to keep your car’s interior looking and smelling new.
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Michelle G.
Ormond Beach, FL
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