Dirty cars and muddy dogs go hand-in-hand. It’s nearly impossible to keep a car clean with a mud-loving pup around. It can be even more difficult when you have kids too! But, there are ways to make it work with a little effort. Here are a few tips on how to keep a car clean with a muddy dog.
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How To Keep a Car Clean With A Dog
Use a backseat barrier
This will help contain the mess in one area. You can get ones that cover all of the boot of your car, or you can look for one that goes along the rear seats of the car. Whatever option you choose, a cover in your car will definitely keep your car cleaner than it would be without. A quick tip is to make sure you get your dog to shake before it gets in the car. Otherwise, you could end up with mud and water on the roof of your car.
Invest in seat covers
Choose car seat covers that are easy to wash and fit snugly. This will protect your seats from all the dirt and mud your dog is tracking in. You will find Universal fit car seat covers or even ones specific to your car. They also range in colour if you fancy something a little bit different.
Wipe their paws before they get in the car
This will help to keep the mud and dirt from being tracked into the car in the first place. If you keep a bottle of water in your car, you can quickly wash down any muddy dog paws before they jump in the car.
Keep dog wipes and towels on hand
For those unavoidable muddy paw prints, you never know when you’re going to need them. Dog wipes are great for quickly cleaning up any dirt or mud that gets on the seats or floor. Dog towels come in handy for those bigger messes, or if your dog loves to shake off all that water from their fur. Another great thing to put your dog in after their muddy walk is a dog drying coat. These are absolutely great. They look like rain jackets, however, they are made from microfibre and can help dry your dog after their big adventure.
Vacuum regularly
Vacuuming regularly will help to keep the dirt and mud from building up over time. Or you could cheat and get your call valeted. Whichever works out best for you and your family. For the stubborn hair that has built up, you could try a lint roller.
Tips To Prevent Your Car From Getting Dirty
Put Them In A Dog Jacket
There are plenty of dog rain coats on the market so you are bound to find a style and size that is the correct size of dog jacket for your dog to wear. Personally, I would go for a jacket that has an underbelly section to prevent your dog’s stomach from getting wet and dirty. It certainly will help in your dog not coming back to the car absolutely filthy.
Wear Booties
Just like the dog raincoat above, dog booties are basically dog shoes. It might be best to let your dog get used to these in your house before you take them outside in them for the first time as some dogs find them very strange. Que funny dog walk! Once your dog is used to wearing its new dog shoes, you can then let them run riot on their dog walk knowing they won’t be covered in mud when they come back.
A little planning can go a long way in keeping your car clean with a muddy dog. Do you have any tips for keeping your car clean after a big doggy adventure?
Let me know in the comments below.