The floors of your home are probably the most important area to focus on, since this is where your dog will spend most of his time when indoors. And since dogs lick themselves as a natural way of grooming, any toxins that come into the house and land on the floor will most likely end up on their tongues. Floors hold dust and dirt, so it is important to clean them as often as possible.
A. Wall-to-wall carpet should be removed wherever possible—it collects all types of dust and debris, including hair, footprints, and pests, such as fleas. While it may not be possible to remove all of the carpet in your home, it is possible to freshen and clean it, as well as large area rugs, by mixing equal parts baking soda and borax and sprinkling the mixture lightly over the entire carpet. Let the powder sit for about 1 hour before vacuuming.
B. For tile or vinyl floors, a mixture of 1 gallon hot water and 2 tablespoons castile soap works well. These types of floors should be cleaned in small sections at a time with a well-wrung-out mop. As this solution is nontoxic, it is not necessary to rinse the floors after mopping once.
C. Wood floors are cleaned best with a mixture of ½ cup white vinegar to 1 gallon warm water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it to small sections of the floor, then dry-mop as you go.
