Clear up the canine and kitty chaos with a bit of home reconfiguration
Is Fido climbing the walls by the time you find his leash after a mad scramble? Save yourself time, lower stress levels, and avoid buying another collar because you can't find the old one. Check out these seven pet supply storage ideas to help you declutter your home and organize your space for a tidier house and peace of mind.
While keeping hold of the original food packaging means you have access to unique UPC codes, lot numbers, and “best by” dates if there’s a defective product or recall, there are plenty of reasons to organize your pet food. Decent food and treat storage solutions help keep things fresh, avoid attracting pests, and stop whiffy odors (that might also drive your pet to distraction) from overtaking your home. They also look nicer than ugly plastic bags.
The array of pet-specific food storage bins and treat jars is endless. If you're tucking food away in a cool, dry pantry or cupboard, looks might not be necessary, but always select an airtight option. According to the National Capital Poison Center, make sure plastic bins don't contain harmful contaminants, like BPAs (or bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make some plastics) that can leach into the food.
Having to wait while you search around for collars, leashes, harnesses, and poop bags before every walk sends some dogs into an over-excitable meltdown. The harness might also get damp and smelly if you stuff a wet one into a junk drawer.
Adding dedicated dog hooks as part of your entryway organization strategy means the essentials are always on hand for whoever's on walking duty. They'll be hung up neatly and will dry out better, too.
Do you keep tripping over all the toys your dog leaves scattered around the house? Using a dedicated box means the toys are still accessible, but you can tidy them away when they aren't. You can DIY a solution or purchase one of the many customizable options out there. Just make sure it's not too high for your pet to access their favorite plushy or chew toy. You might also want a wipeable lining—some toys get slobbery and smelly.
If your pet has lots of toys, you might want a second spare box of toys stashed away. According to a study in Animal Cognition, rotating toys keeps things more interesting for your pup.
Unless Whiskey has an outfit for every day of the week, you probably won't want to invest in a dedicated doggy wardrobe. But even practical items like winter coats, sweaters, cooling bandanas, and snow boots cause clutter. If you have a mudroom storage bench, dedicate a drawer for your dog's clothes.
Or consider using a clothes storage bag when you're putting them into a larger box, like a porch ottoman. It prevents hairs and odors from getting onto other items and keeps everything together. Make sure any coats are dry before storing them away to avoid mildew and smells building up.
In 2020, pet medications were among the top 10 items owners called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center about. Storing them in a secure cabinet high up out of reach of pets and kids is a sensible precaution. Keeping them separate from any human medications makes sense (confusing the two can be a life-threatening mistake for your pets). It also means you can find them—and any pet first aid supplies—quickly when you need to administer them.
Don’t leave insurance documents, vaccination certificates, and other important paperwork lying around on cluttered desks or in junk drawers. Keeping them in an organized filing system means any family member can easily find everything, particularly in a pet emergency. Plus, it helps declutter your space.
Part of the process of organizing your pet supplies should be to evaluate what you and your pet really need. Toss out or donate to a local rescue old toys they never play with, sweaters or collars that are too small or worn, some of your ever-growing leash collection, and out-of-date treats. Getting rid of unnecessary pet paraphernalia immediately declutters and streamlines what you’ll need to store in the future. Or if you'd rather spend your time playing catch with Rover, hire a local professional organizer to take care of business for you.
