Tip 0: Keep the dog in the same place
It may seem like a trivial tip, but keeping our dog in the same place as the car greatly simplifies the cleaning procedure.
By restricting the area that the dog soils to, say, the front passenger seat, the space to be cleaned will be much smaller than all the seats in the car.
Keeping your dog in the same position can be difficult and should never become a distraction when driving. By the way, we must remember to always follow the guidelines of the Road Traffic Act on the transport of animals (as stated in Article 169).
For your information, this only applies to pets and stray animals, not to unwanted passengers or your mother-in-law.
Tip 1: Squeegee and Water
The most unpleasant aspect of taking a dog in the car is that the seats remain full of hair for days. Removing them is difficult and demanding even when you go to a car wash to use the vacuum cleaner.
So how do you remove dog hair from the seats?
It's simple, all you need is a squeegee and some water (preferably in a spray bottle).
All you have to do is spray water on the seats to get the hair wet.
Then use the squeegee to collect it in one spot and remove it by hand or with a vacuum. Smeplice!
Tip 2: Baking Soda
If in addition to the hair, your four-legged friend has left an unpleasant smell, we recommend you use simple baking soda, which you can buy in any supermarket.
Pour some baking soda on all the seats and carpets in the car and let it work overnight.
In the morning all you have to do is suck up the dust with a vacuum cleaner and go back to enjoying your car without the smell of a dog.
Tip 3: Dog T-shirt
Another tip that may seem like fun is to have your dog wear an old t-shirt, especially if you're planning a long trip.
This will reduce the number of hairs scattered around the cabin and avoid having to resort back to tip number 1.
It's best to put it on and tie it in a knot on your dog's back so he doesn't lose it during the trip.
The first few times it may be a trauma for your dog, but eventually he'll get used to it, or he'll travel in the boot!
Tip 4: Seat cover
If you spent thousands of euros on those fantastic optional leather seats, don't you think it's a shame to have them destroyed by your beloved four-legged friend?
Besides hair and smell, another weapon dogs have at their disposal to make us hate the car are their nails and claws.
Many people think that cutting them is better - on the contrary, it gets worse!
Freshly clipped dog nails have clean surfaces that will scratch and claw even the best leather seats in no time.
The best way to avoid this is to equip yourself with plastic seat covers, available at just about every car wash, gas station and, of course, online.
There's not much to say, they're horrible to look at but we can only use them with the dog on board and then hide them under the boot when we're on our own.
Alternatively you can use a blanket or an old towel, but these don't guarantee a good seat seal. By braking or slamming on the brakes, we risk the dog slipping and hitting the inside of the car.
We avoid doing this and invest those few euros in a suitable seat cover.
Tip 5: toothpaste and toothbrush
You read that right.
In case the seat has been stained by the presence of our dog, we can use toothpaste and toothbrush.
Our advice is to take an old toothbrush (remember not to confuse it with the new one ;D ) and a toothpaste in paste, not gel.
All we have to do is put a small ball of toothpaste, about the size of a coffee bean, into the machine and start brushing in circular motions.
Then let it run for a few minutes and wipe it off with a damp cloth.
Don't forget to wipe off the toothpaste with the damp cloth because we could irreparably "bleach" the seat if we leave it for days.
