How To Dog-Proof Your Car

X Facebook LinkedIn Email WhatsApp

One of our favorite nice weather activities is to get in the car, roll down the windows and hang your head out the window while you go for a ride. We’re talking about your dog of course!

Unfortunately, dogs can be ruff on your car. Riding around in cars with dogs usually means weird odors, lots of pet hair and slobbery nose marks on windows. Here are a few doggone tips to keep your car spot free:

Clean Up

First thing is first, clean the interior of your car to get rid of pet hair, stains and any other unidentifiable bits that may be crusted onto the fabric interior or car carpets. We suggest renting a steam cleaner to help loosen all the gunk and dirt from the fabric or look into getting your vehicle interior professionally cleaned.

Invest in All-Weather Floor Mats

Sure, they’re a little more expensive, but all-weather liners are easy to remove and even easier to clean. So, not only will they help protect your car from any pet-related messes but also any other spills, drips or accidents life may throw at you too.

Consider Seat Covers

Think about how annoyed you’ll be after spending time cleaning the entirety of your car only to have it ruined the second your pooch hops into the back seat with mud-covered paws.

That’s where the seat cover comes in. It’ll keep your actual seats hair free and make clean up a breeze too. If you don’t want to spend the extra money, use a blanket made out of fleece or another clingy fabric – It’ll do the same thing as a seat cover with the added benefit of being machine-washable.

Think About Fabric Guard

You’ve cleaned your exterior. You’ve got the pet seat covers. Next comes the fabric guard. Fabric guard adds yet another level of protection to your seats and covers, and even helps fight against any lasting stains.

Wrap your Windows

You shouldn’t deprive your dog of precious face out the window time, but you can make post drool clean up easier. You’ve got two choices here – you can invest in a pullover window shade that will not only help keep nose marks off windows but can also reduce up to 80% of UV rays along with the overall heat of your car. Want a cheaper alternative? Though it won’t help protect against the heat or UV rays, good old kitchen-grade plastic wrap will help keep your windows free of snout prints.

Clean Up ASAP

Accidents happen. However cleaning up quickly makes all the difference, as it’ll keep stains from setting. Keep some manufacturer-recommended leather or upholstery cleaner handy to make the cleaning process nice and quick.

Designate a Spot for Spot

Figuring out Spot’s favorite spot means you can keep the dog proofing to a select portion of your car. On top of that, a designated place means you can improve your pet’s safety by using a seatbelt attachable harness, which reduces the chances of Spot (and you) getting hurt during a potential accident.

For all your car insurance needs that make outings with Spot possible, get a quote online with MAPFRE in MA or contact an independent agent near you.

Please Note: This is meant only to provide general information about commonly available insurance coverages. Except as expressly noted, this content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, American Commerce Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 4928-8); Citation Insurance Company^SM; The Commerce Insurance Company^SM; Commerce West Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 1372-2); and MAPFRE Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 3039-5). Not all products available in all states.

Articles

What Is Property Damage Coverage and How Does It Work?

Property damage coverage helps with repairs to someone else's property due to a car accident you caused. This coverage may cover the cost of repairing or replacing other vehicles involved in an accident and can also apply to damaged buildings and structures, like...

Common Household Items That Are Hazardous

Home is where we go to relax and where we feel most welcome. It’s our refuge from our busy lives and where we feel the safest. However, homes also contain many hazards, including household chemicals and hazardous materials. These chemicals can be used virtually...

Protect Yourself From Identity Fraud

Reports of both consumer fraud and identity theft filed with the Federal Trade Commission and tracked by the Consumer Sentinel Network have grown substantially, with 5.5 million complaints in 2023. The top three complaints filed were identity theft, imposter scams,...