For those among us who love our pets, we all know that having an animal in the home means certain adjustments must be made. While most people can just go out and buy new braided wool rugs, for example, animal owners need to be a touch more careful about the products they bring into their home. Area rugs must be hard, high quality, and able to resist friendly, gnawing lab puppies and the open claws of pussies stretching in the sunlight.

And when you’ve just acquired your pet furniture from Petco, not just any area rug will do. So here are the top 3 area rugs for animal owners.

Area Rug 1: Braided Rugs. These kinds of area rugs provide multiple benefits for owners of pets, and in truth are sold by some of the largest names in pet providers on the market, including Orvis. Braided area rugs are durable, impervious to foot and paw traffic, and easy to clean. In addition, they can be made out of many different types of materials including blends of cotton and polypropylene, which makes them impervious to mold, stain, sunfading and soil. And as anyone who owns a water dog knows, a mildew resistant rug can be a smashing thing.

Area Rug 2: Derclon Rugs. A man-made, wool-like fiber that resists both stain and fading, derclon is another popular choice for those who own pets. The fact that derclon area rugs are hypoallergenic makes them ideal for pet owners who have allergies to their pets, as well as for owners whose pets themselves have allergies – something that occurs more often than you might think! I knew a lady whose fighter was allergic to pet dander, and she swore by derclon, because it was hypoallergenic and easy to wash.

Area Rug 3: Water Trapper Rugs. While not precisely area rugs, doormats and rugs that trap water can be a pet owner’s best mate. Made out of polypropolene, these rugs grab moisture off boots, shoes and paws, and keeps it out of your house. And because polypropolene drains off and dries quickly, rugs made out of them are perfect for spring and winter, when it seems like all anyone brings into your home is mud and snow! And one of the finest benefits? They can be simply cleaned just by hosing them off.

If you want to get brilliant deals on new shag rugs or contemporary rugs, then 360Rugs is a great spot to start your search. Their website has a great selection of all types of area rugs.

Keeping your aquarium fresh and clean is a top priority as a dirty or improperly maintained aquarium can be a health hazard for your fish. But you don’t have to labor over this task. There are several easy, natural products that can help keep that fish tank clean.

First, it is important that your fish enjoy some fresh water. You should be replacing about 15 to 20 percent of the water with fresh water about twice each month. One of the easiest ways to do this is to combine gravel cleaning and water removal. Using a plastic gravel cleaner with an attached hose while you are cleaning the rocks, allows you suck up an appropriate amount of water and place it into a bucket.

Here’s a tip: Don’t throw out that drained water yet. Use it to clean some of the items in your tank like your filter. You don’t want to clean your filter under tap water as this will kill the beneficial bacteria in it that processes the fish waste. Use that drained water to keep the beneficial bacteria alive.

Another tip to make fish tank cleaning easier and safer is to use Bioverse’s All-Natural Fish Tank Cleaner. This specially-designed product is great because not only is it chemical-free, it uses the aforementioned beneficial bacteria to remove any excess nutrients, as well as ammonia. The Bioverse All-Natural Fish Take Cleaner also will improve the water clarity in your fish tank. Best of all, it is easy to use and one pack lasts 30 days. Simply place the dispenser in the tank and it will go to work and aid in the vital process of keeping bacteria at healthy levels inside your aquarium.

Also consider purchasing a magnetic algae scraper. This type of scraper includes magnets that are placed outside and inside the aquarium so that you can move the scraper around the inside of your fish tank from the outside and reach all sections of your aquarium glass. The magnetic scrapers can be used on glass or acrylic aquariums with a thickness of as much as an inch and a half.

With the right products, keeping your fish tank clean can be fast and easy, leaving you with happy and healthy fish as well as more time to enjoy the ambiance of your aquarium.

Trey Casselman enjoys writing and a clean aquarium. To get additional information about aquarium cleaner or to find about other water clarity products such as pond cleaning products, check out the Bioverse website now.