As a pet owner, spring is the perfect time to do some deep cleaning and freshen up your home for your furry friends. With shedding season underway, allergens building up, and winter smells lingering, your home could use a good refresh. Don’t worry – spring cleaning with pets doesn’t have to be a chore. Follow these tips to spruce up your home while keeping your dogs and cats happy and healthy.
Give Carpets and Furniture a Deep Clean
Pet hair and dander can really build up over the winter months. Give your carpets, upholstery, and pet beds a deep clean to remove allergens. I like to rent a carpet shampooer and use a pet-safe cleaner formulated for pet odors and stains. For furniture, use a handheld vacuum attachment to remove pet hair before using an upholstery cleaner. Washing pet beds and plush toys in hot water also helps eliminate odors and allergens.
Wash Windows, Walls, and Hard Floors
Dust and grime also accumulate more in the winter when windows stay closed. Clean hard floors with a pet-safe all-purpose cleaner and vacuum and mop thoroughly. Wash windows and wipe down walls to let fresh air in. For tough pet stains on walls, use an enzymatic cleaner made for pet messes. Avoid harsh chemicals and stick to pet-safe cleaners.
Declutter and Organize
As you declutter cabinets and closets this spring, look for outdated pet supplies like stale treats/food, worn out toys, or unneeded gear. Getting organized can make caring for pets easier too. Store leashes, bowls, medications, etc. together in designated spots so they’re easy to find.
Launder Pet Items
This is a perfect time to launder my pet’s bedding, blankets, throws, and washable toys. I throw these items in the washing machine on a sanitizing cycle then air dry or tumble dry on low. For stuffed toys, I put them in a pillowcase and tie it closed before washing. Laundering these items regularly keeps them fresh for my pets.
Open Windows to Let Fresh Air In
Now that temperatures are warming up, I open windows regularly to air out my home. This allows fresh air to circulate and dissipate pet odors. I also run air purifiers and change out air filters to capture allergens. Monitoring humidity levels is important too since pets are sensitive to mugginess.
Inspect/Replace Air Vents and Filters
Air vents and HVAC filters accumulate pet hair and dander quickly. I remove and wash vent covers and replace filters monthly or as needed. Making sure my home’s HVAC system is clean improves indoor air quality for both me and my pets.
Bathe Pets
Bathing my pets regularly helps keep them clean and reduces shedding and dander. I give my dogs and cats baths using gentle pet shampoos. Bathing them more frequently in the spring when they shed helps manage all the hair. Brushing them regularly also removes loose hair and keeps their coat healthy.
Groom Outside If Possible
When grooming my pets, I try to do it outdoors as much as possible to minimize the hair and dander inside. If the weather is nice, I’ll brush my pets outside, wiping excess hair off with a damp rag. I’ll also bathe them outside using the garden hose. If bathing inside, I limit it to one room and vacuum thoroughly after.
Use Pet-Safe Cleaning Products
When cleaning for pets, I only use pet-safe products to avoid irritating their skin or respiratory systems. I look for plant-based, non-toxic cleaners or make my own from ingredients like vinegar, water, and lemon juice. It’s also important to keep pets out of rooms when cleaning and allow all surfaces to completely dry before allowing pets back in.
Remove Toxins From Yard
During spring yardwork, I check my garden and lawn for anything potentially toxic to pets. Things like fertilizers, insect baits, and cocoa bean mulch can be dangerous if ingested. I read all labels carefully and opt for pet-safe alternatives when possible. Keeping pets away from treated areas until they are completely dry is key.
Update Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Prevention
Warmer weather means fleas, ticks, and heartworms become more prevalent. I schedule vet visits to update my pets’ preventatives before spring gets into full swing. Using monthly spot-on treatments, collars, and oral medication keeps these parasites from taking hold on my furry friends. Being vigilant about prevention keeps my whole home flea/tick free.
With some simple cleaning tasks, pet owners can freshen up their homes this spring for a healthy environment. By bathing pets, washing bedding, decluttering, and using pet-safe products, I can banish odors, dander, and allergens for happier pets and owners alike. A few weekends of deep cleaning this season makes a big difference!
