5 Spring Cleaning Tips For Pet Owners (Dogs and Cats)

It’s not easy keeping your home clean and tidy with pets around, so spring cleaning will likely go along with every other week’s clean up. However, spring cleaning is a little tougher for pet owners as this is when our furry friends shed their winter coats to cool them in the upcoming heat. Here are some simple tips to keep your home clean and pet friendly this spring.

Brush Your Pet Frequently

This is a preventative measure that will save you a lot of extra clean up and sniffles. Using a fine-toothed comb will help to speed up and control when and where your pet sheds. This has the added benefit of letting you check for ticks and fleas, so your furry pal stays healthy.

Deflea

We all want to avoid the dreaded moment when you get in bed and catch sight of a tiny black dot hopping about at the edge of your vision. It’s not cataracts, it’s cat insects… I tried. Nothing good rhymes with acts.

Use a vet-approved shampoo to get rid of fleas on your pet, vacuum deeply on all carpeted surfaces to clear out husks, eggs, and live fleas, and limit their exposure to other animals if you can. The faster they spread, the harder they are to get rid of. You can get treatments to deter fleas which are applied to the back of your pets’ necks so they can’t lick it off. Cats especially love having goo in their fur… not. But it is effective. Flea collars can be effective too. If your pet is scratching more than usual, this could be a sign that they have fleas.

Vacuum Every Day

This it won’t be such a chore to keep up with if you invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner. You should vacuum every day when your pets are shedding or if you’re concerned about fleas. While this might seem excessive, it will give you peace of mind in the long run. You’ll be able to cuddle up with your pawed pet without having to worry about fleas making their way onto you, your sofa, and your carpet.

Whether they ran into a lake to cool themselves off, played fetch with the ocean, or decided a sprinkler was a great new game, having a wet dog in the house creates a bad smell. Keep an old towel near the door in order to catch your pup before they come into the house or in the doorway. Drying off as much excess moisture as you can with a towel will limit drying time, bacteria, and smell. If you let them run wild, they will likely use your furniture or carpet as their own towel and the smell will stick around in your home. Worse yet, your bedding.

If they do get away from you and stink up your fabrics, use a strain-removal soap and a decent vacuum cleaner on the area as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more the odour will set in and it’ll hang around like a…

Use a Towel or Blanket

Remember that old towel we mentioned? If you cover your dog or cat’s bed with a blanket or towel just for them, their shed fur will all go onto this ratty rag. Then if you have a guest over you can remove the blanket/towel and all hair along with it. It’s also easier to clean than cleaning the cat or dog bed as a whole.

Get Rid of Hair on Your Clothing

Next to the dog lead and your least-loved towel, add a lint brush or roller to the area around your door. You can use the lint roller or brush to strip all the excess hair from your clothes before going out, but also before you put a wash on. Getting rid of some of the hair on clothes, towels, and blankets before you put them in the wash will stop your machine getting clogged with a hairball and they’ll be more effectively cleaned.

Spring cleaning for pet owners is all about consistency. Pick up the habit now and you’ll have a happy home all year. What are your best tips for keeping a tidy home with pets?

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