How to have a spotless pet home every day!
Infographic Included
Follow this step-by-step cleaning routine to save time (and your sanity) - and have your home always in tip-top shape.
Last Updated By Matt Clayton 4 Weeks Ago
You know that feeling when you have friends coming over, and you frantically try to get rid of all that pet hair covering your furniture. How embarrassing it feels when they end up covered in pet hair?
Look:
Homes with pets don’t have to be coated with pet hair. And they don’t have to smell like… well, pets. If you stick to a routine, you can keep your home clean and fresh every single day.
In this useful infographic, we have gathered all the vital information: what to do and how often. By sticking to this schedule, you will reduce allergens and dust mites, keep that lose pet hair under control, and have a fresh smelling home – even with those furry roomies of yours!
Infographic of How to Have a Spotless Pet Home Every Day
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Three Challenges to Achieve a Spotless Pet Home
Here are 3 disturbing facts pet owners probably don’t want to know:
1. Pet food bowls are the 4th germiest item in your house
According to a study by NSF, pet food bowls are the 4th germiest item in your house! The gross slime you find on the surface is actually called biofilm, and it can be a severe health hazard for humans and pets.
Some of the nasty bacteria it can contain are E. Coli, MRSA, listeria, and salmonella. Pet bowls that aren’t being washed regularly can also contain mold and yeast. Yuck!!
2. Animal dander is one of the most common allergy triggers
Animal dander is skin shed by cats, dogs, rabbits, and even birds.
The proteins in the dander are what causes allergies, not the pet hair itself, although keeping your home pet hair-free will also prevent allergies and help with the symptoms.
3. Cats can shed 320 000 hairs every day
The average cat has 40 000 000 hairs, and the growth cycle of their hair is 100-150 days.
Meaning, that on average a cat can shed 320 000 hairs every day! No wonder cat owners feel like cat hair is invading their home.
How to Have a Spotless Pet Home Every Day – in 3 Simple Steps!
This is what you need to do
1. Keep your pet clean and healthy – and minimize shedding!
First of all, you need to keep your pet clean and healthy. By doing this, you can significantly reduce the mess he or she causes. A cleaner pet equals a cleaner home, which equals a stress-free owner!
- Brush and bathe your pet
Brush your pet every day, and bathe him once a month to minimize shedding. You can significantly reduce the amount of loose hair in your home by just brushing your pet regularly. If the weather allows, you can do it outside. This way all that dust and dander that comes with the pet hair won’t be wafted into the air inside.
Always use a brush that is suitable for your pet’s fur and shampoo designed for the specific animal and breed. Also, investing in an effective pair of dog clippers will enable you to give you pet an inexpensive hair cut right at home.
Grooming will keep your home cleaner and also provide you a chance to bond with your pet!
If your cat is not that keen on taking a bath, here are some useful tips to getting him used to bathing.
- Clean your dog's paws
It's said prevention is better than the cure. Clean your dog's paws after every walk before they leave muddy paw prints all over your carpets and rugs. Sometimes wiping those feet with a towel is enough but often washing the paws is recommended. We go more in-depth on this in this guide on how to clean dog's paws after a walk.
- Brush your pet’s teeth
Brush your pet's teeth every day to avoid bad breath and plaque buildup. Although brushing your pet’s teeth is important first and foremost because of their health, most users wouldn’t mind getting rid of that doggy breath. The best way to do that is to take good care of their dental hygiene.
Always use pet-safe enzymatic toothpaste and a toothbrush if possible.
Dental chews will reduce plaque build-up.
If you’re not sure which is the best way to take cares of your dog's oral hygiene, you can find some of our favorite dog plaque removers here, and chew treats for puppies here.
- Wash toys and collars
Your pets toys and collars can gather quite a buildup of bacteria. Keep them clean and odorless by washing them regularly. You can pop most of these things in the washing machine and dry them on low if possible. Remember to check for loose parts before handing them back to your pet.
- Wash food bowls
Because pet’s food and water bowls are one of the germiest items in a household and many of the bacteria they contain can seriously harm you, you should wash them every day. Use hot water and soap or a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar.
You should also disinfect the bowls every week, and the dishwasher is the easiest way to get rid of all those nasty bacteria.
- Wash pet beds and blankets
Your pet’s beds and blankets can smell bad, and they are often also covered in pet hair, saliva, dirt, and dander. Yuck! Machine wash your pet's bed and blankets every week and use the dryer to remove pet hair. Buy beds with removable covers to for easy cleaning and use an unscented detergent that won’t put your dog off.
- Clean the litter box
Your cats' litter box may be the reason your home has that unpleasant smell of pets.
Change cat litter regularly and wash the box weekly to keep the smell at bay. You can also sprinkle baking soda on the litter to absorb odors.
If you feel scooping and changing the cat litter is one those tedious chores you’d rather forget about, there are some options out there that require minimum effort when it comes to cleaning.
- Provide proper nutrition
A balanced diet prevents excess shedding. To keep your home free of pet hair, you should offer your pets proper nutrition. Shedding is normal, and there is no way to prevent it. But you can control excess shedding by making sure your pet gets all the nutrients he is supposed to.
For dogs, you can add a tablespoon of olive oil in their food every day to keep their fur glossy and healthy.
- Keep your pet healthy
Prevent and treat skin diseases that cause excess shedding or scratching. This will minimize the loose hair you have to worry about.
2. Keep your home clean - one step at a time!
Keeping your pet clean and groomed is not enough. You also need to keep your home clean and have a good routine on how to do it. These are the things every pet owner should do to keep their home spotless.
- Vacuum every day. Even just the high-traffic areas.
Spend 5-10 minutes daily to vacuum critical spots. Doing this will keep the pet hair and other dirt from accumulating into an overwhelming mess.
The best way to do this is to have an adaptable stick vacuum that is always at hand for a quick cleanup. When you spend just a few minutes every day to vacuum the critical spots, your home will always be ready for guests, and there is never a need for an arduous massive cleanup.
- Wipe the surfaces
Dust and pet hair tends to collect on surfaces. Using a duster will just waft all that back into the air you breathe. What you should do is to wipe the surfaces with a microfiber cloth or use a handheld vacuum to suck that dust right up.
A handheld vacuum is something every pet owner should have. You can use it to vacuum all that dust and pet hair from above-floor surfaces. It’s a great way to tidy up before guests arrive and generally just keep that pet hair from accumulating.
- Mop the floor
Mop the floor once a week to remove even the smallest dust and dander particles.
Modern vacuums are powerful enough to remove most of the dirt and dust, but you should mop your floor every now and then. A microfiber mop is the best option for pet hair.
- Vacuum furniture
Use a handheld vacuum or lint rollers to give upholstered furniture a daily cleanup. Doing this daily will keep the pet hair under control and your home looking spotless. And, your guests won’t leave the house with their clothes covered in pet hair!
- Use a doormat
Use doormats inside and outside the front door, and train your dog to wait until his paws are cleaned.
The doormats will keep the mud and dirt from being tracked inside, and you can train your dog to sit on the matt until his paws have been cleaned. You can wipe them clean or keep a container of water close by to wash the dirt off.
No more muddy paw prints!
- Use pet blankets and couch covers
Use washable couch covers for pets, and pet blankets to cover your pet's favorite place to relax.
The pet blankets and are a great way of letting your dog know where he is supposed to relax, and it will protect your furniture from dirt and pet hair as well. Blankets are easily cleaned by just popping them into the washing machine and dryer.
- Favor pet hair resistant fabrics
When it comes to minimizing the amount of pet hair on your bed, favor blankets, bedding, and comforters that are made from pet hair resisting fabrics.
3. Stick to the schedule to keep your home clean
Having a routine will keep your home clean – each day and every day. When you follow the routine and do a bit of cleaning here an there, the mess doesn’t build up to an overwhelming chaos.
Once you get used to keeping up the cleanliness one small step at a time, you will wonder why you didn’t do it before. With just a few minutes here and there, your home will always be clean and fresh.
Follow this routine for a spotless pet home:
DAILY
- Brush your pet
- Brush your pet's teeth
- Wash the water and food bowls
- Scoop the litter box
- Put your clothes away, clear the clutter, and tidy up
- Use 5-10 minutes to vacuum the critical areas of your home
- Run a lint roller over upholstered furniture and pet beds
WEEKLY
- Wash the pet beds and blankets - use the dryer if possible
- Disinfect water and food bowls in the dishwasher
- Wash the litter box
- Vacuum all floor surfaces
- Wipe or vacuum above-floor surfaces
- Wash sheets
- Mop the floor
- Vacuum the car
TWICE A YEAR
- Check your pet's pantry for expired pet food products
- Restock your pets first aid kit
- Wash comforters and pillows
- Wash curtains and drapes
- Shampoo carpets
- Rinse drains
- Dust air vents
- Dust ceiling fans
- Dust blinds
BONUS TIP!
Invest in functional cleaning equipment.
Cleaning is not what most people love to do, but you can make it a lot more enjoyable if you have the right equipment. Investing in functional cleaning products will make life so much easier.
You need these:
- Adaptable vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Microfiber mop
For tips on finding the right vacuum to match your needs, have a look at our buying guide.
