Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners

As much as I love my pets, I hate a dirty home. I confess I’m a neat-freak at heart, so adjusting to having a pet in my home wasn’t easy. I had to learn what worked for me and what didn’t. Today I’m sharing cleaning tips for pet owners based on my experience of having two dogs running around my home, jumping on my furniture and lying anywhere they desire other than the kitchen table. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Do you have trouble keeping your home clean thanks to your four-legged friends? If you’re a pet owner, chance are you’re nodding your head in agreement right now. It’s true – pets can be a lot of work. Don’t get me wrong because my two little fur babies are worth it all to me. The love and joy they give me definitely outweighs the extra housework. Over the years I’ve acquired some tips that help me keep my home clean, and I’m happy to share them with you today. Check out these cleaning tips for pet owners:

Keep Paws Clean.

The easiest way to keep the floors and furniture in your home clean is to wipe your pet’s paws clean when they enter the home. You can keep a shallow container of water near the door to dip your pet’s paws in when they enter the home. Wipe paws clean with a towel and set your pet free to jump on your couch without any worries. If you don’t want to do this daily, that’s OK. You can opt to do it only on rainy/muddy days when you know your pet’s paws will be dirty.

Embrace Slipcovers and Throws.

When you have pets, slipcovers and throws will become your best friends. Seriously…they’ll hang out with you in every room of your house. Who wants to think of all the grime hidden in the layers of your sofa and chairs? Yuck! Instead, you can remove any dirt, hair and who knows what else your pet brings to your couch easily by simply running your slipcovers and throws through a laundry cycle.

When I first bought white slipcovers for my furniture, people thought I was crazy. I admit even I was a little skeptical, but they saved my life. I remember a friend coming over and saying, “Wow! You are brave to have white slipcovers when you have two dogs!” I replied, “No, I’m not. I simply throw these bad boys in the wash with some bleach and they come out looking brand new. It’s easy!”

Folex…just buy it.

Yes, Folex is another best friend of mine. Once you discover the power of Folex, you’ll never look back! This powerful stuff takes literally ANY stain out of your carpet or rug. All you have to do is spray it on your carpet, rub it in, then blot it with a paper towel. Your stain will be gone in just minutes… it’s like magic! Trust me, anyone I’ve recommended this product to has loved it, too.

Use Pet Place mats under food and water bowls.

For years I never used place mats under my dog’s food bowl. But once I discovered how much easier it makes clean up, I’ll never go back. You can purchase one at the pet store or make your own if you’re feeling creative.

Invest in a good vacuum with brush attachments for pets.

When you own pets, it’s important to have a good vacuum to suck up the pet hair that you’ll find everywhere. Invest in a vacuum with a pet upholstery tool. If you don’t have the money to upgrade now, try purchasing a universal one that will fit your vacuum. I decided to upgrade my vacuum and purchased the Shark Rotator TruePet a few months ago. I’m so glad I did! It easily gets under furniture with the lift-away feature and I love the motorized pet upholstery tool. I use it to suck up pet hair from my furniture, upholstered headboard, anywhere I find it! If you’re a Dyson owner, you may want to check out the Dyson Groom. You use it to groom your pet and get rid of the hair before it makes it to your floors or couch. Genius!

Keep pet beds and crates clean.

Cleaning your pet’s bed regularly will rid your home of dirt, pet hair, pests, and smells! Wash your dog’s bedding/crate every week or two to keep your home clean. Wipe down crates with a sponge or cleaning wipe and wash bedding according to the care instructions. Think ahead when shopping for pet beds and check the labels to make sure they are washable before purchasing them to make this process easier.

Don’t forget to wash pet toys!

Does your pet love toys? My doggies love to lick, bite, chew, and drag their toys all over the floors. Who knows what kind of germs they’re carrying around with them? You can easily throw fabric toys in the washer and dryer. If it’s a delicate toy, you may want to put it in a mesh laundry bag before throwing it in the washer then hang dry afterwards. Toys made of rubber, plastic and nylon can be washed with soap and water or run through the dishwasher.

Use an air purifier to remove smells and air particles.

Using a pet air cleaner/purifier can eliminate smells, pet hair, dander and allergens from the air. You’ll find the air in your home fresher and if you have allergies, chances are you’ll find yourself healthier, too. I don’t have one of these yet, but it’s something I’m looking into with allergy season upon us. If you have one to recommend, please do tell!