It's that time of year again—spring season—a term almost synonymous with cleaning. As the flowers bloom and the weather warms, it's the perfect time to freshen up your spaces and get organized.
However, for most pet owners, the effort is almost double, as it also involves clearing out any pet hair and dander accumulated in the previous months. A good spring cleaning session not only helps keep your home sparkling clean, but it also has health benefits for you and your pets, such as improving air quality and reducing stress and anxiety.
Besides bringing out your cleaning supplies, use this opportunity to reassess your cleaning routine and start practices that will help you maintain a sanitary home, even with the challenges that come with the fun and joy of pet ownership.
How to Keep Your House Clean with Dogs
Continue reading as Gotta Go Grass®, a leading brand of grass pads for dogs, shares a spring cleaning checklist to guide pet owners in cleaning their homes.
Vacuum Your Home
As adorable as they are, pets, particularly double-coated breeds like Golden Retrievers, shed a significant amount of hair. They can also track bacteria, dirt, dust, and allergens from outside, affecting the air quality inside your home. Kickstart your spring cleaning by removing these allergens. Vacuum the carpets and upholstered furniture thoroughly, then mop the floors and disinfect hard surfaces with a natural cleaner.
We recommend investing in a high-powered vacuum with a HEPA filter for pet owners to clean up pet hair and eliminate associated odors effectively. Use the brush attachment to remove hair from fabrics as well. Opening the windows during cleaning allows fresh air to circulate, helping improve indoor air quality and reduce allergens.
Wash Their Belongings
Your dog's bed and blankets can collect dirt and dog fur, leading to unpleasant odors and an unsanitary home. This is why you should clean them regularly. Toss machine-washable items in the laundry to remove pet dirt, dander, and hair. Don't forget to include their stuffed toys, collars, and leashes in the wash.
For items that can't be machine-washed, clean them manually in the sink and let them air-dry outside. If lingering dog smell persists, particularly on soft surfaces like their bed, sprinkle baking soda on them, let them sit for at least 20 minutes, and then vacuum them up. This should help absorb the odors, leaving a fresh, clean scent.
Declutter
Spring cleaning is also a great opportunity to assess your pet's belongings for any that need replacing. Bedding that looks worn or retains odors despite regular cleaning, toys with ripped seams or losing stuffing, and chew toys with sharp edges are likely candidates for replacement. After tidying up, consider treating your dog to new toys or a bed.
If your couch is a major dog hair magnet due to its material, consider replacing it with furniture made from more dog-friendly materials, such as leather. Alternatively, you can buy a pet-friendly cover that you can easily toss into the laundry for cleaning.
Clean the Grass Pad
While bathroom solutions like grass pads for dogs can help maintain a sanitary environment indoors, they can also become smelly and harbor harmful bacteria without proper maintenance. It's essential to clean them regularly, regardless of the season.
The key advantage of Gotta Go Grass® pads for dogs is their natural moisture and odor-absorbing properties, which reduce the need for frequent cleaning compared to artificial alternatives. They are convenient to maintain, too. Depending on usage, they can last up to four weeks. Once the grass pad is soiled, simply dispose of it in a biodegradable bin, wash the tray with warm water and mild soap, and let it air-dry before placing a fresh grass pad.
Manage Pet Accidents Immediately and Prevent Mess
Even the most well-behaved and potty-trained pets can have occasional accidents. Acting quickly to clean up the mess is crucial to prevent dog urine and waste from leaving stains and unpleasant odors on your floors and furniture. An enzyme-based cleaner is effective for neutralizing odors.
It also pays to take proactive and precautionary measures, such as revisiting potty training to reinforce good habits and reduce accidents. You can also prevent your dog from tracking in dirt and mud from outside by placing rugs at all entries to your home. Place trays underneath their food and water bowls to catch spills or stray pet food.
Keep Your Dog Clean
Instead of just focusing on cleaning your home, pay attention to keeping your pets clean, as they can be a major source of dirt. While we don't recommend shampooing them every time they roll in the mud, a quick rinse with warm water can prevent them from spreading dirt throughout the house. Read here for tips on how often you should bathe your dog.
Setting up a cleaning station at the entrance to your home or in the laundry area can also be helpful. Here, you can wipe your dog's paws and coats after walks outside.
Final Tips
Maintaining a clean home with pets requires regular cleaning to keep pet dirt, hair, dander, and odors from accumulating. While this task may seem intimidating, you can take a proactive approach by establishing a cleaning routine that prevents your house from becoming dirty in the first place—reduce pet hair by vacuuming regularly, wipe muddy paw prints immediately, and wash their belongings occasionally.
Solutions like indoor grass potty pads for dogs from Gotta Go Grass® can significantly contribute to maintaining a clean and healthy living space by containing dog waste. It’s also helpful to keep cleaning items handy, like mild soap, a sponge, and waste bags, to address accidents immediately and prevent damage to your floors, carpet, and furniture. Overall, by taking a few minutes to do small cleaning tasks daily, you can enjoy a clean house while also enjoying the company of your pets.
Make spring cleaning easier for you. Shop for Gotta Go Grass® for your dog's bathroom needs. Visit our website to learn more.
