This post has some helpful tips on How Pet-Owning Families Can Make Spring Cleaning Less Stressful. It’s that time of the year again to get rid of the old and bring in the new.
Spring cleaning is an important yearly chore for any family that’s looking to declutter and organize their home for the new, warmer season ahead.
One moment, you’re sweeping up your kids’ toys. The next moment, you’re clearing out your own closet. And while you can certainly manage the mess by giving each family member a job to do, there’s an added challenge to cleaning, if your household has a pet.
As much as you love your fur baby, you can’t set the same clear boundaries with them as you would with your family members. Though you can train your pet, like relieve themself in designated potty area outside, some things are out of their control, such as how much fur they shed!
It’s also up to you to come up with a way to keep your animal companion’s PrideBites custom martingale collars and leashes off the floor or other horizontal surfaces of your home.
Here’s How Pet-Owning Families Can Make Spring Cleaning Less Stressful
Fortunately, when it comes to spring cleaning, it’s not impossible to get the job done as a pet owner. There are a few simple things you can do to make the job easier for yourself. Curious? Read on!
Before You Start Spring Cleaning
Prepare Your Pet-Friendly Cleaning Supplies & Tools
Before you get started organizing and cleaning your home, you’ll need to prepare the necessary supplies first. It will also save you a lot of time if you invest in pet-friendly cleaning tools and products so the cleaning is safe for everyone. Doing this means you won’t have to run to the store in case you’ve run out.
Make sure you don’t use any cleaners that contain chemicals that can be harmful to animals, like ammonia-based solutions. You should also avoid using any cleaning tools with small parts that might fall off and which your pet could choke on.
Invest in Cleaning Tools Specifically Designed for Pet Owners
If possible, it’s best if you buy tools that are specially made for cleaning up after pets, as they’ll make thecleaning processes much quicker and easier. While using DIY solutions isn’t necessarily a bad idea, sometimes they can take more time and effort when compared to using a tool specifically made for the job.
For example, instead of trying to use a strip of duct tape wrapped around your hand, you may want to buy a super sticky lint roller to remove your pet’s shed fur from your furniture. There are vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed for effectively sucking up pet hair from all the surfaces in a home.
Set Up a Catch-All Organizing System for Your Pet’s Items
Developing a centralized system that all family members can get on board with is key to maintaining a clean and tidy home. One cost-efficient way to organize your pet’s items is by setting up catch-all baskets around the house.
This will allow you and your family members to easily pick up your pet’s toys and accessories put them in a designated basket until you can return them to their proper places.
Invest in a Mess-free Pet Food Bowl and Placemat
Any messes your fur baby makes while eating or drinking tend to stick and set on your tiles, when left for too long. Ants and other insects may gather around spilled food or cat litter. It can be difficult to remove stains and dirt after long periods, much less eliminate pests. All these can may make you dread your annual spring cleaning.
With that said, one way to mitigate your furry friend’s messy eating is by investing in pet food bowls that don’t slide around the floor or topple over.
You can also purchase pet food bowl placemats that can catch any spills or food in case your fur baby’s an especially rambunctious eater. When your pet is done with their meal, just clean off the placemat and place it back on the floor.
Most pet placemats are dish washing machine approved, making cleanup a cinch. If possible, try buying two to three placemats so you can use them in rotation (dollar store has cheapies!)!
At the end of the day, freshening up a pet-friendly home doesn’t have to be stressful. Make your yearly spring cleaning ritual much simpler and hassle-free by trying the tips above, and you, your family, and your fur baby (or furbabies!) will thank you for it!