The daffodils are in full bloom, the birds are serenading us with their melodies, and despite occasional April showers, the sun is doing its best to shine—these are all signs that spring has arrived! And with the arrival of spring comes everyone’s favorite tradition: spring cleaning!
Spring cleaning for pet parents, however, requires a level of thoroughness that those without pets may find hard to comprehend.
But first, let’s clarify: What distinguishes spring cleaning from regular cleaning?
In my view, spring cleaning involves an extra touch of diligence. It goes beyond routine cleaning, delving several steps deeper. It presents an opportunity to perform a more comprehensive cleaning that can extend the lifespan of your home, belongings, and appliances. Pet parents have their daily chores—sweeping up fur, scooping litter boxes, washing water bowls—but spring cleaning for pet parents entails quite a bit more.
Stay tuned for some enjoyable (in my opinion, at least) ideas for getting your home ready for the new season!
Declutter and Organize
Less clutter means less cleaning. When dealing with pet-related items, I work systematically:
- Medications: Any expired medications are placed in my bag for the town’s bi-annual medication drop-off event.
- Toys: I inspect toys for holes, tears, or broken plastic chunks (if you rotate toys, this is an ideal time to declutter).
- Leashes, harnesses, collars: Who else mysteriously amasses an abundance of these supplies? I untangle them from the leash bin and sort out what’s still in good condition from what isn’t. The usable ones we don’t need go to my shelter donation run.
- Beds and blankets: This can be a tricky one, as many of us like to offer multiple cozy spots for our pets. However, these items take up a lot of space if they’re unused. I recently discarded the cat bed in my office because, in the years since I bought it, the cats never once used it!
- Extras: Does your pet have a bandanna for every season? Do you possess season-specific gear like snow boots or life jackets? Or perhaps a Halloween bin packed with costumes and a coat rack loaded with treat pouches (guilty as charged)? Every individual, pet, and lifestyle is unique, so identify your pet’s “extras” and declutter!
Anything that’s ripped, torn, stained, or otherwise unsafe should be discarded. The remaining items can be categorized: donate them to the animal shelter or list them on your local Buy Nothing or Freecycle group.
Cleaning Your Pet’s Belongings
While decluttering, any plastic toys we’re retaining go on the top rack of my dishwasher. Fabric items are placed directly in the washing machine.
Specialty items like strollers, working vests, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices need maintenance. Grease wheels, tighten bolts, re-stitch patches—do whatever it takes to get these items in prime condition.
All bedding receives a thorough vacuuming with the brush attachment before being tossed into the washing machine. The same applies to any blankets on my bed or in the living room since my dog and cats occasionally make their way onto the furniture.
Food and water dishes, along with their water fountains, go in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. During this process, I inspect them for any broken or cracked pieces and order replacement parts as necessary. This isn’t a substitute for regular daily cleaning after each meal; their bowls are cleaned daily. Instead, I remove all the bowls from the cabinet, wash everything, and decide what to keep, donate, toss, or repair.
Leashes, collars, and harnesses also make their way into the washing machine.
Typically, the dishwasher needs one full load to clean toys and bowls, while the washing machine usually requires two loads to accommodate bedding, toys, and leashes.
While those machines are running in the background, it’s time to dive into your deep cleaning!
Clean Top to Bottom
Here’s the thing about pet hair: it adheres to everything.
I mentioned earlier that one of the primary distinctions between regular cleaning and spring cleaning for pet parents is the completion of additional tasks. Well, one of those additional tasks includes removing fur and pet-related residues from your walls! What do I mean by that? You’re familiar with those spots where your cat rubs each time she walks down the hallway, or the corner behind your dog’s bed where he snoozes every afternoon. These areas accumulate a greasy, dander-laden, furry buildup, and now is the ideal time to tackle them!
Begin at the top of each room and work your way down. Use a mild soap and cloth to clean the walls and baseboards.
As part of my spring cleaning routine, I also wash the windows and rugs. For rooms with carpet and larger area rugs, we use our trusty Bissell carpet cleaner (we bought it second-hand!). For smaller rugs, I vacuum them once and then place them outside on our fence to air out. Before returning them to their original spots, I give them one final vacuum.
After cleaning the walls, baseboards, and floors, proceed with a deep clean of the rest of your home. Since every home is unique, your tasks may vary, but here are three essential ones for pet parents that should not be overlooked:
- The fridge: With Farmer’s Dog food thawing, salmon for Cooper’s pills, cans of cat food, and liquid supplements, the fridge can get messy. I deep clean the fridge as part of my annual spring cleaning routine, but it’s especially vital as a pet parent to prevent odors! Don’t forget to pull it out (watch your floors) and vacuum all the hair from the back and sides. Unclip the front vent and vacuum the hair out of there too.
- All filters: HVAC, water fountains, fans, air purifiers, vacuums, and even your dishwasher filter can become clogged with dander and fur. Clean or replace them, and take this opportunity to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for how often to replace them, adding those dates to your calendar. Your future self will appreciate it!
- Return vents: Unscrew the covers on your return vents. Vacuum the insides and clean the grates. These can accumulate fur and dust, causing them to operate inefficiently. I usually clean my floor vents at the same time, just to get all the unsavory stuff out of the way.
Special Note for Your Dryer
As you prepare to wash all your pets’ bedding, blankets, and soft toys, don’t forget to inspect your dryer vent!
This is incredibly crucial, so it’s worth repeating: Remember to clean your dryer vent.
It can become clogged with hair and pose a fire hazard. Click the link above for step-by-step instructions.
Groom Your Pet
No spring cleaning routine for pet parents would be complete without a thorough grooming session.
Most pets undergo heavy shedding at the beginning of spring. I take Cooper outside for a substantial brushing a couple of times a week until he’s shed his winter coat. I enjoy brushing him outside because his loose hair becomes useful to the backyard birds as they build their nests. He also gets a bath early in the season.
For the cats, we attempt some brushing, but it’s not always successful. A glove brush can be handy for reluctant pets.
It’s an ideal time to trim nails, brush teeth, and add these tasks to your calendar so you can stay on top of them throughout the season. Part of spring cleaning is hitting a figurative reset button on habits and routines!
