Key Takeaways
- Spring is an excellent time to clean up your pet care routines.
- Start by bathing and grooming your pet.
- Clean your pet’s bowls, litter box, beloved couches, and carpet areas.
- Next, thoroughly clean your dog’s toys and bedding.
- Declutter your home by removing expired pet food, broken toys, and unused medication.
Table of Contents
It’s that time of year when many of us think about clearing the cobwebs, opening the windows and emerging from the winter greyness. As you aim for a fresh start, don’t forget to include your pets.
Spring Cleaning Guide for Pets
Include your pet in your annual spring cleaning regimen by completing these steps.
Step 1: Grooming
- Bath – Freshen up your pet with a bath, using pet-friendly shampoo. Learn more about when and how to bathe cats and how often to bathe your dog.
- Nail trim – Who doesn’t love the feeling after a fresh pawdicure? Here’s how to keep your pet’s nails neat and how to trim a cat’s claws.
- Brush teeth – It’s important to brush your pet’s teeth regularly to maintain good dental hygiene and prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease. Learn more about how to brush your dog’s teeth and how to brush your cat’s teeth.
- Comb their fur – Springtime is shedding season for some breeds; time to get out your trusty comb or brush to remove excess pet hair.
Step 2: Clean their space
- Food and water bowls – Clean pet food bowls frequently, ideally daily, with soap and warm water or in the dishwasher.
- Litter box – Give your cat’s litter box a good deep clean by dumping out the litter and washing the box, lid, and scoop with warm soapy water.
- Couches and carpet – Areas your pet likes to hang out will become dirty over time. Vacuum up pet hair and dirt, then clean these areas with specialized tools, such as a carpet cleaner, running couch cushion covers through the wash, or simply using baking soda to remove odors. Simply sprinkle baking soda over affected areas and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before vacuuming it up.
Step 3: Toys and bedding
- Soak plastic toys in a solution of two parts warm water and one part vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
- Wash soft toys, bedding, blankets, collar, and pet clothing in the washing machine, per instructions on the tags.
Step 4: Declutter
- Old snacks – Check the expiration dates on pet treat bags and throw away old and expired treats.
- Toys on their way out – Toss out any pet toys that are worn, broken, or those that are no longer loved by your pet.
- Pet meds – Take unused and expired pet medication to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
