Preventative Care@3x

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips for You & Your Furry Friends

Mar 1, 2021 | Pet Safety

spring cleaning safety tips

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips & Advice for Pet Owners

Believe it or not, spring has nearly sprung, which means it’s time to wash away the winter germs and welcome the change of seasons with a clean home. Your pets may be small, but they are a mighty part of the house, carrying with them some mighty odors along with mighty amounts of dirt, hair, and saliva. As the weather begins to warm, the winter coat begins to shed, and that fur collects in every corner of the house –– under furniture, on top of furniture, and even on your clothing. A lint roller only goes so far, so time to bust out the big cleaning guns.

Luckily, we have some spring cleaning safety tips and advice on how to disinfect dog toys and some suggestions for dog supply organizers that every pet parent should know about.

Spring Cleaning Tips

  1. Donate Old Toys & Accessories
    • Toys aren’t meant to last forever. If your pet’s toy bin is getting out of hand, go through and create three separate piles: keep, donate, trash. Store any favorites back in the bin, set a date to deliver those in good condition to your local shelter, then trash the broken or scrapped ones. This will eliminate clutter and rid your home of the unwanted germs and bacteria living on that 3-year-old, de-stuffed, de-squeaked, saliva- soaked, unidentifiable plush toy pelt.
  2. Wash Beds & Bedding
    • Don’t just wait for spring to give your pet’s beds a really good wash. Just as you would wash your own bedding frequently, the same goes for your furry friend. Otherwise, the buildup of hair, dirt, food, saliva, and other germs will often produce a putrid odor or even attract unwanted creepy crawlies over time. 
  3. Sanitize Bowls
    • It’s great to get in the habit of rinsing your pet’s bowls every night but to ensure no bacteria and germs are being passed to your pet, take some extra time every week to scrub them out or throw them into the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. 
  4. Deep Clean Carpets & Floors
    • Regular cleaning and vacuuming is a must, but spring is the perfect time to give your floors some extra love. Puppy potty-training wreaks havoc on the carpet and dirty paws track muck and mud indoors, so do some research. You may determine it’s worth the bucks to invest in a high-end carpet cleaning appliance or professional service.
  5. Replace Air Filters
    • Spring cleaning time is the perfect time to replace the air filters in your home. You can scrub the dishes, wash the beds, and deep clean the floors, but if you neglect to eliminate the primary source of storage for dust, hair, and dangerous allergens, then all that hard work will have been in vain. Look into specialized air filters for pet owners that work hard to minimize this kind of buildup.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips for Pets

  1. Store any cleaners and chemicals out of reach.
  2. Immediately toss used rags in the laundry bin and dispose of paper towels in a closed/ sealable wastebasket. 
  3. Invest in pet-safe soap and other natural cleaning supplies.
  4. Put your pet in another room or outside if weather permits whenever you’re vacuuming/mopping to avoid injury.
  5. Ensure floors are 100% dry before allowing pets to return to the space.
  6. Inventory your pet’s first-aid supplies (if you don’t have a first-aid kit, now’s the time to create one!) and take a few minutes to look over expiration dates on any medications or products and refill as needed.

How to Disinfect Dog Toys

Your pet’s toys spend a significant amount of time in their mouths, in the yard, on their beds (or yours), in puddles, and many other places where dirt and grime can collect. How to disinfect dog toys is a distant thought for many, but neglecting to do so is a habit we should quickly work to reverse.

  1. Soak in a natural dog-safe sanitizer like a water and vinegar solution (avoid bleach, peroxide, Lysol, or similar products)
  2. Pay extra attention to outdoor toys, soaking in double the amount of vinegar/natural sanitizer for double the amount of time.
  3. Rotate your pet’s toys to make cleaning easier, giving them a set to play with while the other is being washed.
  4. Re-introduce the toy with enthusiasm as washing certain toys often means removing the smells and other elements that gave them their “mojo” in the first place. This way, you associate positivity with a clean toy – essentially telling your pet that clean is good!
  5. Clean the toy bin. Additionally, it’s best to store toys in a bin rather than a basket as the plastic or hard surface is much easier to sanitize than fabric.

Deep cleaning and decluttering the space is one thing but keeping the space clean is another. Consider trying out any of these dog supply organizers from Rover to keep your pet’s areas and accessories organized. 

Lastly, if you’re prepping your space for some serious spring cleaning and unsure which supplies are pet-safe, check with your veterinarian or local pet supply store for recommendations for you and your household!

[Disclaimer]
Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a  medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.  

Disclaimer: Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.