As the days grow longer and the sunshine warmer, it’s the perfect time to reset with a solid spring cleaning. Revist your New Year’s resolutions! Clean out your closets! Set new intentions! Sort through the wild mass of Tupperware and mason jars that accumulated throughout the year. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget about springtime cleaning for your dog, too.
As pet parents, we are pretty used to cleaning up after our pets. Between fur, drool, and the bodily fluids, it’s a regular part of the job. But, spring cleaning is an opportunity to tackle things we don’t always think about or have time for on a regular basis.
This post covers all of the dog-related chores to knock our during your spring cleaning, including a checklist to help you accomplish everything in just one weekend. Download the checklist as a PDF at the bottom of the post.
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Get Rid of Ruined or Unused Stuff
It’s crazy to me how much stuff accumulates throughout the year, especially dog stuff. I mean, to be fair, I buy more things for my dogs than I do for myself, but still. Toys, bandanas, chews, collars, medications/supplements, treats, etc. all pile up over time, with stuff falling to the back of the pantry or the bottom of the toy bin to be completely forgotten about.
My favorite way to kick off a deep spring cleaning is to gather it all together and create three piles: toss, donate, and keep. This is a great process to follow any time you want to clean something out, whether that’s your closet, your pantry, your garage, or whatever.
1. The Toss Pile
To start, go through each item and determine if it needs to get thrown out. If an item is broken, chewed up, torn, or expired, toss it. Dog toys especially should be thrown out or recycled once they start coming apart, because they pose a choking/blockage hazard for your dog. Torn up or heavily stained bedding should also be replaced, and there is no need to hold onto frayed or worn out collars/leashes. Of course, tossing expired medication, supplements, treats, or other food items should be a no brainer.
2. Donate
Next, consider what items could be donated to a local rescue organization. Be honest about what you and your dog actually use and need. If there is a leash you bought because it was cute, but you don’t really use it, donate it! Even if you still think it’s cute, there is no point in holding onto it if you aren’t using it.
Bandanas, collars, leashes, and even gently used toys are all items that a local rescue would get great use out of. Similarly, dog beds, blankets, and crates are always in-demand items for rescues. Instead of letting these things gather dust, donate them!
3. Keep
After sorting through everything to determine what needs to get thrown out and what items you don’t really need or use, you are left with your keep pile. Hopefully this is your smallest pile! Put everything you want to keep away in a designated area. If you don’t have a toy bin or some other organization system, now is your chance to set one up.
Wash Your Dog’s Bedding
Dog beds and blankets get really gross thanks to accumulating dog hair, dirt, and body oil. While it’s important to keep your pet’s bedding clean on a monthly or even weekly basis, I like to do a deep clean and sanitization every six months or so.
If you aren’t replacing your dog’s bedding (see step one), take it outside and give it a good shake to remove any excess dust, hair, and dander. I like to slap it against a post or railing to help knock hair off. Next, give your dog’s bedding a quick vacuum. The goal is to remove as much dog hair as possible so you don’t cause a nasty build up in your washing machine. Once you’ve removed as much hair and dirt as possible, review the care instructions on the label so you know how to wash it and on what cycle.
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When washing your dog’s bedding in the washing machine, be sure to use a mild, scent-free detergent. Your dog’s sense of smell is a lot more sensitive than your own, and strong detergents can be irritating. After washing, you can either air dry the bedding in the sun or machine dry it on low or both! Just be sure to check the care instructions on the label.
If your dog’s bed is not machine washable, then spot clean as necessary and sprinkle a healthy dose of baking soda over it to deodorize and soak up excess oils. Let set for 15 minutes, then shake out and vacuum up. You can also set the bedding in the sun for a day or two. The UV light naturally helps to deodorize and kill off bacteria. Lastly, throw soft bedding into the dryer on a fluff cycle.
For more rigid bedding like raised beds, cots, crate pads, etc., spray and wipe them down with a nontoxic, unscented cleaner, and place everything out in the sun for a healthy dose of UV light.
Sanitize Your Dog’s Toys
According to a study by National Safety Federation, 23% of pet toys were found to harbor potentially dangerous staph bacteria– the highest staph percentage of any household item studied. Yeasts and molds infested 55% of pet toys, and 14% also harbored coliform bacteria.
That is a big frickin’ yikes.
You can wash most soft toys in your washing machine on a delicate cycle with a mild, scent-free detergent. Then, air dry in the sun. For hard toys or chews, either run them through the dishwasher on the top rack or hand wash with warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry in the sun.
Again, if any toys are extra beat up, throw them in the trash or recycle bin.
Deep Clean the Dog Crate
Move your dog’s crate away from it’s usual spot and vacuum all the built up hair. If your dog’s crate is on a non-carpeted surface, mop and sanitize the area. Alternatively, if your dog’s crate is on carpet, sprinkle a little bit of baking soda, gently rub it in, and let set for 10-15 minutes before vacuuming it up.
Next, wipe down the baseboards and walls adjacent to your dog’s crate You might notice a slight discoloration– that’s a build up of oil and dirt! Use a gentle, non-toxic cleaner to remove, or a magic eraser if necessary.
Finally, it’s time to tackle the crate itself. If you have a wire kennel with a removable tray, remove the tray to inspect. If the plastic is chipped, cracked, or broken, it’s time to replace it. Replacement pans are usually easy to find at your local pet store, or you can snag one from Chewy. If the tray is in good condition, spray it down and wipe with a cloth. I recommend using a non-toxic cleaner without a lingering scent.
If you have a hard-sided crate, vacuum out the inside and then spray and wipe down the interior. Let everything air out completely before setting it back up for your dog.
Wash Dog Collars and Leashes
If your dog’s collar and leash is machine washable like our EarthDog sets are, remove the tags, put them in a delicates bag, and throw them in the wash with a mild detergent. The delicates bag will keep the D-ring and leash clip from clanking around loudly and will help prevent tangling. Line dry in the sun.
Alternatively, spot clean the collars and leashes that are not machine washable. Sanitize plastic or biothane collars with warm soapy water and let air dry. If you have a leather collar and leash, now is a good time to clean and condition the leather. Not only will it look so much better, but properly caring for leather products helps them last significantly longer. Just be sure to avoid harsh chemicals, polishes, or other potentially toxic products.
Finally, check your dog’s tags to ensure your contact information hasn’t worn away. If your name or number is difficult to read, then it’s time to replace.
Deep Clean Your Furniture
First, move furniture away from the walls to clean up whatever has been accumulating behind it– dust, lost toys, and fur-bunnies the size of a Pomeranian are just a few possibilities that you might find.
Throw away any food items or old chews, and clean/assess the toys to determine whether or not you need to keep them. Vacuum up all the dust and hair, wipe down baseboards and the wall, and mop the area if it isn’t carpeted.
Next, it’s time to tackle the furniture itself. I try to vacuum the couch at least every few weeks, but there is always dog hair embedded in places that just won’t budge. I found this great tip from the AKC for tackling that exact problem:
On carpets and upholstery… a light misting with water and fabric softener followed by a once-over with a stiff-bristled brush can loosen and pull up embedded hairs. You can also go over surfaces with a lint roller, pet-hair remover, or other hair-grabber after vacuuming.
Be sure to remove all of your couch’s cushions to vacuum every nook and cranny. For non-upholstered furniture (like leather), give everything a solid wipe down with a warm cloth or an appropriate cleaner, like a leather cleaner. It’s also a great time to condition your leather furniture to keep it in tip-top shape and protect against any spills or messes.
Wipe Down and Sanitize Dog-height Areas
While it’s easy to remember to dust and wipe tables, shelves, and other human-height surfaces, it is equally easy to forget about the dog-height surfaces. This includes windows, window sills, air vents, walls, and the legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture.
Thoroughly vacuum and dust baseboards before using a gentle, non-toxic cleaner to wipe down. You will be surprised by how how much dirt and grime has built up– even on your walls!
In addition to wiping everything down, now is a good time to remove your curtains and wash them if they are machine washable. If they are not machine washable, I would at least remove the dog hair with a vacuum or lint roller, spot clean any areas that need extra attention, and let them air out in the sun. Dust your blinds, and run a damp cloth along the tracks of your window.
Clean and Service Your HVAC System
While you should already replace your air filters on a regular basis (how frequently depends on your system), springtime cleaning is the time to give your HVAC closet a little extra attention. Vacuum out the dust and hair, and then give it a good wipe down! These closets are an ideal area for mold to grow since there is minimal light and very little airflow. Use a damp cloth to wipe down all of the vents in your house as well.
Finally, consider getting your air conditioning unit cleaned and serviced. This is something you should probably do every 6-12 months, and with summer on its way, now is the perfect time to check that off your list.
Springtime Cleaning Checklist for Dog Moms
There is no shortage of things to do when it comes to keeping your home clean, especially when you have dogs. One thing I really like investing in to help myself out is a cleaning service. Bringing in a professional cleaning crew to deep clean your house is SUCH a game changer. Even if you can’t budget for these services on a regular basis, I think it’s worth the splurge for spring cleaning. Let the cleaning crew worry about the usual chores so you can focus on the bigger ticket items, like cleaning out your closet or going through your dog’s toy bin.
Feeling a little overwhelmed by everything you need to do? Don’t! I put together a checklist to help you accomplish everything in this post in just one weekend.
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