This post is all about spring cleaning ideas for dog owners. Everyone already knows the spring cleaning basics like donating unused clothes and cleaning out junk drawers, but what about chores specific to pet parents? You can take some extra steps to welcome the new season with a fresh home and dog!
Spring is a time for renewal and refreshing, and that often extends to our homes as well. As the weather warms up and the days get longer, many of us take the opportunity to give our living spaces a thorough cleaning.
In many cultures, spring actually marks the beginning of a new year. What better way to kick off the season of revival than with a fresh, clean house!?
If you have a dog, you know that they are a big part of your home and can contribute to the mess. But fear not! In this post, we will provide tips for successfully spring cleaning with your furry friend by your side. From wiping up muddy pawprints to ridding your house of dust balls, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s get started on creating a clean and fresh living space for you and your dog to enjoy.
Spring Cleaning Ideas
Try working through the chores on this spring cleaning list for a clean, pet-friendly home:
- Dust
- Vacuum
- Replace filters
- Shampoo carpet
- Mop the floor
- Clean under kitchen appliances
- Wash throw pillows & blankets
- Wash the dog bed
- Deep clean the dog bowls
- Toss torn dog toys
- Check expiration dates
- Clean up the backyard
- Brush & wash the dog
- Cook up a simmer pot
Let’s jump into some details so we can get this right and enjoy a clean home in no time.
Dust
Estimated Time: ~5 minutes per room
This is the best time of year to really dust. Keeping the windows closed all winter long and the heat blasting can cause some serious dust accumulation. We’re not just talking about dusting the tables here. With a microfiber cloth and some good non-toxic cleaner, get to dusting commonly neglected places like…
- the tops of all the molding, window sills and baseboards
- the tops of all the doors
- appliances
- around the medicine cabinet
- the walls behind the furniture
- picture frames and mirrors
- all the shelves of furniture, like the tv stand and bookshelves
- lamps
- kitchen cupboards
- ceiling fan blades
Pro Tip: Dust your ceiling fan blades with the inside of an old pillowcase, so it captures all the dust.
You’ll already be feeling fresher knowing all that dust is out of your home!
Vacuum
Estimated Time: ~5 minutes per room
If you have a dog that sheds, you know how impossible it can feel to keep up with the hairball tumbleweeds! Start spring off right with a thorough vacuuming of your whole house. Don’t forget to get under the furniture and suck up all the hair collecting under your bed and sofa.
While vacuuming, pass over every section of carpet or rug at least twice – once vertically, another horizontally. That way you’re maximizing the dirt and hair you pick up.
If you’re due for a new vacuum, consider purchasing one specifically made for picking up pet hair. Not only do they have powerful suction, but they often come with additional attachments great for getting hair from hard to clean places, like carpeted stairs. This Bissell CleanView is a fantastic budget vacuum! It swivels like a Dyson and has a pedal-activated reel for the cord, so no hassle of winding up the cord when you’re done.
Don’t forget to regularly change the filter on your vacuum. Using an old filter can kick back dust, taking away from all your hard work dusting and adding allergens to the air. This leads us to…
Replace Filters
Estimated Time: 5-30 minutes, depending on the accessibility of filters
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to take inventory of all your appliances and tools that use filters and replace them. Filters often go neglected, but a clean filter can make a huge difference!
Check to make sure your vacuum filter is in good shape. If you use air purifiers, check that it’s up to par, otherwise you won’t be as effectively filtering debris from the air. Replace the filter on your water or ice dispenser on your fridge to ensure you’re getting the cleanest water.
Shampoo Carpet
Estimated Time: ~10 minutes per large area rug + 3-5 hours dry time
If you’re feeling especially ambitious, consider taking your carpet cleaning a step further by shampooing as well. After a good vacuuming, you can give your carpet a deep clean with a shampooer like this Bissell TurboClean made specifically for cleaning up after pets. This thing is AMAZING.
I have ivory-colored rugs in my living room, which look so dingy when they get dirty. Who with a dog buys rugs in any shade of white? Would not recommend it unless you have a good carpet shampooer!
It works almost exactly like a regular vacuum, except it sprays warm, soapy water too. You just pass over a stretch of carpet holding the trigger, which sprays the cleaning solution onto your carpet. Then you continue to pass over that same stretch another time or two with the trigger released, as the machine sucks up the dirty water. So easy!
Dumping out the dirty water reservoir is about as satisfying as it gets. Would rate it right up there with pulling off a really good blackhead strip.
Pro Tip: Shampoo your carpets when you can lock your dog in another part of the house or send them somewhere else for the day. You should let your carpet fully dry before walking on it.
Mop the Floor
Estimated Time: ~10 minutes per room
After weeks or months of your dog tracking in little snowy pawprints and mud, it’s time to give your tile and hardwood floors a proper cleaning. No need to get fancy here. Fill up a bucket with hot, soapy water and get to mopping. You never notice how dirty your floors were until they’re clean again.
For hardwood floors, try a hardwood floor polish after you’re done cleaning. It’ll leave your floors looking beautiful and even.
Clean Under Kitchen Appliances
Estimated Time: ~30 minutes
The back of the refrigerator and under the oven are like magnets for collecting dust and dog hair. If you have the means, pull your large kitchen appliances from the wall and clean them and the floor around them. Keeping the back and bottom of your fridge clear of dog hair build-up improves its performance too.
If you’re unable to pull your appliances out or get behind them, sticking the extender attachment of your vacuum hose under them is better than nothing!
Wash Throw Pillows & Blankets
Estimated Time: as long as it takes for your washer and dryer to run full cycles
If you haven’t washed the throw pillows and blankets on your sofa or bed in a while, now’s a perfect time. Unlike your bed sheets, these often can go longer without being washed. Ideally, they should be washed at least every season. If you use them to cover your furniture for your dog to lay on, you’ll want to wash them more often.
Wash decorative pillows and blankets in the warmest water that’s safe for that fabric. Dry on low heat. The heat will help kill dust mites in your linens and reduce allergens.
Wash the Dog Bed
Estimated Time: as long as it takes for your washer and dryer to run full cycles
Just like your own pillows, your dog bed should be cleaned about once a season too, if not more often. Dirt, hair and dust mites build up and become breeding grounds for allergens. Wash their bed in the washing machine with the warmest temperature water that’s safe for the fabric. Tumble dry with low heat. Washing and drying gives the bed a little extra fluff again too!
Deep Clean the Dog Bowls
Estimated Time: ~5-10 minutes
I’m just as guilty as the next person: I don’t wash my dog’s food and water dishes every day. Take this opportunity to scrub your dog’s bowls and general eating area. If their bowls are set on a mat and/or stand, give that a good cleaning too.
Stainless steel and ceramic dog bowls are best for quality and ward off bacteria. If you’re using plastic, consider using your spring cleaning marathon to upgrade to a more hygienic option.
Toss Torn Dog Toys
Estimated Time: ~5 minutes
It’s time to sit down with your dog and go through their toy box. Take a few minutes to separate any toys they don’t really like or toys that need repair.
Consider giving toys that don’t get much attention to a dog friend. If you have torn toys or toys missing pieces, either repair them or throw them away. Loose pieces and stuffing can be a choking hazard to your dog. If swallowed, it can cause a bowel obstruction. It’s important to keep toys in tip-top shape!
Read More: 13 Essentials for Your New Puppy Survival Kit
Check Expiration Dates
Estimated Time: ~10 minutes
Take inventory of all the dog treats and food and check the dates on everything. Have treats in the back of the cupboard or frozen food that got lost in the back of the freezer? If they are past the expiration date, pitch them and make room for a fresh bag.
Clean Up the Backyard
Estimated Time: ~15 minutes, depending on how long it’s been since you cleaned last & the size of your yard
After a long winter, the backyard can become a minefield of dog poop. As soon as the snow melts and the weather allows it, get out there and clean up the backyard.
Pro Tip: Pick up dog poop when all the snow is melted, first thing in the morning after a cold night. That way, the poop will be frozen, easy to pick up, and way less…offensive.
Brush & Wash the Dog
Estimated Time: ~60 minutes
After all the hard work you’ve put into getting your house clean, get ahead at the source by brushing and bathing your dog. Double-coated dogs often start shedding at the start of spring, so you’ll want to get a good brushing routine down. In the springtime, I brush my Australian Shepherd every day.
If you give your dog baths at home, you may be hesitant to bathe them as often in the winter. I’d feel terrible sending my pup into the freezing cold with damp fur! Now that the weather is warming up, it’s a great time to give them a good bath.
For those who live in colder climates, you also get the luxury of sending your dog out into the mud of springtime. Oh, the joy when your dog comes running inside from playtime in mud puddles from melted snow! Keep up with messes by cleaning your dog off as soon as they come in the door.
Pro Tip: Always leave an old towel by the door to clean off your pup’s paws when they come inside. If it’s muddy outside, use a shallow bucket of water to wash their feet before letting them loose in the house or take them straight to the bath.
Cook Up a Simmer Pot
Estimated Time: ~10 minutes
Now that you’re done with spring cleaning, try throwing together a simmer pot to make your house smell as fresh as it is clean! In a small saucepan, add fresh fruits and herbs to suit your taste, then simmer on low heat for a whole-house aromatic experience.
Consider combinations of orange, lemon, lime, lavender, rosemary, mint & vanilla to compliment the welcoming of spring!
Simmer pots are a fantastic alternative to candles in making your home smell great. They’re also safer and better for your and your dog’s health. No soot to breathe in! Just keep an eye on the water level in your simmer pot to prevent burning your ingredients.
Ta-da! Your house is spic and span, ready to take on the new season.
Do you have any other must-clean places in your home that you add to your spring cleaning routine? Please let me know in the comments!
Happy Spring!
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