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This year, while you’re airing bedding, flinging open the windows, mopping the floors, and dusting everything in sight, don’t forget to include your dog’s living space too. It’s important to take a yearly audit of your pet’s supplies and sanitize any items that they use often.
Make your annual cleaning ritual more dog-friendly by adding these tasks to your checklist — and remember to always use pet-safe cleaning products!
Pick Up Your Yard
If you live in a colder climate, you likely already know why you need to clean your yard. When the snow melts, it reveals everything you neglected to pick up during the colder months, including your dog’s droppings.
When the warm weather hits, your dog will likely want to indulge in the sunshine, so make sure your yard is a safe place for them to hang out and play. Along with picking up your dog’s poop, walk around your yard and pick up sticks, stones, branches, or anything else your dog may try to play with and chew.
Refresh Your Kitchen
Annual cleaning isn’t complete until you give your kitchen a good deep clean — and that includes your dog’s supplies as well. When did you last clean or replace your dog’s food dish or water bowl? While you don’t need to replace bowls regularly, consider purchasing new dishes if the bowls have been chewed or are too dirty to save.
You should clean your dog’s bowls out at least every day, but it is always a good idea to give them a deep cleaning every so often. If your dog has a rug or mat under their dishes, clean that too.
Check Expiration Dates
While many of us remember to go through our pantries regularly to get rid of expired food, we don’t always remember to do the same for our dogs! Make sure to check your dog’s food, treats, and medications, and dispose of anything that’s expired.
Get Rid of the Dog Hair
If your dog sheds often, you likely know that stray strands and dander are among the biggest house-cleaning challenges. You’ll want to go over every corner and surface of your house with a pet hair vacuum.
You can also take preparatory steps to improve your chances of making a clean sweep. On carpets and upholstery, for example, 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 or pet-hair remover after vacuuming. Once all your surfaces are free of pet hair, go over your fabrics and carpets with a fabric spray to finish the job.
Clean and Discard Old Toys
Decluttering is a crucial part of any cleaning. Along with organizing your closet, take a look at your dog’s toy basket. If the toys are dirty, give them a good clean with soap and water. Be sure to toss out any broken or potentially dangerous ones. Once you’re finished cleaning them, don’t forget to have fun replacing any toys you discarded.
Wash Bedding, Blankets, and Collars
While you should wash your dog’s bedding and blankets on a regular basis, you can also give them an extra-thorough cleaning occasionally. Consider also cleaning the baseboards, carpet, and walls near areas where your dog sleeps or eats. Be sure to also give all your windows a good polish to wipe away nose and paw prints.
This is also a good time to thoroughly clean crates, carriers, collars, and leashes with a mild soap, like dishwashing detergent, and a highly diluted disinfectant. Many people do a final wipe-down with water, to reduce the chance of pets coming in contact with chemicals.
Don’t Forget Grooming
Don’t forget the most important part: keeping your dog clean! Your dog should already have a regular grooming routine. But, after a long winter, their thick coat will begin to shed, which often requires special care. To refresh your grooming knowledge, take time to read our spring grooming tips and invest in safe, quality grooming products.