Updated on: November 13, 2026
Originally published on: November 13, 2026
These cleaning tips for pet owners tackle the messes that come with sharing your home with pets, from fur on the sofa to paw prints on the floor. There’s fur on different materials. Toys under furniture. Paw prints on the floor. A blanket that probably needs washing more often than anyone would like to admit. And then there’s the smell. You get used to it when you live with pets. Visitors probably notice it sooner.
A deeper clean gives you a chance to tackle the spots you tend to miss during your regular routine.
Start with the Fur
Pet hair is usually the biggest job. It gets into carpets, sofas, cushions, curtains and pretty much every soft surface in the house. Vacuuming helps, but stubborn hair can stay stuck in upholstery.
A damp rubber glove is worth trying. Run it over the sofa or other fabric surfaces and the hair starts gathering together. Much easier to pick up than chasing individual hairs around with a vacuum.
For carpets, vacuum slowly and get into the corners. Move the furniture too. Yes, even the heavy sofa. That’s often where months of fur, dust and random bits of whatever have been hiding. A vacuum with a HEPA filter can also help remove smaller particles such as pet dander from carpets and soft furnishings.
Wash the Things Pets Sleep On
Pet beds can look perfectly fine and still hold a lot of hair and dust. Wash removable covers, blankets and cushion covers according to their care instructions. If they can handle a warmer wash, even better. Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent where possible rather than something heavily scented.
Then look at the bed itself. Is the fabric ripped? Is stuffing coming out? Has the cushion become completely flat? If the answer is yes, it may be time for a new one. There’s also no point washing a blanket and putting it straight back onto a dirty pet bed. Clean the whole thing while everything is already apart.
Clean the Feeding Area Properly
The feeding area tends to get cleaned around rather than cleaned properly. Move the bowls. Pick up the mat. Clean underneath everything. Wash your pet’s water bowl daily, and use soap and hot water to wash pet food bowls after each use. Some hard plastic and rubber items can go into the dishwasher, but check the manufacturer’s instructions first. Then check the food cupboard. Look at expiry dates. Check opened bags for moisture or damage. Make sure food is properly sealed rather than sitting open for days.
For adult dogs, adult dog food should be kept sealed and stored somewhere cool and dry after opening. It’s a small thing, but proper storage helps protect the food from moisture, pests, and unnecessary exposure to air. This is also a good time to wash the feeding mat. Those things can get surprisingly grimy underneath.
Empty the Toy Basket
This one is easy. Put all the toys in one place and actually look at them. That rubber toy with half of it missing? Probably done. The stuffed toy with the seam hanging open? Also done. Anything with loose pieces, exposed stuffing, cracks, or badly damaged parts should be replaced. A favourite toy isn’t necessarily a safe toy once it has been chewed to pieces.
While doing this, check collars, harnesses and leads too. Look at the stitching, clips and buckles. If something is starting to fail, replace it before it fails while out on a walk.
Deal with the Smells, Not Just the Smell
Air freshener can make a room smell better for an hour. It doesn’t clean the carpet. If there has been a pet accident, especially on carpet or upholstery, an enzymatic cleaner can be more useful because it breaks down the organic residue that causes the odor. Check the product instructions and keep pets away from wet cleaning products.
Follow the label directions for household cleaning products, and keep pets away from treated surfaces until they’re dry. Also, don’t go overboard with scented sprays. Strong fragrances can be irritating, and covering up an odor usually means the actual source has not been dealt with. Find the source. Clean it. Done.
Give the Air Some Attention Too
While you’re cleaning, take a minute to check your home’s air filters. Replace HVAC or air-conditioning filters when they are due, and clean dusty vents. Pet hair and dander can build up around these areas, especially in homes with heavy shedders.
And if the house smells stale, ventilation can make a bigger difference than another bottle of room sprays. When the weather is mild, and the air outside is clean, open a few windows to bring in fresh air and help improve indoor air quality.
Sort Through the Pet Stuff
Pet supplies multiply very quickly. There’s the old blanket. Three brushes. Two leads that are barely used. A bag of toys. Something bought six months ago that nobody has touched since. Go through it. Keep what’s actually being used. Wash what can be washed. Throw away damaged items. Check grooming products and other supplies for expiry dates where applicable.
Keeping everyday things together also makes life easier. Food in one place. Leads near the door. Grooming supplies together. Toys where they can actually be found. It doesn’t need to look like a perfectly organised storage room. It just needs to work.
Do a Quick Safety Check?
Once furniture has been moved and cupboards have been opened, take a few minutes to look for things that could cause trouble. Loose electrical cords. Small objects under furniture. Cleaning products left within reach. Damaged window screens. Something sharp that has somehow ended up behind a cabinet.
Check outdoor areas too. Look at gates and fencing. Remove standing water, broken objects and anything that could be chewed or swallowed. If new plants have been added around the house or garden, check that they are safe for pets. That’s really what spring cleaning with pets comes down to. Not making the house look perfect. Just getting rid of the accumulated fur, dust, old supplies and little hazards that build up over time.
Clean the places pets actually use. Wash their bedding. Check their toys. Clean around their bowls. Get some fresh air into the house. Then enjoy having the sofa back for approximately five minutes before the dog claims it again.
