Like it or not, spring cleaning is essential for maintaining a happy and healthy living space. A deep spring-cleaning ritual gives many of us an opportunity to freshen up our homes and get organized before the busy summer months sneak up on us. For pet owners, this includes adding some pet-oriented tasks to our cleaning to-do lists.
While cleaning and maintaining your pet’s living space should be done on a regular basis, a more thorough cleaning should take place in the springtime. The main goal is to reduce or eliminate allergens (e.g., dander, hair, dust) that have accumulated in your home, in addition to cleaning and sanitizing everything your pet uses (e.g., bedding, blankets, bowls, toys).
Also, spring cleaning shouldn’t be limited to just your living space. It’s also the perfect time to treat your pet to a professional grooming session that includes brushing, bathing, hair and nail trimming, and eye and ear cleaning. Not only will regular grooming have your dog looking and feeling nice, but it can also help you to keep your home clean as well.
As you embark on your annual spring-cleaning chores, be sure to add the following tasks to your checklist of things to do.
Clean and Sanitize Food and Water Bowls
According to a study conducted by the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), pet bowls are among the top 5 germiest items found in most households. The NSF recommends cleaning your pet’s food and water bowls using your dishwasher’s disinfecting cycle or scrubbing them by hand using hot soapy water. If washing by hand, it’s recommended that you soak your washed bowls in a diluted bleach solution for 5 to 10 minutes, rinse well and allow to air dry.
Additionally, if your dog’s bowls have become cracked or chipped, it’s time to replace them. You can add a pop of color to your pup’s mealtime with one of our Happy Bowl slow feeder bowls. These colorful bowls come in fun food-themed designs, including Ice Cream, Hamburger, Pizza, Pineapple and Donut shapes.
Wash and Freshen Up Toys
The NSF also placed pet toys in the top 10 germiest household items, finding them to be a source of coliform bacteria, yeast, and mold. You can clean your dog’s soft toys by tossing them into your washing machine on the disinfecting cycle (or hot setting with an extra rinse). Hard toys should be hand washed with soap and water, disinfected with a diluted bleach solution, and thoroughly rinsed to remove any residue.
If any of your dog’s toys have become shredded or broken, toss them out and replace them with fresh new toys. You can add a touch of spring color to your pup’s playtime with toys from our adorable Easter collection, or introduce them to new springtime friends with adorable toys from our all-new Fluffy Peltz collection.
Refresh Bedding and Blankets
As the seasons change, your pet’s bedding and blankets should be changed too. PetMD recommends laundering your pup’s bedding and blankets once a week – or at least once every two weeks. They should be washed more often if your dogs are heavy shedders, spend a lot of time outdoors, or if they have allergies. In between washings, remove hair from their bedding with a vacuum or latex household cleaning gloves. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to clean your dog’s favorite resting spots, crates, carriers, and car accessories.
Our friends at Skout’s Honor offer a Laundry Booster Bundle that includes their Laundry Booster – Stain & Odor Removal Additive and Odor Eliminator spray. The Laundry Booster provides the necessary boost needed to clean even the most “doggy” laundry when combined with your everyday detergent. It’s great for removing pet stains and odors from pet bedding, clothing, washable pee pads, plush toys and more. A few sprays of the Odor eliminating spray will help keep things smelling fresh between washings.
Clean Collars, Leashes and Other Accessories
In addition to your dog’s bowls, toys, and bedding, you should also add their accessories to your spring-cleaning routine. Collars and leashes can quickly become dirty with daily use. Cleaning them once a month should be sufficient unless you notice they are becoming visibly dirty. If you find that you’re having to wash them more often, buy spares and rotate them between cleanings. Other items to consider when freshening up your pup’s stuff include bandanas, vests, harnesses, treat bags, and anything else that gets regular use.
If you’re in the market for a new collar or leash, ZippyPaws has you covered. Our Collars and Leashes come in a variety of stylish colors that are guaranteed to turn heads wherever you and your pup are strutting your stuff.
Bathe and Groom Your Dog
A well-groomed dog is a happy and healthy dog. This should include bathing, brushing, ear and eye cleaning, hair and nail trimming, and paw care for your pup. Add these tasks to your spring-cleaning to-do list and you will have your pup looking and feeling fresh, clean, and more than ready for spring. A professional grooming is ideal, but confident pet owners can always opt to take on this chore themselves if they are up to the challenge.
Again, our friends at Skout’s Honor have everything you need to get your home groom on. Check out their extensive line of Probiotic Pet Grooming products that help support a healthy microbiome to defend against common skin problems such as itching, odor, dryness, dandruff, hot spots, yeast and excessive shedding.
Keep in mind that spring cleaning can be rather tedious and burdensome, so try not to let yourself get overwhelmed. Treat yourself to some well-deserved breaks from your chores and head outside with your dog to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Happy spring cleaning, y’all!
