How to Keep Your House Clean With Indoor Pets Running Around?

What’s better than the company of a cute and fluffy animal company lounging around your house? Indoor parts are great companions that make our life richer. However, unless you know how to keep your house clean with indoor pets, your life will become a bit of a nightmare.

No matter what pet you have, be it a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a couple of birds, or a handful of fish, you’ll need to up the ante on cleanliness. Indoor pets are inevitably going to make your house dirty. There’s no helping it. What you can do is to stay on top of it. If you think regular house-cleaning practices are sufficient for a house with indoor pets, think again.

You have to take some extra measures. Otherwise, your house will start looking grungy, and the situation might even become unhealthy to some extent. What’s the solution, then? Well, since I’ve been the parent to quite a few types of pets over the years, I’ll share my wisdom. Keep reading to learn all about how to clean your house with indoor pets.

How to Keep Your House Clean With Indoor Pets?

Here’s a quick reminder- treat your pets as a member of your family. Stay diligent about cleaning not only because your house will be pristine but also because it will improve your pets’ living standards. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the different measures I take to keep my house clean with indoor pets.

First and Foremost: Keep Your Pet Clean

Whether you take your pet out or not, like a human, a pet also needs to stay clean. Otherwise, the dirt and grime will inevitably get on your furniture, clothes, and, of course, on you.

Brush

Furry friends such as cats, dogs, and rabbits need to be brushed regularly. Many specialized brushes take care of their fur. Regular brushing means you get rid of a lot of hair from their coat before it can end up around the house. There are times when pets shed more, such as a specific season, a health or diet issue, or simply stress.

If you have a set schedule for brushing, you’ll be able to notice the change and take appropriate measures. Brushing is also a practice that keeps your pet looking and feeling healthier. The act of brushing also comforts your pet and maintains the bond between pet and pet parent. I’ve always found that it’s a calming exercise for both me and my pet.

Bathe

Bathing your pet too frequently might exacerbate health issues, so make sure you talk to your vet and decide on an appropriate frequency. Bathing takes away any grime stuck on your pet and also reduces shading.

However, make sure the bathing essentials you use are suitable for your pet. If your pet has a skin issue, make sure to pick the appropriate shampoo and conditioner. If the amount of shedding is more than average, you can also find some supplies that reduce shedding to a considerable extent.

Clean Paws

After taking your pet out for a walk or a brief playing session in the backyard, it’s natural that their paws will get dirty. Taking your pet to clean up in the bathroom every time might be cumbersome, so keep some cleaning wipes nearby. If you’re not diligent about wiping their paws every time they come in, you’ll end up with paw prints all over the house.

Not only is it unsightly, but also rather unhygienic. Some pets can be reluctant or even frightened to get their paws cleaned. Do not get impatient or raise your voice when you face this predicament. Keep at it gently, and your pet will understand that it’s not an activity that will hurt.

Groom

Aside from brushing, bathing, and paw cleaning, maintaining other grooming practices is also essential. Keep your pets’ nails manageable. Keep their mouth, noses, eyes, and ears clean. When needed, also get them a haircut.

Vacuuming Is the Key

Grooming your pet meticulously isn’t the end of your efforts. You’re still going to find pet hair, dander, feathers, and miscellaneous dirt all around the house. The easiest, most effortless way to tackle this is vacuuming. Vacuum everything that might have even a spec of fur or feather on it.

Bedding, upholstery, rugs, even curtains, and drapes should be vacuumed. There are vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed for picking up pet hair. Investing in one of those is prudent. After you’ve vacuumed, go over your rugs and carpets with a brush or a broom. In this case, pick a dog hair broom. They pick up a lot of hair that hides in rugs.

Get Rid of That Wet Dog Smell

When I say wet “dog” smell, I don’t just mean in the case of people who have dogs. No matter what pet you have, a very distinct and persistent smell will permeate through your house. It’s hard to eliminate it, but you surely can tamp it down to be less offensive.

Vacuuming takes care of a lot of that smell. Aside from that, you should also sweep and mop your hard floors. You would be surprised how much smell they can keep holding onto. Don’t forget to clean the skirting boards, either. They often get sprayed with urine.

Another way to get rid of the stale, smelly air is to open your windows and doors to let some fresh air in. On that note, don’t forget to change your house’s air filters as needed. Investing in an air purifier might be preferable to using perfume or diffusers, as the chemicals might harm your pets.

If there have been “accidents,” i.e., your pet has pooped or peed on your carpet, rug, upholstery, or bedding, make sure to clean it instantly. Under no circumstances should you leave it for later. Rugs and carpets can be steam cleaned, while upholstery should be spot cleaned. If spot cleaning doesn’t work, you should contact professionals who know what to do with it.

Clean and disinfect your bedding thoroughly. There’s often another debacle- you know your pet has peed somewhere, but it’s not visible. You could use a black light to find pee stains and clean them up properly in cases like these. To prevent troublesome situations like these, litter train your pet.

Clean Your Pet’s Belongings

I know what doting pet parents are like; I’m one of them, after all! Over time, your house will be taken over by their belongings. No matter where you go, you’ll find a bed, a blanket, a toy, or a litter box that they use. Don’t ignore these when you’re cleaning.

Bedding

Take a look at the cat bed or dog bed you’ve bought to spoil your pet. There’s a possibility it’s capable of stinking up the whole house. It holds onto many pet hair, dander, grime and really just smells very strongly of your pet.

That is why I always advise pet parents to get an easily washable bed for their pets. Granted, you could also just vacuum and spot clean it. But a bed that can be deep cleaned will ultimately be cleaner and more hygienic for your pet. It will also smell much, much better than a bed that’s too delicate to be washed.

In the case of small pets or birds whose bedding needs to be changed out often, please don’t skimp on it. Buy the one that’s the healthiest. Even if you don’t buy the perfumed litter or bedding (since some pets don’t like scented litter), make sure to get one that comes with the odor-reducing feature. The bed and wash any blankets, cushions, cooling mats, pads, and covers that come with it.

Housing, Cage or Enclosure, Tanks, a Vivarium

Dog cages, birdcages, aviaries, traveling cages and kennels, hutches, fish tanks, turtle tanks, and Vivariums- they all hold onto a lot of grime and odor. Even if you don’t clean these as often as bedding, you should still have a cleaning routine.

Smelly housing can indicate terrible hygiene, and when they become dirty enough to smell, they also look dirty. Don’t let the housing get so grimy that it can affect the health of your pet. It’s not unheard of for pets to die from bad hygiene.

Litter Box

In the case of cat parents, this is usually the place that stinks the most. It’s good practice to keep a litter box per cat, plus one extra. While that turns down the chances of an accident, it also means wherever the litter box is, that room will probably smell a lot.

Litter that is odor-absorbing is a good investment. There are also boxes with hoods and boxes that automatically stir and scoop litter. These are good options. However, no matter what kind of litter box you have, make sure you clean it as your vet instructs.

Pet Accessories

Pet drinking and eating bowls and containers, toys, bird perches, cage accessories, etc., should be regularly cleaned. You might think they’re harmless, but they also smell terrible and harbor bacteria often.

Caution to Practice While You’re Cleaning

Conclusion

Now you know how to keep your house clean with indoor pets! Isn’t that awesome? You no longer have to stress about your house looking or smelling bad. However, keep in mind that accidents can happen at any time, even with trained pets. So, what to do?

What you should do is to keep a basket or caddy ready for accidents and spillage. When something untoward happens, just clean it up with the help of an all-purpose cleaner, plenty of paper towels, plastic bags, and maybe a pet-friendly perfume.