(Picture Credit: Ivan Ozerov/Getty Images)
It’s the time of year to start spring cleaning, and dog parents in particular know how difficult that can be.
We love our shedding, drooling, accident-having best friends, even when they track in mud from the wet, spring weather or roll around in some fresh, pollen-covered flowers. But we also need to keep our homes clean and tidy for our own sanity, as well as for hygiene.
No one wants to have guests over in a stinky, embarrassing mess, and we dog lovers have an extra challenge when it comes to making our homes presentable. Spring cleaning is a chance to make sure we do things right, get organized, and form good habits for the rest of the seasons.
Here are twelve items dog parents can use to kick their spring cleaning off right.
1. Baking Soda
(Picture Credit: Arm & Hammer via Amazon)When it comes to eliminating odors, sometimes the old ways are the best ways.
Baking soda is a tried-and-true solution that doesn’t rely on toxic chemicals that will hurt your pup. Stock up on baking soda and keep your home smelling nice and fresh.
Sprinkle it on the sites of accidents in the house to stop the stink, or spread it where a smelly pup decided to lie down or roll around, then just vacuum it away.
You can get it on Amazon here!
2. Furniture Cover
(Picture Credit: Mambe via Amazon)No one wants to ban their pups from the furniture, but most people probably don’t want a couch covered with dog hair and animal smells.
A nice furniture cover is a great solution. It will protect your furniture and allow your pup to spend as much time on the couch or bed as they want.
All you have to do is wash the cover instead of spending time trying to clean and deodorize all the furniture in your house. This one is available for love seats, couches, beds, and armchairs.
You can get it on Amazon here!
3. Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
(Picture Credit: Bissell via Amazon)This small, inexpensive vacuum is great for pet hair and other messes, like spilled dog food or dirt that’s been tracked in and left on the furniture.
It’s lightweight and easy to move around, so you can focus on specific problem areas like stairs, couches, dog beds, and anywhere else that needs a quick clean. This vacuum is highly rated and recommended for pet parents.
You can get it on Amazon here!
4. Dog Toy Bin
(Picture Credit: Bone Dry via Amazon)If your dog has a growing collection of toys, you should probably invest in a nice place to store them instead of letting them drift around the house where they can get stepped on or collect dirt.
This dog toy bin comes in a variety of patterns and can be rectangular or round, small or medium. It’s a great way to help organize your home this spring and all year long, and if you’re not using it, it is collapsible for easy storage.
You can get it on Amazon here!
5. Vinegar
(Picture Credit: Heinz via Amazon)Vinegar is another classic cleaning solution.
You can mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a homemade cleaner that will work fairly well for cleaning up accidents in the house, and it won’t have any toxic chemicals that can harm your dog.
There’s no need to pay a lot for chemical-filled cleaners when good, old-fashioned vinegar does the trick.
You can get it on Amazon here!
6. De-Shedding Tool
(Picture Credit: FURminator via Amazon)A lot of dogs’ coats blow out in the spring, which means there’s plenty of fur floating around. One of the best ways to deal with shedding is to thoroughly brush your pup before the fur can create a mess.
This de-shedding tool is highly rated and recommended for getting even the deep, trapped fur from dogs’ overcoats and undercoats, and that can help reduce the amount of cleanup you’ll have to do while your dog’s summer fur grows in.
You can get it on Amazon here!
7. Binder For Dog Documents
(Picture Credit: Avery via Amazon)If you have a drawer full of vet records, registration papers, and other documents for your dog, maybe it’s a good time to get organized and put everything in a nice binder that will make it easy to find your records when you need them.
Any binder will do, but these ones have cute puppy pictures on them that will make them easy to identify if you should ever need to find your pup’s papers in a hurry.
You can buy them on Amazon here!
8. Lint Rollers
(Picture Credit: Scotch-Brite via Amazon)Lint rollers are practically a must-have for any dog parent.
Maybe your supply is running low, or maybe you need some extras while your dog sheds away that winter coat, and spring is a great time to stock up. These lint rollers are fairly inexpensive and are very highly rated, so they should do the trick.
You can get them on Amazon here!
9. Leash And Key Rack
(Picture Credit: iDesign via Amazon)If you’re tired of tossing your dog’s leash, balls, and collar on the couch along with your keys that you always seem to misplace, it might be time to get organized and free up some seating while you’re at it.
This key rack has places for your walking gear, tennis balls, and space to store your keys, umbrellas, or whatever else you need before you walk out the door with your pup.
You can get it on Amazon here!
10. Odor-Eliminating Garbage Can
(Picture Credit: iTouchless via Amazon)We dog parents clean up some stinky messes, and all that smelly garbage has to go somewhere. Unfortunately, running it all out to the curb isn’t an option every time, but if we leave it in our kitchen garbage, it can spread the smell through the whole house.
This garbage can solves that problem. Not only does it open automatically, which is convenient when your hands are full, but it also has an odor-eliminating filter that will prevent your trash from smelling like trash.
You can get it on Amazon here!
11. Non-slip Mat For Bowls
(Picture Credit: Reopet via Amazon)Your dog’s food and water bowls can move around, spill, and make a big mess, but a mat that won’t slip around can really help keep your floor clean.
The mat helps keep bowls from sliding and sloshing over, and for dogs who are messy eaters and drinkers, it can catch the mess and prevent your floor from getting wet or full of crumbs. It’s much less fuss than dealing with bowls slipping all over the kitchen.
You can get it on Amazon here!
12. Vacuum Cleaner
(Picture Credit: Amazon)A hand vacuum is great for smaller messes, but you’ll probably need something a bit bigger to tackle the carpets and floors in your home.
This vacuum is pricey, but it comes highly rated and recommended for pet hair, and it’s likely to keep your home clean for many years to come. It also has a hose with multiple brush heads to get pet hair on furniture and in hard-to-reach places.
You can get it on Amazon here!
What other items do you use to get rid of doggy messes during spring cleaning? Do you use anything to help you organize your dog stuff during this time of year? Let us know in the comments below!
Click the bold links in the article to shop and support our content!