How to Spring Clean Your Home When You Have Pets

Categories: Carpets/Rugs Cleaning

This time of year, we spend a lot of time cleaning out closets, reorganizing drawers, throwing away a lot and, in general, letting the light in. Drapes are steamed, floors are deep cleaned and we knock dirt and cobwebs off the windows, often accompanied by a good exterior power wash. It’s both symbolic and literal as a fresh start.

Our four-legged family members are the wild card. They bring dander, hair and probably drool to the game. Toys are scattered, food bowls are sticky and he or she might even be squinting to see out from under their winter bangs—but don’t let the extra to-dos overwhelm your spring cleaning calendar. Just pick a day when your furry family member is not home, stock your caddy with non-toxic products and then tackle these six areas to ensure a clean, fresh start to the season.

Carpets: Vacuum every day to control pet hair and dander, but schedule a regular deep cleaning to eliminate the grime you can’t see. Also pick up little things that could make Sparky choke—think ponytail holders, tiny toys and batteries.

Furniture: Use your vacuum above ground, as well, but make sure it has an upholstery attachment. Not only can it grab up stray hair, but it can help clean up messes left on the fabric.

Beds: Definitely give Fido’s bed a good washing, but if your pet often lounges on your own bed, it needs attention, too. Strip the mattress and the pad, vacuum the mattress and wash and sanitize all the linens.

Windows and Doors: There are a lot of guilty parties when it comes to smudged glass (some of them have paws). A non-toxic glass cleaner works wonders, and a damp cloth will handle sills and frames.

Outside: A sweep outside ensures the yard is ready for your pet. Repair any holes in the fence, remove large sticks or branches, store pest control and fertilizers out of reach and enclose certain flowers that are harmful to pets, like daffodils, tulips or lilies.

Washer and Dryer: It’s fine to mix your pet’s laundry with your own, but plan to clean out both appliances regularly to limit the buildup of dander and hair. Vacuum out the dryer vent and inside the hose. Wipe down the drum of your washer and consider a sanitizing cleaner made specifically for washing machines once or twice a year.

Our washer and dryer play a major role when it comes to keeping the house clean and fresh. We snagged Sewell Appliance showroom manager David Martinez Munoz to give us all the information we need in our pet laundry handbook this season.

“Brands like Maytag, Samsung and Speed Queen have built strong reputations in this category because they’ve developed specific technologies to address pet hair and dander,” says Munoz. “The key difference is that these machines are not just powerful—they’re engineered specifically for pet-related challenges.”

• Maytag Pet Pro: A built-in filter and specialized cycle trap that remove more pet hair

• Samsung Pet Care systems: Enhanced drying cycles lift and capture hair in the lint trap

• Speed Queen Pet Plus: Pre-dry cycles loosen pet hair before washing

If you’re not tied to a specific brand, focus on features such as pet hair or allergen cycles (increased agitation, water pressure or airflow), built-in filtration systems (to capture hair before it redeposits), large or advanced lint traps, steam or sanitize cycles (they help remove dander and allergens), high spin, extra rinse options and pre-wash or air fluff dryer cycles.

“Effective removal happens in stages: loosen, lift, trap and rinse,” Munoz adds. “My biggest advice: don’t rely on the washer alone, prep is key. A dry-wash-dry process typically delivers the best results.”