Effective House Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners

As pet owners, we know that our furry friends bring unexplainable joy and companionship. But along with these joyful moments comes the challenge of keeping our homes clean and fresh.

Maintaining its cleanliness adds a different responsibility on top of your existing ones. Read on to learn how to keep your home as clean as before you had your four- or two-legged friends.

Preparing Your Home For Easy Cleaning

Before proceeding with the cleaning, here are some things worth knowing before pet messes become worsen.

Choose Pet-Friendly Furniture & Decor

Did you know that pet hair doesn’t stick to leather? It’s also resistant to scratches and stains. Thus, leather or faux leather is an excellent material.

For microfibre, select tightly woven varieties that resist pet hair and are easy to vacuum. If there are water-resistant options available, choose from them, especially if pet accidents are frequent at home.

What to avoid: velvet, silk, and loose weaves

Match Colours

Match the colours of your furniture to your pet’s fur (if you have furred pets) to minimise visible shedding. Here is a simple guide you can follow.

1. If you have lightly coloured pets, either choose beige, cream or light grey furniture.
2. If they are dark-coloured, go for charcoal, navy, or brown tones.
3. As much as possible, select patterns that most camouflage pet hair.

Protective Measures

Here are protective measures to ensure that the effect of pet messes and stains bring the least impact on your home’s cleanliness.

1. Use washable slipcovers on your sofas and chairs
2. Place waterproof mattress protectors under bed sheets
3. Instead of fabric curtains, install easy-to-clean window blinds
4. If possible, use outdoor-grade fabrics for indoor furniture (they’re more durable and easier to clean)

Create a Pet Cleaning Station

A pet cleaning station is a dedicated area for grooming and cleaning your pets. Set this up near the main entrance, and if space permits, utilise your service yard or balcony. If you reside in an HDB flat, consider having a compact corner in your foyer.

The station should have the following important components:

1. Storage spaces – for example, wall-mounted hooks for leashes and towels, sealed containers to put your cleaning supplies, and easy-access drawers for grooming tools
2. Cleaning equipment – like microfibre towels for paw cleaning, pet-safe wet wipes, grooming brushes, and small handheld vacuum
3. Floor protection – such as heavy-duty entrance mat outside washable and absorbent mat inside, and non-slip, waterproof tray for wet shoes and umbrellas

Invest in Cleaning Tools & Storage

1. Vacuum Cleaner ~ It should have a strong suction power, HEPA filtration, (if possible) pet hair specific attachments, and a cordless design.
2. Floor Cleaning Equipment ~ microfibre mops with washable pads, steam mop to sanitise the floors, pet hair broom with rubber bristles, and quick-dry mop for sudden spills.
3. Pet Hair Removal Tools ~ silicon brushes for furniture, electrostatic dusters, washable lint rollers, rubber gloves for upholstery
4. Install child-proof locks on cabinets containing the cleaning supplies.
5. Use clear containers for easy identification.
6. Label everything clearly with contents and safety warnings.

Additional Tips

Everything may seem ready for house cleaning with pets, but here are some more tips to make cleaning more cost-effective.

1. Keep the cleaning supplies easily accessible in every room.
2. Establish a daily quick-clean routine.
3. Create designated pet zones for eating and playing.
4. Use furniture risers to help with underneath cleaning.
5. Install removable stair runners.
6. Buy temporary covers for special occasions.

Daily Cleaning Routines

Keeping your home clean with pets is all about consistency. Here’s a guide for a day-to-day routine.

Deep Cleaning Strategies

Daily maintenance keeps your home presentable but that doesn’t mean that your home is hygienic, taking note of the fact that you are living with pet animals.

Carpet and Upholstery Care

Remove furniture that impedes cleaning and vacuum the carpets and upholstery in crisscross patterns. If you see visible stains, pre-treat them. UV light exposes concealed stains caused by pet urine, so you may want to invest in this.

For steam cleaning, only use a cleaning solution that’s pet safe. Work in small sections and make two passes, one with the solution and one to extract.

As an after-care, use fans to make drying faster. Keep your pets away until the areas cleaned are completely dry. Vacuum again once fully dry.

Professional Services

Schedule professional cleaning every 6 months. Only choose services that are experienced with pets. You can consider scotchguard treatment for future protection.

Hard Surface Floors

To clean hard surface floors, you can begin by sweeping or vacuuming the floor to remove pet hair, dirt and other loose debris. Then make sure you have a pet-safe floor cleaner to tackle tough stains and odours at your disposal.

Apply the cleaner directly to the stains or spots and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a microfibre mop or cloth to clean the floor. Now rinse the floor with clean water and dry it with a clean, dry cloth/mop.

Clean up pet accidents and messes as soon as they happen to avoid set-in stains and odours.

 Walls and Skirting

Dust the walls and skirting boards using a microfibre cloth or a feather duster, and then use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to vacuum these areas. Focus on where pet hair tends to accumulate.

Now mix a pet-safe, non-toxic cleaning solution, like a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap or a specialised pet-friendly cleaner. Apply the solution to stains and marks that you see on the walls and skirting boards, and let it sit for a couple of minutes to break down the dirt.

Use a soft sponge or cloth and gently scrub the walls/skirting boards, specifically in areas with stubborn stains. Then rinse and dry. Repeat as regularly as possible.

Dealing with Common Pet Messes

Even the most behaved pets can cause messes inside the house. Here is a simple guide for you to deal with the common challenges brought about by our non-human friends.

Urine Accidents

• For fresh accidents, blot (don’t rub) with paper towels or absorbent cloth.
• Apply pressure to soak up as much liquid as possible.
• Use multiple clean towels until the area is barely damp.
• Apply an enzymatic cleaner that’s specifically designed for pet urine.

Vomit and Hairballs

• Use paper towels or a plastic spatula to scoop up the solid parts of the vomit or hairball. Dispose of it in a plastic bag.
• Gently blot the affected area with paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible. Don’t rub.
• Apply either a pet-safe cleaning solution or a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap to the stained area. Let it sit for a few minutes.
• Use a soft brush or cloth to scrub the area. For carpets, make sure to work the cleaning solution.
• Then rinse the area with clean water.
• Blot the area dry using dry paper towels or a clean cloth.
• To neutralise lingering odours, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.

Pet Hair Management

Keep your space as clean and fur-free as possible with these strategies below.

1. Brush your pet regularly to remove loose hair before it ends up on your furniture and floors. But only use a brush suited to your pet’s coat type.
2. Bathing your pets regularly helps reduce shedding. If possible, use a pet-friendly shampoo that helps manage shedding.
3. Keep lint rollers handy to quickly remove fur.
4. Dampen rubber gloves and run your hands over furniture to gather pet hair.

Dealing with Scratches

For hard floors,

1. (Minor scratches) Use a wood floor cleaner to clean the area and then apply a wood floor polish or scratch repair pen that matches your floor’s colour.
2. (Deeper scratches) Sand the area lightly with fine-grit sandpaper, clean off the dust, and apply a wood filler that matches your colour. Once it’s dry, sand it smooth and apply a finish.

For walls,

1. (Light scratches) Clean the area with a damp cloth and touch up the paint with matching wall paint.
2. (Deeper scratches) Fill the scratch with a spackling compound, let it dry, sand it smooth and then paint over it with matching paint.

For furniture,

1. (Wood furniture) Use a wood repair marker or crayon to fill in the scratches. For deeper scratches, use wood filler, sand it smooth and apply a matching finish.
2. (Leather furniture) Clean the area with a leather cleaner, then apply a leather conditioner to minimise the visibility of scratches. If you’re dealing with severe damage, consider a leather repair kit or professional help.

For upholstery,

1. (Fabric furniture) Trim any loose threads with scissors. For deeper scratches, sew the area with matching thread or use an upholstery repair kit.
2. (Microfibre furniture) Use a suede brush or a clean toothbrush to gently buff out minor scratches. But if there’s a deeper damage, you may want to use a microfibre repair kit.

Professional Cleaning Services for Pet Owners

Here are some scenarios when it might be a good idea to consider professional cleaning services.

If…

• Your pets shed a lot
• You want pros to handle the job
• You have deep cleaning needs for carpets, upholstery, etc.
• You’re busy and don’t have the time to clean
• Family members have allergies
• You’re moving out
• You are doing an annual deep clean

Conclusion

Having pets at home brings joy and at the same time comes with challenges that need frequent cleaning. Engaging professional house cleaners in Singapore will help you maintain a clean and healthy living space for you, your family members, and your beloved pets. Contact us today!