We Asked the Expert for Her Best Tips on Keeping Your House Clean With Pets
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We love our furry family members, but there’s no denying that they can bring in dirt, odors, and hair—just like we can. An extra set of paws around the house means extra time put into a routine that makes their lives, and our own, feel clean and tidy. Between busy schedules and growing families, keeping the house as grime-free as possible might feel like a never-ending game of trial and error. That’s why we spoke to Ciara Lavelle, pet expert at Chewy, to get her advice on how to achieve a clean house when you have pets.
Ciara gave us her insider secrets on the best things you can do to maintain a home that smells, feels, and looks truly clean; along with tips specific for both cat and dog families; and even some handy hacks for neutralizing pet odors around the house. She also gave us some recommended products that actually work, from pet hair removers to odor eliminators and the best pet cleaning tools. Alongside her advice, we also searched through helpful hacks from real people on Reddit that’ll make your life with pets a little less ruff. Dive into everything you need to know below.
Expert Tips to Keep Your House Clean With Pets
1. Stay Consistent
“The key to keeping a clean home with multiple pets is consistency. With double (or triple, or even more) of the fur, paws, and personality, messes can add up quickly and start to feel overwhelming,” Ciara says. That’s why some daily tidying is a must.
2. Create a Simple Weekly Cleaning Routine
To get in the habit of her first tip, try this: “Create a simple routine—where bathing, washing beds, cleaning litter boxes, and other chores are scheduled throughout the week—to help break tasks into manageable pieces,” Ciara says. “Assigning different responsibilities to different days keeps upkeep from feeling daunting and makes it much easier to stay on top of things.”
3. Use Cleaning Tools That Work Smarter, Not Harder
There are a ton of products out there for households with pets, but not all of them are worth it. Research and invest in cleaning products that’ll make your life easier—not harder. Machines like vacuum mops, robot vacuums, or rubber brooms can help make sweeping the floors less of a chore, while pet-specific cleaners like enzymatic sprays and carpet cleaners will ensure you’re using products that are built to stand up to pet messes.
Q + A With the Expert
What’s the best way to neutralize everyday pet odors?
“It really depends on the odor and the location. Enzymatic cleaners work best for urine smells. Laundry boosters can help with pet odors on clothing or bedding. Carpet and floor cleaners designed for pet odors can help your mop or wet/dry vacuum eliminate odors too,” Ciara says.
“Whatever you use, make sure it’s safe for your pet. Many cleaners have ingredients that are unhealthy and even dangerous for dogs and cats, especially if they’re consumed,” she adds. “Check the label for assurance that it’s dog- and/or cat-safe.”
How often should you wash pet beds?
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regularly cleaning all pet bedding as often as you would your own items (once a week) to reduce the risk of disease-causing organisms for both pets and people. If the bed gets visibly dirty or stinky between washes, it’s a good idea to wash it sooner than later,” Ciara says.
Cleaning Tips for Cat Owners
1. Use Enzymatic Cleaners
“Enzymatic cleaners like Nature’s Miracle Cat Urine Destroyer are the gold standard when it comes to removing cat urine odors. They’re formulated to break down the chemicals in cat urine that cause the stink. But before using any cleaner, there are a few steps you can take to maximize its effectiveness,” Ciara says:
- First, gently blot the area with cold water and a clean cloth or paper towel. This helps remove as much fresh urine as possible and prevents it from setting deeper into the fabric or carpet fibers. Avoid scrubbing, which can spread the stain or damage delicate surfaces.
- Now it’s time for the cleaner. It’s a good idea to test the cleaner on a small, out of sight part of your upholstery first, to make sure it doesn’t cause discoloration or other damage. Once you know it’s safe, soak the soiled area with the cleaner—don’t be afraid to really drench it.
- Enzymes need time to do their job, so give the cleaner a few minutes to soak in and break down. The instructions on your cleaner should tell you how long to let the product set.
- When the time is up, soak the liquid back up out of your furniture. A wet-dry vacuum or shop vac is the most effective way to do this. If you don’t have one, many home improvement and grocery stores have them available for rent. A more DIY option is to use paper towels to soak the liquid out of your upholstery.
2. Clean the Litter Box Regularly
“Regular litter box care is about more than just smell. When you scoop your cat’s waste daily, you’re removing urine and stool that can harbor bacteria and strong odors,” Ciara says. “You’re also keeping your cat’s bathroom fresh and tidy.”
“Regularly giving your cat’s litter box a full cleaning—not just removing waste, but emptying the litter and scrubbing the box itself—also helps keep things fresh,” she says.
3. Try Scratching Deterrents
“Scratching is instinctive behavior in cats—you can’t stop them from doing it, but you can train them to scratch on appropriate objects like cat scratchers, trees, and toys,” Ciara says. “When you catch your cat scratching furniture, gently redirect them to a better place to sink in their claws—and when they do use those appropriate items, reward them with treats and attention. Over time, many cats learn where it’s ok to scratch and where it’s not.”
“In the meantime, do your best to make their favorite scratching ground undesirable. This means using cat scratching deterrents in the spots they frequent most,” she adds. “One way to protect furniture from cat scratching is to cover it with a tight-fitting sheet or blanket. A throw blanket that covers their favorite spots can even be a nice decorative touch. For small surfaces, cover the area with something that is sticky, smooth, or slick, like double-sided tape.”
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Cleaning Tips for Dog Owners
1. Keep Their Paws Clean
“In addition to cleaning your dog’s paws before they come inside, you can also take steps to keep your dog’s paws clean in advance, like training them to wear dog boots or keeping their paw pads trimmed so excess hair doesn’t pick up extra dirt,” Ciara says. “Some pet parents have even trained their dogs to wipe their paws on the mat before coming inside! Regular baths and brushing also help rid your dog’s fur of hidden dirt that would otherwise end up on your floors or furniture.”
“Dog cleaning wipes are great to have on hand for when unexpected messes arise—you can keep a package by the door to wipe their paws clean when you’re headed inside. Some dog parents swear by the Paw Plunger, which submerges and scrubs dogs’ paws one at a time,” she says.
2. Don’t Skimp on Brushing and Lint-Rolling
Ciara says that pet hair is one of the top complaints people have when it comes to keeping their space clean. But staying consistent with vacuuming, lint rolling, and brushing their coats can help contain the mess and prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. Regularly lint roll surfaces and linens, and make sure to vacuum spots where fur can accumulate, like under sofas and pet beds. “Vacuum cleaners designed with pet hair in mind can be lifesavers, too, especially during the fall and spring shedding seasons,” Ciara adds.
3. Find a Grooming Balance
“There’s no one-size-fits-all bathing schedule—how often you should bathe your dog depends on their coat type as well as their lifestyle and skin condition. Anyone who’s watched the AKC dog show knows that dogs’ coats come in a wide variety of lengths and textures, and each one has its own needs. If you’re not sure how often or what products to use when bathing your dog, your vet is a great person to ask,” Ciara says.
“Some dogs of the same breed and coat type will need baths more often because they tend to get messy. Maybe they accompany you on long hikes or trips to the beach, or maybe they just love rolling in that smelly patch of grass on your daily walk. And if your dog has a skin issue, you should defer to your vet’s advice when it comes to bathing,” she adds. “Bathing your dog too frequently can dry out their coat and lead to skin problems, so it can be a delicate balance. Again, check in with your vet about the best grooming routine for your pup.”
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Advice From Pet Owners
Alongside the advice from our Chewy pet expert, we also combed through some helpful Reddit threads to see if there was any more useful or creative solutions folks had from their real-world experience. Here are some of the most helpful tidbits we found.
What to Do If You Have Multiple Pets
User InternationalStar942 has a house full of animals—we’re talking 13 cats and three dogs!—and says they get asked what their secret to a clean house is all the time. Here’s the cliff notes version of their best tips and tasks:
- Do a full-house deep clean the day before trash day (all trash goes right to the curb); go room by room, starting with surfaces first
- Mop with the Bissell CrossWave vacuum mop—under sofas once a week; under bed and larger furniture items four times per year
- Clean litter boxes every day; dump, wash, and refill litter boxes completely once a week
- Vacuum and mop under litter boxes and kennels/crates once a week
- Wash pet food and water bowls once a week
- For pet messes, clean immediately and toss in the outside trash; then, wash the floor and surrounding area
- Clean kitchen countertops and bathroom countertops every day
- Vacuum whole house every day or every other day
- Wash animal bedding once a week
- Use couch covers or drape blankets, and wash them once a week (this helps mitigate how often you need to vacuum the sofa)
- Immediately fold and put away clothes after washing and drying; use a lint roller while folding if need be
- Use a hamper with a lid to minimize hair in the washing machine/dryer
- Make the bed every morning (to avoid pet hair in your sheets)
How to Maintain a Clean House With Large Dogs
In the Reddit thread here, user Novaskyd asked for community help on how to keep the house clean with large dogs. It can be hard to keep up! But commenters had helpful responses—here are some standout tips:
- Robot vacuums will really help cut down on dirt, especially if you run them multiple times a day
- Make paw wiping a habit: Keep wipes or a towel by the door and wipe their paws every time they come back inside
- Invest in a good air purifier
- Use sofa covers or blankets on furniture and wash them regularly (every three days to a week)
- Use mats or trays under their food and water bowls
Along with these helpful expert tips, you can also explore Chewy’s month-long deep clean reset for pet owners, which outlines four weekly routines to help focus on pet-related cleaning tasks in a manageable amount of time. A happy, healthy home starts with a space that’s clean for everyone!
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Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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