With March here, it’s almost time for spring! And either fortunately or unfortunately, that means it’s time for spring-cleaning.
A lot of the time, your pet’s items can be cleaned, but now is also the perfect opportunity to get rid of anything that could be old, broken, or especially gross. Trust us, both you and your pet will be happier with a cleaner environment.
Bedding:
Bedding usually just needs a nice cleaning for it to be as good as new again.
It’s best to have a bed with a removable cover that you will be able to machine wash. After washing the bedding (with mild detergent), throw it in the dryer with a pet-safe, unscented, and new dryer sheet for about 20 minutes.
If you can’t machine-wash the bedding, you can keep it clean by vacuuming and lint rolling; this will remove any hair, dirt, and some bacteria.
It could be time to replace bedding if any of the material has holes or is close to tearing.
Pet Collars:
When washing or grooming pets, we customarily take the collars off. However, they collect a lot of germs and need to be cleaned too.
Cleaning collars requires a special procedure so that the metal doesn’t wear down.
• First, squirt a couple drops of dog shampoo into a bowl,
• Fill the bowl with hot water,
• Soak the collar for approximately 15 minutes,
• Outside of the water, rub the collar against itself to remove extra tough dirt,
• Rinse the collar under running water,
• Hang to dry
Food and Water Bowls:
Since the bowls are usually filled with either food or water, it means they’re not cleaned as often as they should be.
Try to buy dishwasher safe bowls, but you can also wash them by hand with either mild dish soap or a mix of vinegar and water.
Litter Box:
Litter boxes can last indefinitely with the right cleaning routine. We recommend cleaning them and replacing the litter as soon as you notice any stains or smells.
When cleaning the box, dump all litter out and wash out with water and mild detergent.
When filling the box back up with litter, don’t add more than two inches, as most cats prefer that amount or less litter.
Toys:
Toys have different cleaning routines depending on the material they are made of.
• Soft toys can be tossed in the washing machine in a garment bag. They should be line dried or dried in the machine, still in the garment bag. Again, they should be dried with an unscented and new dryer sheet. Using a new dryer sheet helps to prevent ingestion.
• Hard toys, if they are dishwasher safe, can be put in the dishwasher. They can also be hand washed in the sink with a solution of water and vinegar and a sponge.
These are just some spring-cleaning tips to make your dog or cat a little happier and to make your house a little tidier. If you would like any other spring-cleaning tips you can give us a call at (586) 731-9210.