This year I decided to jump on the Marie Kondo craze and downsize our possessions. This event had been a long time coming as we gradually accumulated “must have” items over the years. As I began to donate items I no longer needed, I realized this was the perfect time to deep clean. It was time for a renewing, a spring cleaning like I hadn’t done for ages.
Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Swiffer and Febreze. However, I used Swiffer and Febreze products long before I became a Swiffer Fanatic and love how they clean my home.
The one problem I found with my massive cleaning strategy was my pets. We have four cats; all rescues, ranging in age from eight to six. My pets are my “fur babies,” but, man, are they messy! Two of my cats are long haired and shed wherever they go. I’m constantly finding clumps of fur on my floor or my sofa. As far as furballs, I don’t even want to go there! My ‘glamorous’ life seems to revolve around cleaning up cat messes or scooping litter boxes.
If you are thinking, yes! This sounds exactly like my life! I’ve found ways to get rid of the pet hair and smelly pet odors in your home. You can also use some of these tips if you have company dropping by and want to speed clean.
How to Get Rid of Pet Hair and Odor
1. Brush, brush, brush. -You can use a specially designed cat brush or just a regular hairbrush with soft bristles. Brush your cat at least once a week. All that cat hair that has been shed will wind up in the brush and not on your furniture or floor. It may take a few weeks for your cat to enjoy being brushed, but be persistent. It can eventually become a bonding ritual with your pet.
2. Keep a lint roller handy. My cats love to snuggle on my clothing. Heaven forbid I leave a black skirt or a white shirt lying on the bed. Even five minutes is enough for my cats to leave visible white or black fur. They never get it right either! It’s always white fur on black clothing or white fur on black clothing. Or maybe they have a secret agenda…. Either way, having a lint brush on hand helps me get rid of the pet evidence. I keep one at home and one in the car to make sure I’m always prepared.
3. Dust regularly. – I know. No one really wants to dust regularly. Here’s my secret. I use Swiffer Dusters Pet Refills. They’re made with something called Dust Lock Adhesive™. Basically, that means they have 50% more fibers and can lock in 50% more dust, hair, and allergens than regular dust cloths. Plus, they have Febreze Odor Defense built in so they leave a pleasant smell behind. I keep one of these in my car too.
4. Sweep often. We have hardwood floors throughout our house. I had them installed thinking they would be easier to clean than carpet. I was wrong. I have to sweep every day to keep the floors clean. I’ve gotten into a routine of using my Swiffer Sweeper every morning. This Sweeper has dry clothes with ridges and grooves that contour to the floor. The Pet Refills trap an embarrassing amount of cat hair. The wet cloth is designed to remove dirt, grime, and, in my case, hairballs.
5. Keep some odor remover on hand. I love my pets, but they have certain odors I don’t love. I’m not kitten (ha!) when I say I don’t want people to walk into my house, sniff, and say, “Oh, do you have cats?” Make sure everything is “purr-fect” at your home with a Fabric spray and odor remover. I keep Febreze Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator spray on hand to spritz the sofa, curtains, or any other item I don’t want to deep clean on a regular basis.
I also keep Febreze AIR Heavy Duty Pet Odor Eliminator Spray on hand. I clean the cat litter boxes daily-and sometimes twice a day-but I still use a quick spritz of this in the bathrooms when we have company. It traps odors and leaves behind a clean, fresh smell. That’s one less thing to worry about.
Are These Products Safe?
If you are wondering whether these products are safe to use around pets, the answer is yes. A study by ASPCA toxicologists proved Swiffer is safe, while the National Animal Poison Control Center and the American Veterinary Medical Association has declared Febreze safe to use.
Wondering where to find Swiffer and Febreze products?
They’re available at most mass market and grocery stores, including Kroger. Want to know more about these products? Visit their website at Swiffer or Febreze.
Our pets have enriched our family with their unwavering love and loyalty. They’ll live ‘fur-ever’ in our home and our hearts, but by using these tips, their messes won’t. #Don’tsweatyourpet. Spend more time enjoying them instead.
What are your best tips for cleaning pet messes?
We have dogs and this looks like a great product. I need one of these for my home.
We have two dogs and one of them sheds more than the other. All of our downstairs is hardwood and tile. You can see the hair. Drives me nuts. But it also gets on everything else too and makes dusting a beast. Love Swiffer!!
I have a dog who doesn’t shed but I LOVE those Swiffer duster cloths!! They are seriously life savers!!
This sounds like a great product to remove odor! I don’t own a cat but have been thinking to adopt a dog.
My husband used to have two cats and he had those Febreeze products here. Those are must haves if you have pets, for sure.
Keeping up with the pet hair regularly is the way to go! We have three dogs, and even though they are relatively small, the hair can accumulate quickly.
My cousin has 4 dogs, this would really help her! I will share this with her.
My mother-in-law will be happy to use these tips and products. She loves animals a lot!
I totally needed this information! Our dog sheds everywhere and our home basically smells like dog.
These are great tips for any pet owner. It’s terrible to feel like your house smells like pet as soon as you walk in. But I think if you do all these things that won’t be an issue.
I have three little monsters, I mean dogs, living with me right now! We adore them but the dander is enough to drive one crazy. I can’t wait to try these out.
I’ve always loved Swiffer products. We always have some in the house. They do come in handy with pets and kids!
These are some great tips, I always worry that the place will smell of pets as we have a couple, I am going to have to have add these ideas into my cleaning routine.
I have two dogs and although they are long haired and don’t shed they do have an oder and have an occasional accident. I have got to try Febreze for this.
I did not know they have a pet version! I am allergic to my cats, who I love and will never get rid of. I plan on grabbing the spray and duster next time I am at the store.
Have a really good vacuum to use as well as these products. Anything keep hair and odor down