Get rates for your pet:

See My Rates »
Retrieve a Saved Quote

Infographic: Spring Cleaning Guide for Pets

By Stacy Painter
published: March 13, 2020 - updated: January 5, 2024 • 2 min. read
Spring Cleaning Guide for Pets

Key Takeaways

  • Spring is an excellent time to clean up your pet care routines.
  • Start by bathing and grooming your pet.
  • Clean your pet’s bowls, litter box, beloved couches, and carpet areas.
  • Next, thoroughly clean your dog’s toys and bedding.
  • Declutter your home by removing expired pet food, broken toys, and unused medication.

It’s that time of year when many of us think about clearing the cobwebs, opening the windows and emerging from the winter greyness. As you aim for a fresh start, don’t forget to include your pets.

Infographic: Spring Cleaning for pets

Spring Cleaning Guide for Pets

Include your pet in your annual spring cleaning regimen by completing these steps.

Step 1: Grooming

Step 2: Clean their space

  • Food and water bowls – Clean pet food bowls frequently, ideally daily, with soap and warm water or in the dishwasher.
  • Litter box – Give your cat’s litter box a good deep clean by dumping out the litter and washing the box, lid, and scoop with warm soapy water.
  • Couches and carpet – Areas your pet likes to hang out will become dirty over time. Vacuum up pet hair and dirt, then clean these areas with specialized tools, such as a carpet cleaner, running couch cushion covers through the wash, or simply using baking soda to remove odors. Simply sprinkle baking soda over affected areas and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before vacuuming it up.

Step 3: Toys and bedding

  • Soak plastic toys in a solution of two parts warm water and one part vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
  • Wash soft toys, bedding, blankets, collar, and pet clothing in the washing machine, per instructions on the tags.

Step 4: Declutter

  • Old snacks – Check the expiration dates on pet treat bags and throw away old and expired treats.
  • Toys on their way out – Toss out any pet toys that are worn, broken, or those that are no longer loved by your pet.
  • Pet meds – Take unused and expired pet medication to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Stacy Painter profile
By Stacy Painter

Stacy has always been an animal lover and has worked in the pet industry and pet insurance specifically for over a decade. As a writer since early childhood, content writing for Healthy Paws pet insurance was a natural career path to combine her two passions. She currently lives in Florida with her boyfriend and Taiwanese rescue dog, Kaya.

Show more