Spring Cleaning Tips From Hamilton Hound
Hello, fellow four-leggers and your humans! Hamilton Hound here, wagging into spring with top-notch tips for getting our homes as fresh as a daisy (which I recommend sniffing if you get the chance).
It is finally starting to get nice outside! (knock on wood) We are starting to get outside, go on walks, play in the creek, and smell all those wonderful spring smells, minus the skunks. But with all this outdoor fun, something is lurking in the background, the dreaded spring cleaning 😱. This type of cleaning is a bit different than the one we tackle daily. It is a deep clean, a get the old crumbs out of the treat bin, wash the months-old mud out of the collars, scrub the muddy pawprints from the hallway type cleaning. However, it is not as bad as you think, and I am here to help you tackle this project!
Toys
Discard any toys with holes, stuffing coming out, or ones with plastic chunks missing, like my favorite, Mr. Frog. Have your human help decide which toys to keep and which should head to the big dog park in the sky. Remember, a tidy toy area means more room for new toys!
Collar and Leash Cleanup
Next, sniff out where your human stores your collars, leashes, and harnesses; mine are stored in cubbies in our mudroom. If they are looking a bit ruff around the edges or smell like that time you rolled in something unmentionable, it might be time to say goodbye. Sort through them with your human, keep the good, toss the bad, and donate the extras to other pups in need or your local shelter.
Wardrobe Re-Woof
Now, onto the fashion department. If you’re like me and have a collection of bandanas, costumes, and a bootie or two, it’s time to strut your stuff and see what fits and what’s so last season. Let’s make room in our closets for the upcoming trends because you know there will be a dapper sweater or collar we will find at the store to add to the collection, so it is best to start fresh. Anything that is still in good condition should be donated.
Fur-nomenal Cleaning
Pet hair is everywhere. No matter how much we try to vacuum or dust, there will be a trail of it an hour later, floating like tumbleweed. First, do an initial vacuum and then focus on other areas, such as windowsills. Trust me, there will be tons of hair from all those times barking at that squirrel who loves to tease me. One day, squirrel, your day of reckoning will come! Okay, back to the task at hand. Using carpet powder before vacuuming can help with the smell of things.
As you know, pet hair gets everywhere. The fun thing is it goes to places where you wouldn’t look. Take the fridge. You’d be surprised at the amount of fur found under the fridge, alongside treats and cat toys 😕. Vacuum the sides and back and unclip the front of the vent to vacuum the hair stuck in there. Also, check anything with a filter; air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers. Even your dishwasher filter can get pet hair built up.
Open Those Windows
Open your windows! Finally, nothing says spring like fresh air. Any smell will get washed away once you let some fresh air in. Don’t forget to enjoy all the fascinating new smells from around the neighborhood!
That’s it from your friend Hamilton Hound. Happy cleaning! 🧽🧹✨