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How to keep your pet’s area clean and odor free

Last week I talked about how to clean up pet stains without using any toxic chemicals. This week we are going to concentrate on keeping your pets home clean and combating the odors our beloved pets leave behind. No matter what type of pet you have, keeping its living environment clean and fresh will keep your home from smelling foul.

Keeping the air fresh

The first step to odor control is to keep the air clean. Using a HEPA filter vacuum, changing furnace and A/C filters frequently and making sure your air ducts are clean. No matter how clean you keep your pets area, airborne odors can get trapped in these areas and re-circulate throughout your home.

Pet Bedding, toys, blankets

My beagle is a good old boy but his is a stinky one. He spends most of his time on my couch so I use pet covers that can be easily removed and washed frequently. Pet bed covers, blankets and washable toys should be washed every week or two to keep the area from smelling like wet dog. Toss items in the wash as normal and add 1 cup of vinegar in the wash cycle. If the item is especially stinky add an additional cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as well for more intense odor control.

Litter Boxes

Cat are amazing pets but cleaning the litter box and keeping it odor free can be a challenge. Following a few simple tips will help keep the litter box clean and odor free. First, if you have multiple cats it is a good idea to have at least one litter box per cat. It is completely up to you but please keep in mind that some cats are very finicky and if their litter box is not up to snuff they will find an alternate litter box, a.k.a your living room carpet. Once you have established how many litter boxes you will provide it is time to fill it with litter. I can write an entire post with types of litter, liners etc. but for this particular post the litter we are working with is a clumping clay litter.

Add a layer of litter to a dry, clean litter box, then sprinkle enough baking soda to thinly cover the litter. The amount of baking soda varies with the size of the little box so start off with approx 1 cup and add more if needed. Add the rest of the litter on top of the baking soda. Some cats will tolerate and additional sprinkle of baking soda on top of the litter for extra odor control so if you are feeling brave, give it a try.

A clean litter box is a non-stinky one, so HOW you clean the box will help keep odors away. The video below shows how to scoop up the clumps without breaking them into little pieces. Not only is this a cleaner, easier way, it will save you money by making the clean litter last longer. In the video she uses a non-toxic pre-made wipe. I would just use straight vinegar and a microfiber cloth to wipe out the box. When it is time to replace the litter I just dump the contents in a bag, scrape the bottom and sides and wipe clean will straight vinegar.  To take odor control one step further you can put out a bowl or two of straight vinegar or baking soda in the same room as the litter box but out of the reach of curious kittens. Baking soda and vinegar are excellent all natural odor absorbers.

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Glass Aquariums

Do you have an aquarium that needs a cleaning? Baking soda, vinegar, water, a nylon scrubber and a microfiber cloth will safely get the job done.   First, remove the fish*, turtle, snake, hermit crab, guinea pig…you get the picture…and put it in another vessel, set aside in a safe place.

Empty tank and set aside contents. Consult manufacturers instructions for recommended cleaning methods if you are not sure if an accessory is washable. In general, hard plastic toys and items can be hand washed with hot soapy water, rinsed well and set aside to dry. If you need to clean gravel, plants, etc for your fish, please consult a professional** before cleaning.

Once the tank is emptied, make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to interior walls with nylon scrubber paying close attention to visible stains, seams and corners. Once entire interior has been scrubbed clean, wipe paste residue with straight vinegar until clean. This will remove any mineral stains that have accumulated. Finally, rinse clean with plain water and a clean cloth. If possible, rinse in the tub or hose down outside. Wipe out excess water and allow to air dry.

Bird and small animal cages

Birds are one of my favorite pets but they are also one of the messiest. To complicate matters, birds are particularly sensitive to toxic chemical fumes and odors (think canary in a coal mine) so it is extremely important to only use non-toxic solutions when cleaning Tweety-bird’s cage. Fortunately, we can make our own safe, homemade birdcage cleaner* to keep things clean and fresh without harming our feathered friends.

If possible, remove the bird prior to cleaning. Remove all dishes, perches and toys and wash non-porous items in the sink with hot soapy water. Rinse well and set aside to dry thoroughly. Toys and perches made of wood, natural fibers or concrete can be wiped down with a microfiber cloth dampened with water. Take this time to inspect for wear and if heavily worn or soiled, throw away. Remove grates and tray bottom, empty, then wash outside or in your tub or shower. Wipe dry. If possible, I like to put the entire cage in my tub about once a month to give it a good scrub (check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the cage is washable)

If the cage is too big and/or you cannot  remove the bird, remove toys, perches, etc and clean as mentioned above. If the bottom of the cage comes off, remove and set cage on a flat surface protected by newspaper. This will allow a thorough cleaning of the grates and cage floor.  Spray the  Homemade birdcage cleaner on the cage grates (avoiding the bird) Let solution sit on  dried fecal matter or food to soften it up. Wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth. For stubborn areas, use a clean nylon pot scrubber and/or an old toothbrush (make sure you mark these items for “bird cage cleaning only”) to scrub areas that wont wipe clean. Repeat as necessary. Once clean, wipe down entire cage with a clean, damp microfiber cloth to rinse off any residue. Allow  to dry and reassemble Tweety’s home.  This thorough cleaning should be done at least once a month if not more often for very messy birds. TIP: Wipe down the interior of the cage once a day if possible with just a microfiber cloth and plain water. Removing bird droppings while fresh will prevent heavy scrubbing at the end of the month.

There you have it. You now know the secrets to keeping your pet’s home clean and odor free! Now there is no excuse to deny your little one when they beg for that puppy or kitty with those big adorable eyes! Are you already keeping it green while you clean? I would love to hear about your special homemade cleaners or pet cleaning tips so feel free to share it here below.

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*Homemade birdcage cleaner