Pets are family, but they leave a lot behind: hair woven into carpet, nose prints on the glass door, a favorite scratching spot and a yard that needs attention. When the furniture is gone, all of it shows. Kids came up in Moving With Kids: How to Keep the Cleaning Under Control. Now, the four-legged members of the family.
If you rent, check your lease and any pet addendum. Some list specific cleaning items for homes with pets.
Keep pets safe during the clean
Before you start, find a safe spot for your pets. Cleaning products, open doors and movers carrying heavy furniture are a risky combination for a curious dog or a cat who wants to hide. A kennel, a friend's house, daycare or a closed room with water and a bed works. Keep pets away from the cleaning area, especially when using strong products.
Cats are the ones to watch. A stressed cat looks for the smallest dark space it can find, which in a half-packed house might be an open box, a dryer or a gap behind the stove. Put cats in their room with the door closed before the movers or cleaners arrive, and check on them often.
Pet hair is everywhere
Pet hair gets into places you would not expect: under the baseboards, inside air vents, in the window tracks and woven deep into the carpet.
- Use a rubber broom or a damp rubber glove to pull hair out of carpet before vacuuming.
- Vacuum slowly, in two directions, with the edges done first with a crevice tool.
- Wipe baseboards with a damp cloth to catch hair stuck to them.
- Vacuum air vents and replace the A/C filter.
- Check corners, under appliances and closet floors.
Do not forget the furniture's old spots. The floor where the dog bed sat, the corner by the cat tree and the area under the couch where the cat hid are usually the hairiest places in the house. Check the bottoms of the doors and the walls near the floor too, where pets rub as they pass.
Odors that linger
Pet odors can be easy to miss if you live with them every day. Ask a friend to do a quick sniff test, or step outside for a while and walk back in.
- For carpet, sprinkle baking soda, let it sit and vacuum.
- For accident spots, use an enzyme cleaner made for pet stains and odors, and follow the label.
- Wash or remove pet beds, blankets and toys.
- Wipe walls and baseboards where pets rubbed or slept.
- Open windows when the weather allows, and run the A/C so air moves.
If odors are strong or set in, check your lease or ask your landlord what they expect, as some deeper treatments may be beyond a regular clean.
The litter box area deserves its own attention. Litter tracks into corners and under nearby appliances, and the wall behind the box can get splashes you would never see with the box in place. Sweep, vacuum and wipe that whole area once the box is packed.
Nose prints, scratches and chew marks
Nose prints on glass doors and windows wipe off with glass cleaner. Scratches on doors from pets wanting in or out may not clean off, since they are in the surface. Wipe them clean and photograph them. Do not try to sand or repaint unless your landlord or the buyer has asked you to. Chew marks on trim are similar: clean them, document them and ask.
The yard and outdoor areas
Pick up all pet waste in the yard, side yard and dog run. Fill holes your dog dug, if your lease asks for it. Remove pet doors only if your lease or sale contract says to, since some leases treat them differently. Sweep the patio, where hair and dirt collect. In North Texas, a muddy dog after a spring storm can make a real mess on a patio, so a final sweep on moving day helps.
Cleaning the new home for your pet
When you arrive at the new home, clean before your pet explores. Previous pets may have left scents your pet will notice, which can sometimes lead to marking. Vacuum the floors well and clean any spots that smell. Set up your pet's area first, with familiar bedding and toys, to help them settle. Many families moving around Midlothian and Red Oak with dogs find the first day goes smoother this way.
Pet hair winning the move?
We handle empty-house cleans with pet hair, baseboards and floors across the south DFW area. Let us know about pets in your free quote request.
Get a free quoteLeave it clean for the next family
Plenty of people move into homes with allergies, and a home with no pet hair in the vents and corners is a welcome surprise. A careful clean shows respect for the next family and helps your move-out go smoother. For more, see our move-out cleaning services.