Spring Cleaning with Pets Before Lunar New Year
Aside from the year-end party and annual bonus, the most anticipated tradition before the Lunar New Year is the big spring cleaning. But if you have furry family members at home, how can you tidy up without disturbing their daily lives?
Create a Pet-Friendly Cleaning Plan
Start by designating safe zones for your pets. Whether it's a quiet room or a cozy crate, this gives them a sense of security while you move and clean around the house.
Choose Pet-Safe Cleaning Supplies
Many cleaning agents contain strong chemicals that can irritate your pet's nose, skin, or paws. Opt for natural or pet-safe products made with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice. Always ventilate the room after cleaning.
Manage Pet Hair Efficiently
Before you begin dusting, use a vacuum cleaner with a pet-hair attachment to remove loose fur from furniture, curtains, and carpets. A damp rubber glove can also pick up hair from fabric surfaces effectively.
Take Breaks Together
Cleaning can be stressful for pets because of loud noises and unfamiliar scents. Take short play or cuddle breaks to reassure them — after all, they're part of the family celebration too.
With a bit of planning and care, you can prepare a spotless home for the New Year while keeping your furry friends safe and comfortable. A clean space and a happy pet — that's truly the best way to start fresh!
Vacuum Cleaners Replace Traditional Brooms
Before washing the floor, it's essential to remove dust and debris from both the ground and furniture surfaces. Compared with typical households, homes with pets have much more hair scattered everywhere—these fine strands easily drift through the air or stick to other surfaces.
At this point, a powerful vacuum cleaner becomes far more convenient than a broom. It not only effectively clears away pet hair but can also help remove small pests, preventing dirt and grime from clinging to the broom and turning into long-term residue.
Alcohol as a Safer Cleaning Alternative for Pets
Many common household cleaning products—especially those with strong fragrances or harsh chemical odors—can make cats and dogs feel nauseous or dizzy. In more serious cases, exposure may even lead to a loss of smell.
Alcohol, on the other hand, works as an effective and rapid disinfectant. It evaporates quickly without leaving any residue, so you don't need to worry about it causing irritation or health issues for your furry friends.
The only important precaution is concentration: alcohol needs to be between 70% and 75% to effectively kill germs.
Baking Soda as a Natural Laundry Alternative
Many commercial laundry detergents contain artificial fragrances and chemical cleaning agents that can irritate pets' skin or make them feel uncomfortable. To create a safer, more natural alternative, you can replace laundry detergent with baking soda.
Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water. Use a soft brush to gently scrub the dirtiest spots on fabric items, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Pro Tip: If you're lucky enough to have good weather, let the washed items dry under the sun. Sunlight is the most natural and healthy way to disinfect and keep fabrics fresh.
This simple, eco-friendly method helps you care for your household fabrics while keeping your furry friends comfortable and safe.
Gradual Transition: Helping Pets Adapt to New Home Items
Pets have an incredibly keen sense of smell, and even small changes in familiar scents can make them uneasy. When you replace or remove household items that carry your pet's scent, such as furniture, rugs, or bedding, the sudden shift in smell can cause discomfort or even anxiety.
To make this process easier, try an indirect approach. Before making a full switch, place the new item next to the old one for a few days. This gives your furry friend time to become accustomed to the new scent while still feeling secure with the familiar one.
If you're replacing a large piece of furniture, put your pet's well-used blanket or toys on the new item. Their familiar scent will help bridge the difference, making the new furniture feel more like a trusted part of their home environment.
With patience and gentle transitions, your pet can adapt more comfortably to changes in their surroundings.
Gentle and Safe Spring Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
We've listed quite a few cleaning suggestions, but the most important thing to remember is this: always use natural and harmless methods and make sure the cleaning process is gentle and unhurried. This approach helps you keep your home spotless while protecting your furry friends from both physical and emotional stress.
Finally, before the Lunar New Year arrives, don't forget to restock your kitchen and pantry. A well-prepared food cabinet means you'll avoid running out of essentials during the festive season!
