Deep Cleaning a Home With Kids and Pets

That Cleaning Girl · Deep Cleaning

Kids and pets make a house a home, and they also make a deep clean a little more interesting. Fingerprints on every door, pet hair in every corner and something sticky under the kitchen table are just part of life. If you read How to Deep Clean for Dust and Pollen Season in North Texas, you know pets carry pollen in too. Here's how to deep clean a house that's lived in by the whole family.

Plan around the household

The hardest part of deep cleaning with kids and pets is often finding the time and space to do it. A few tips:

• Clean in short sessions, one room at a time, instead of trying to do everything at once.
• Schedule the big jobs, like bathrooms and the kitchen, during naps, school hours or when the kids are at a grandparent's.
• Put pets in a room you've already cleaned or one you're skipping today.
• Get kids involved with simple jobs like matching socks, wiping baseboards or picking up toys.
• Or hand off the big reset and use your time for the family.

Pet hair, everywhere

Pet hair is the biggest challenge in most pet homes. It sticks to upholstery, drifts into corners and hides under furniture and in vents.

• Vacuum upholstery with the cushions off, using a rubber brush or a damp rubber glove to pull up stubborn hair.
• Vacuum along baseboards and corners with a crevice tool, where hair collects in drifts.
• Clean air vents and return grilles; pet hair clogs them fast.
• Wash pet beds, blankets and any throws pets sleep on.
• Change the HVAC filter more often in pet homes.
• Use a vacuum with a good filter to cut down on dander floating around.

Sticky surfaces and fingerprints

Kids leave a trail of fingerprints, smudges and sticky spots, usually at exactly their height.

• Wipe doors, door frames and handles all through the house.
• Clean light switches and switch plates.
• Wipe the lower part of walls and glass patio doors.
• Scrub the kitchen table, chair legs and the floor under the table.
• Clean high chairs, booster seats and car seats if needed, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Check the fridge door and handle, which get touched constantly.

Warm water with a little dish soap handles most of it. For crayon on walls, a dab of baking soda on a damp cloth usually lifts it.

Toys get as dirty as anything else in the house. Hard plastic toys can usually be washed in warm soapy water or, for some, on the top rack of the dishwasher if the label allows. Soft toys can often go in the washing machine in a mesh bag. Wipe down toy bins and shelves. In kids' rooms, vacuum under the bed, wipe the nightstand and dresser, dust the ceiling fan and wash bedding.

Pet areas

Pet areas need special attention during a deep clean.

• Wash food and water bowls, and clean the floor and wall around them.
• Clean the area around litter boxes, and scoop and refresh the litter.
• Wash crates, crate pads and pet beds.
• Wipe nose prints off windows and glass doors.
• Check corners and under furniture for hidden toys and treats.

Choosing products with kids and pets in mind

With little ones and animals around, product choice matters.

• Read labels and follow safety directions, especially for disinfectants.
• Keep all cleaning products up high or locked away.
• Let floors dry completely before kids and pets walk on them.
• Rinse surfaces that kids and pets touch, like floors, high chairs and pet bowls.
• Ventilate rooms while cleaning, and keep pets out until the smell clears.
• If you prefer certain products, we're happy to use them.

Floors take the brunt

Floors in a home with kids and pets see constant traffic: crumbs, spills, paw prints and red-clay mud after every rainy North Texas afternoon. Vacuum thoroughly, including under furniture. Mop hard floors with a damp mop and change the water often. Scrub grout at entries and in front of the back door, where muddy paws come in. Spot clean carpet stains as soon as you find them.

Keeping it up

Life with kids and pets means the house won't stay perfect, and that's okay. A few habits keep things manageable: a quick daily pickup, a towel by the back door for muddy paws, and a regular cleaning schedule so the big stuff never piles up. Plenty of families across the south DFW area keep a recurring slot for exactly this reason. And give yourself some grace. A few toys on the floor the day after a deep clean doesn't mean it didn't work.

Consider a washable rug or a mat under the dog bowls and in the kids' play area. They catch spills and crumbs before they reach the floor, and you can toss them in the washer instead of scrubbing grout.

A clean house that's still lived in

A deep clean in a busy home isn't about perfection. It's about resetting the house so the everyday mess is easier to manage. If you're in Waxahachie, Midlothian or nearby and want the help, take a look at our deep cleaning services.