The calendar switched to spring–and with that comes the call of spring cleaning. We’ve got eight tips to simplify the spring cleaning of your cat home–from the litterbox area to toys and beds!
This post is brought to you by Skoon Cat Litter. All thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.
Clean the Litterbox Area & Litterboxes
It’s that time of year again…
We first move out the litterboxes (with a temporary box in our bathroom, just in case). Since we have three cats, we have four litterboxes–so this opens up a lot of floor space.
We take the litterboxes outside for later cleaning then come back in and clean the surrounding area–the trash bins, mats, and more.
Starting at the ceiling and working down to the floor, we sweep down the walls, loosening fur, dust and dander that’s floated up and found its way onto the walls.
Now it’s time to clear out everything from loose litter to fallen fur. We vacuum (using a crevice tool to get right up against the wall), sweep, and them mop the floor for a squeaky fresh start to the new season.
But the biggest task of theme all is when it’s time to roll up the sleeves and give the litterboxes a good scrubbing.
Using dish soap, we scrub out each litterbox. Rinse well then let the box dry in the sun for a little additional cleaning. (The exception to this rule is a box that’s deeply scratched. If a litterbox has deep scratches in the bottom–or you’ve had it over a year–it’s time to replace it.)
However, if you’re just not that into scrubbing, Skoon Cat Litter offers an innovative disposable litter box that can last an average of two-to-three weeks–then there’s no scrubbing to be done!
Skoon is all-natural cat litter that’s specially designed to absorb liquids rather than clumping them. (Don’t miss our review!)
Even if you purchase Skoon by the bag rather than the box, the bottom of a litterbox using Skoon cat litter is different because you are removing pebbles–not sticky clay litter that makes the task that much more dreadful.
Since we should celebrate Earth Day every day, you can also feel good knowing that Skoon Cat Litter is an eco-friendly litter. Each bag or box order of the lightweight, 100% natural litter lasts about a month!
Air out cat beds and mats.
After a winter of use, your cat’s bedding needs some freshening.
Read the manufacturer’s label to see if you can wash your bed; many will have zip-off covers that you can wash but the bed itself may not be washable.
Sanitize the bed by putting it in the sunshine for the day. Similarly, air out all carpeted cat trees, scratchers and mats.
Skoon users will notice less litter that has been tracked into mats and beds–thanks to the fact that it is made of Diatomaceous Earth, a crushed rock that contains fossilized remains of diatoms, an algae. Skoon cat litter is almost pebble-sized, larger than typical pieces of cat litter. The fossilized mineral works like a sponge to absorb liquids and trap the odors. Along with absorbing the liquid urine, the sponge-like quality of the Diatomaceous Earth also helps to dry solids faster, making for easier scooping.
Step up the grooming.
Warm weather means shedding that winter coat; we give our cats a helping paw by grooming them with a deshedding tool. Not only does it cut back on fur floating across the floor but it also helps cut down on the hairballs that can plague our cats (especially Inca, who dutifully grooms our other cats as well as herself).
Check your cat food storage.
Warmer weather will mean that all bugs will be out in force so make sure your cat food storage is safe from bug infestation—and, at the same time, protected from the upcoming warm weather.
Garages, which may be fine for food storage during the cold winter months, present a potential problem during the summer when the oil in food can become rancid due to the heat. It’s time to make sure all food is stored inside in climate-controlled conditions.
Deep clean cat fountains and bowls.
Now’s the time for a deep cleaning of your cat’s water fountain. To remove hard water deposits, run a vinegar and water solution through the fountain then scrub and rinse.
Evaluate all cat toys.
Roundup your cat’s collection of toys and eye each one carefully. Are there any loose parts or tears you should mend? Do the toys need cleaning?
Put all plush toys in a pillowcase and launder them then hang them out in the sun to dry. Hard toys like wands, interactive games and track balls can be hand washed in a solution of vinegar and water.
Gather items for donations.
Spring is the perfect time to gather those products that you’re no longer using and donate them to your local animal shelter. Look for toys your cat no longer likes, beds he has outgrown, and excess bowls.
Clean with pet-friendly solutions.
As you start your own deep cleaning of the whole house, be sure to choose cleansers with an eye on your pets. Simple, eco-friendly products like vinegar and baking soda make great cleansers that won’t be dangerous to your cat.
Any food can carry the Salmonella bacteria, including cooked pet foods. (In fact, the risk of Salmonella bacteria in foods in one of the most frequent reasons for pet food recalls.) Because of that risk, it’s especially important for pet homes to keep a clean kitchen, from countertops to cabinets to the kitchen floor.
Mineral oil makes an excellent earth-friendly furniture polish and dust remover. And users of Skoon will notice that dust levels are diminished with use of the low-dust, pebble-like litter.
For More About Skoon:
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Photos courtesy Skoon Cat Litter
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