Hi, I’m Don. I own First Impressions Cleaning in St. George, UT.
One of the services that we provide is pet centered house cleaning.
What the heck is “pet friendly cleaning” you might wonder?
First of all, we love pets. That is a given.
Next we use environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products. Cleaning products that are safe for you and your pet.
We are also very aware that we will occasionally need to take care of pet messes like urine stains on the carpeting.
The house cleaning needs of a pet owner
Let’s be honest having a pet or three as part of the family can create unique cleaning needs.
Examples of this would be dealing with pet hair, dander, odors, and the occasional mess on the floor such as urine, vomit or something else.
We are aware of those issues and we take steps to clean up these problems so that you will have a home free of smells and allergens.
What we do to assist you
When we arrive at your home we will first assess any major issues we will need to address, for example pet urine spots.
Pet urine stains are first treated with an enzymatic cleaner. Then we let the enzymes do their work while we work on the rest of the home.
Then we follow a very specific set of steps to clean your home and then add in cleaning services that address pet problems. Here is the list of extra steps we take for homeowners who have pets.
1. We take the comforters off the beds and then shake them off outside. When we come back in we vacuum the mattresses and make up the beds with clean sheets
2. We double dust, to make sure that surfaces in the home are free of dust, hair, dander, etc.
3. We now go back to the carpet treated areas and finish by soaking up the enzyme solution and drying the carpet as best as we can. We will mark that area with a post it note to make sure we don’t vacuum the damp carpet and leave staining from the vacuum.
4. We next vacuum any fabric furniture and wash other furniture with a damp towel.
5. The last pet related activity is vacuuming the hard floors and carpeting. We double vacuum the carpet, slow and steady. First one direction, then perpendicular to the first vacuuming.
How to choose the right pet friendly house cleaning service
Here are a few things to consider when looking for a cleaning service that is “pet friendly.”
1. Find out about the cleaning supplies they use. You are looking for a service that uses non-toxic cleaning chemicals.
2. Ask them what pet centered cleaning services they offer.
3. Are the employees trained to work around pets? Better yet, do they like animals? Some people don’t.
4. Of course you want to ask about pricing.
5. Find out if they offer a guarantee of the work they do.
Getting your home ready for a professional cleaning
- Remove or put away clutter.
- Secure your pets in some way. For example putting Fluffy in the backyard
- Do you have special instructions? Put them in writing and make sure the cleaners get them.
How often should you have your home with pets cleaned?
Of course this depends on the size of your home and how clean you keep it between visits.
Most people with pets go for weekly or every other week cleaning. If Fluffy sheds a lot or puts out lots of dander, then weekly is the way to go.
Our service has mostly monthly clients. These are usually retired people that live by themselves with their pets. Their homes stay fairly clean between visits by the cleaners so they won’t need service as often.
How much does pet friendly cleaning services cost?
The price usually depends on the location. The coastal cities are usually more expensive. Where I live the cost of pet friendly house cleaning is half of what it might be in New York City or San Diego.
Most cleaning services charge by the job and then add an extra cost on top for homes with pets. That extra cost can range from a low of $25 to $50 and higher.
For us, our cleaning service charges by the hour, so we don’t add an extra charge on top of a regular cost. The pet friendly clean takes as long as it take and we will just charge for the extra time.
When your home is clean and the cleaners are leaving remember to pet your dog and cat and if they have done a good job, tip your cleaners.
References
* 12 ways to keep your house clean with pets BetterPet.com
* 7 Habits to Keep the House Clean with Kids and Pets Tidy.com
* 9 Ways to Keep Your House Clean While Living With Dogs PetHelpful.com
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