Pet-home cleaning: what we change in our routine

Pet homes are not dirtier than other homes. They are differently dirty. Hair where you don't expect it, paw marks on hard floors, a slow build-up of dander on soft furnishings, and a smell that you stop noticing after a week. After hundreds of pet-home cleans across Glasgow, here are the five changes ScrubClub makes to its standard routine.

1. Vacuum first, every time

On non-pet homes we wipe surfaces before we vacuum so dust falls to the floor and is captured last. On pet homes we vacuum first. Pet hair becomes airborne the moment a wiped cloth disturbs a fabric surface, and ends up resettling on every surface we just cleaned. Reverse the order and the problem disappears.

2. Use a rubber-edged brush on upholstery

Hoovers do not pull pet hair out of woven sofa fabric or low-pile rugs. A rubber-edged pet brush, dragged in a single direction, lifts hair into a manageable line you then vacuum up. It looks crude. It is the single biggest improvement to a pet-home clean.

3. Switch to enzyme cleaner for accidents

Standard floor cleaner masks the smell. The pet still detects it and re-marks the spot. Enzyme cleaner (the kind sold for vet clinics) breaks down the proteins so the smell is gone for good. ScrubClub carries a small bottle on every pet-home call.

4. Replace your microfibres more often

Microfibre cloths trap pet hair and dander inside the fibres. After two or three washes they are noticeably less effective. ScrubClub keeps a separate set of pet-home cloths, washed at 60 with a half-cup of bicarb, and rotates them out monthly.

5. Skip the strong scents

Pets have sensitive noses and many essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus) are toxic to cats. We use unscented neutral cleaners as the default in pet homes and ask before using any fragrance.

What products are safe to use around cats and dogs?

The reliably safe set is short. Plain warm soapy water for most surfaces, white vinegar diluted with water for limescale, bicarb for odour, enzyme cleaners for accidents, and unscented washing-up liquid for soft furnishings spot-cleaning. Avoid anything containing pine oil, phenols, ammonia or strong essential oils unless the pet is out of the house and the surface is fully dried before they return. For bathrooms specifically, the same vinegar trick is covered in our tenement bathroom cleaning checklist.

Do you charge extra for pet homes?

The live quote on the booking form stays the same when "pets" is selected, but we will confirm a small additional charge on the call to cover the longer routine and the dedicated pet-home cloth set. See domestic cleaning pricing.

Want a pet-friendly clean booked in?

You can get a quote in under a minute. Mention your pets in the notes field and the team brings the right kit on the first visit.