Life Family Pets The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Up After Your Pets In the latest episode of Simply, Haley Cairo tackles the mud, fur, and other messes pets can leave behind. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand is a copy writer for Real Simple, with a passion for writing about food, travel, and hacks to make life easier. Loves fancy restaurants, good coffee and her family (of course); not a fan of waiting in lines. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 3, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Dogs and cats bring plenty of joy and fun to your life—but they can also add plenty of clutter, a healthy dose of mud, and lots (and lots) of pet hair. In this episode of Simply, Haley Cairo shows us how to corral all those toys, treats, and essentials stylishly, plus some great products that can help you get control of the pet hair and mess. 5 Products That Make Caring for Your Pet So Much Easier 01 of 13 Make a pet maintenance schedule To stay on top of pet mess, Haley made a plan of what tasks to do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis—so you don't end up with big pet hair drifts in the corners (or a smelly dog). 02 of 13 Look for pet-friendly cleaning products Enzyme cleaners and pet-friendly shampoos are safe to use around your pets. Haley invested in products specially suited to her dogs. 03 of 13 Stay on top of the pet hair Pet hair can literally get everywhere—and it feels like you'll find fluffs of it the second you're done cleaning. Haley added dusting and vacuuming to her daily to-do list to help manage the problem.Check out her favorite pet products below. 04 of 13 Dry Shampoo Courtesy of Amazon $16, amazon.com A quick spray of no-rinse pet shampoo can help keep your dog smelling fresh in between more in-depth grooming sessions. 05 of 13 Woven Baskets Courtesy of Amazon $35, amazon.com Pet parenthood requires a lot of gear. But you don't have to stick with storage solutions that scream "pet"—use baskets and bins that fit in with your home's decor to store toys, leashes, and treats. 06 of 13 Stain & Odor Remover Courtesy of Amazon $10, amazon.com Accidents happen—even after your pets are housebroken. Enzyme cleaners like this stain and odor remover can break down organic matter—and help preserve your rugs or floors. 07 of 13 Cage Cleaner Courtesy of Amazon $5, amazon.com A weekly spray of cage cleaner can help reduce odors from your pet's den. (That's the perfect time to toss their bedding in the wash as well for a good clean.) 08 of 13 Mud Buster Courtesy of Amazon $25, amazon.com Protect your floors from muddy paws with this simple tool. Fill it with water, and dip your pet's paws in it—the soft silicone bristles help gently remove the grime. 09 of 13 Wet Ones Wipes Courtesy of Amazon amazon.com For a quicker cleanup when your dog gets into something, stash a supply of pet-friendly cleaning wipes that can keep them clean between baths. 10 of 13 3m Dust Roll Courtesy of Amazon $15, amazon.com Swipe these industrial-strength dust magnets over floors and baseboards to keep up with most 11 of 13 Dust Buddy Courtesy of Amazon $20, amazon.com This kit makes it easy to swipe your baseboards clean of pet hair (and any other ick). 12 of 13 Fur Zapper Courtesy of Amazon $15, amazon.com Pet hair seems to stick everywhere. Toss these discs in the washer and dryer with your clothes (and your pet beds) and it'll help defuzz your clothes and send the fur out in the rinse cycle or your lint trap. 13 of 13 Shark Robot Vacuum Courtesy of Amazon $220, amazon.com A robot vacuum is the best can help you stay on top of the fur situation—especially during shedding season. The Shark Robot vacuum can be scheduled via app, so you can clean while you sleep or you're out at the dog park. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit