Cleaning the floors is likely already part of your regular cleaning routine, but if you have pets, you might want to increase the frequency. While tumbleweeds of pet hair are never a good look for your home, they can also can have implications that aren’t as readily seen.

Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company says pet hair build up can also lead to an accumulation of dander, dust, allergens, and even pet-related odors that can negatively affect your home’s air quality. To keep your home clean, hygienic, and smelling fresh, Mock prescribes sticking to a regular cleaning schedule that is best informed by a number of factors including your floor material and just how much your pet sheds.

How Frequently to Clean Your Floors If You Have Pets

According to Mock, if you live in a home with shedding pets, your floors will require some sort of attention every day. A quick daily floor cleaning for high-traffic areas will keep pet hair from making their way to harder-to-reach nooks and crannies where they’re more than likely to settle in for a while.

At least once a week you’ll want to sweep and vacuum for a more thorough job. “For a deeper cleaning to remove stubborn pet hair or even dirt tracked in by their paws, consider mopping or steam cleaning once every two weeks,” Mock says. With this schedule, you’ll help keep buildup at bay while also ensuring the job never becomes overwhelming. More frequent cleaning will result in quicker cleaning sessions and an overall cleaner home.

Factors to Consider

Hard flooring like tile, laminate, and hardwood is generally easier to keep clean compared to that of carpet. “That’s because hair and dander can become trapped in carpet fibers whereas hair stays on the surface of hard flooring,” Mock says. To keep your carpet from trapping a build up of fur, dander, dust, and odors, you’ll want to vacuum them more frequently. Once a month, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the carpets in your home and let it sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming thoroughly. This can help neutralize odors that can naturally occur even if you’re staying on top of a proper vacuuming schedule.

“Another factor to consider is if you have more than one pet,” Mock says. “Homes with multiple pets that shed would require frequent or daily cleaning to prevent pet hair accumulation.” To make easier work of staying on top of the job, keep your floor cleaning tools readily accessible, easy to grab at a moment’s notice. Stick vacuums, battery-powered mops, and a handheld crevice tool can all ensure you’re ready to deal with quick messes in a flash. Just make sure you don’t lean on these tools for every cleaning session as you’ll need to regularly call on heavier duty tools to really keep your pet-friendly home sparkling.

Tips for Keeping Your Floors Clean with Pets

Give Floors an Occasional Manual Scrub

Steam cleaners and steam mops are beneficial tools for keeping your floors clean, but you’ll still need supplemental cleanings by hand in order to keep your floors in top shape. “Occasional deep cleaning by hand can be beneficial, especially for areas where there’s pet accidents or stubborn grime build up that cannot easily be reached by a broom, mop, or vacuum,” Mock says. The cleaning pro suggests using a soft brush paired with a pet-safe cleaner to scrub spots like corners, baseboards, and grout lines.

Invest in the Right Tools

Setting yourself up with the right tools is a surefire way to ensure you’re ready for any mess your pets throw your way. “Your best friends for maintaining floors with pets are a good electrostatic broom and a pet-appropriate vacuum cleaner,” Mock says. “These are the most effective tools for eliminating pet hair from your home.”

Stay Consistent

As with any cleaning task, staying consistent matters. Mock says keeping a regular cleaning routine can help keep pet hair from building up and becoming overwhelming while also helping you maintain a healthier home.

Brush Your Pet Daily

For pet hair, the best offense is a good defense. “When it comes to dealing with a pet that sheds, you can keep hair buildup at bay with daily brushing sessions,” Mock says. “If possible, brush your pet outside to keep fur from flying around the living room as you groom your pet.”