How I Keep My Home Clean, Fresh, and Healthy with 3 Pugs and 4 Cats
- chandra redding
- Jul 11
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 26
When people visit my house, they usually have the same reaction.
"Wait...you have seven pets?"
Yep! Three spoiled pugs, four opinionated cats, and somehow my house still doesn't smell like a kennel.
Now, don't get me wrong. If you live with pets, you know there are going to be muddy paw prints, tumbleweeds of pet hair, toys that magically migrate from room to room, and the occasional surprise waiting for you on a puppy pad. That's just life with animals, and honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Over the years, I've learned something important. I don't have to choose between having pets and having a home that feels clean, fresh, and welcoming. The secret isn't spending all day cleaning. It's creating routines that work with my pets instead of constantly fighting against them.
Here's what works in my home.
My Morning Reset
Before I start work each morning, I spend a few minutes doing what I call my RESET.
This isn't a deep cleaning session. I'm simply putting things back where they belong so I can start my day feeling calm instead of overwhelmed.
Blankets get folded.
Dog toys go back into their basket...at least until Apollo, Athena, and Artemis decide it's time to redecorate again.
Counters get wiped down.
Anything that doesn't belong gets put away.
I check the puppy pads and grass pads to see if anyone had an accident overnight. Believe it or not, I actually like this system. The dogs know they don't have to hold it if they can't, and if I notice something unusual, it's an early clue that someone might not be feeling well. That little morning check has helped me catch problems before they became bigger issues.
When I'm finished, my house feels reset, and so do I.
That visual fresh start makes a huge difference in my mindset before I sit down to work.
I Don't Clean Every Day—I Maintain Every Day
People sometimes assume I'm constantly cleaning because I have seven pets.
The truth is, I'm not.
I believe in maintenance, not perfection.
Instead of trying to deep clean my entire house every day, I spread things out throughout the week. That keeps everything manageable and prevents my house from ever feeling like it's getting away from me.
It's a system that has taken years to develop, but now it feels effortless because everything has its place on the schedule.
Keeping My Robot Litter Boxes Clean and Odor-Free
With four cats, litter box maintenance isn't optional—it's just part of life. One of the best investments I've made has been switching to robot litter boxes. They keep everything cleaner throughout the day and make daily maintenance so much easier, but they're not completely maintenance-free.
After trying several litters over the years (including some less expensive brands), I always come back to Boxie Probiotic Cat Litter. Yes, it costs a little more upfront, but for me it actually ends up being the better value. It clumps extremely well, doesn't track all over my floors, and does an incredible job trapping odors. When I switched to a cheaper litter, I found myself using more of it and running out before the month was over. With Boxie Pro, I can often make a bag last longer than 30 days, so in the long run, it actually saves me money.
About every 30 days, I empty each litter drawer completely, wash and sanitize the waste drawer and the inside of each robot litter box, then start fresh with new litter. It keeps everything working properly and helps keep my home smelling fresh.
One little trick I swear by is sprinkling a light layer of baking soda in the bottom of each waste drawer before adding the liner. It helps reduce sticking and gives me another layer of odor control.
Speaking of saving money...here's one of my favorite little hacks.
Instead of buying expensive replacement waste bags, I use the blue Kroger grocery bags from my grocery deliveries. They fit my robot litter box drawers perfectly, I always have plenty on hand, and they save me from spending extra money on specialty liners.
And here's my real secret weapon...
When it's time to deep clean my grass pads, robot litter box trays, racks, and other pet accessories, I use sodium percarbonate (an oxygen cleaner) mixed with warm water. I simply let everything soak, and most of the grime rinses right off with very little effort. I don't spend forever scrubbing anymore. It also does an amazing job removing lingering odors from the grass pads. I absolutely love this stuff!
I buy both sodium percarbonate and baking soda in bulk because I use them throughout my home—not just for the litter boxes. Buying in bulk saves me money, and I know they'll always be on hand when it's time for my monthly deep cleaning.
Living with four cats means having a good litter box system is non-negotiable.
Between my robot litter boxes, Boxie Pro litter, a few inexpensive cleaning hacks, and a regular maintenance routine, guests are usually surprised when they learn I share my home with seven pets.
My Robot Vacuums Do a Lot of the Heavy Lifting
One of the biggest game changers in my home has been letting technology help me.
Downstairs, my Eufy robot vacuum runs every evening while I'm winding down for the day. It vacuums and mops at the same time, picking up pet hair, dust, litter, and whatever else my crew has tracked through the house.
I've also used a Samsung vacuum and mop combo that runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to help maintain the floors.
Honestly?
I actually prefer my Eufy. (My vacuum: Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo)
It's easier to use, the AI navigation is impressive, and it costs a fraction of what I paid for the Samsung. It has become one of those products I genuinely wonder how I lived without.
Do I still vacuum myself?
Absolutely, I use a stick vacuum and would fight you for it!
The robots keep everything maintained, while I handle the deeper cleaning.
These habits protect my pets’ health while keeping the home spotless.
Deep Cleaning the Floors
With three pugs, deep cleaning is simply part of life.
For larger cleaning jobs, I recently added a stick vacuum to my routine. I love having powerful suction for rugs, furniture, and those places where pet hair somehow manages to collect no matter how often you clean.
When it's time to mop, I use my Shark steam mop for a deeper clean, and in between those cleanings I grab my Swiffer WetJet to freshen up the floors quickly.
For hardwood floors, furniture, and even dusting, I've been using Murphy Oil Soap for years. It's one of those products that quietly does its job without a lot of fuss, and I always seem to come back to it.
Every so often I also mix baking soda into my grout cleaning routine to brighten the kitchen floors. It takes a little elbow grease, but the results are worth it.
Air Quality Was My Biggest Game Changer
If I had to recommend one thing that completely changed my home, it wouldn't actually be a vacuum.
It would be my air purification system.
With pet hair, dander, pollen from the trees around my house, and construction happening nearby from time to time, I realized I needed to think beyond what I could actually see.
I use LightAir IonFlow Evolution air purifiers throughout my home, and I honestly love them.
I clean them every other week, and they have made a tremendous difference in how fresh my home feels. There have been mornings when I've walked downstairs fully expecting to smell that one of the dogs had an accident overnight...and I couldn't smell a thing.
The only downside I've noticed is that the ion technology can leave a little dust on nearby surfaces, so placement matters.
To improve my home's air even more, I installed a Reme Halo in-duct air purification system in my HVAC system. The bulb lasts about two years before it needs replacing, making it an easy part of my long-term home maintenance routine.
Every month, I also replace my HVAC air filter. It's a small task that makes a big difference.
The Little Things Add Up
Some of my favorite cleaning products aren't expensive at all.
I love Dawn Powerwash for cleaning my countertops.
Afterward, I'll wipe them down with my own peppermint-and-water mixture. It leaves everything smelling fresh, and I've found it also helps discourage pests and reminds my cats that the kitchen counters aren't their personal runway.
For upholstery and pet bedding, I make my own fabric refresher.
I also keep Pacagen dust spray on hand to help manage dust, especially since I have pets, seasonal pollen, and construction dust all competing for space in my home.
Every couple of weeks I clean my ceiling fan blades using a simple vinegar-and-water solution along with Pacagen. It keeps dust from building up before it becomes noticeable.
Washable Is Always Better
One thing I've learned after years of living with pets is this:
Don't buy anything you're afraid your animals might damage.
Most of the rugs in my house have been affordable on purpose. I'd rather spend around $150 on a rug that I can enjoy than spend thousands worrying every time someone tracks mud inside.
The funny thing is, because I stay on top of cleaning, the rug in my living room is now over three years old, and my dining room rug is well over a year old.
Weekly, I wash all of our bedding.
Every month, I wash blankets, dog beds, rugs, and shampoo the carpets.
Everything I can buy washable, I do.
That decision alone has probably saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
My Winter Must-Have
During the winter months, I also bring out my Levoit humidifiers.
They're easy to clean, add moisture back into the air, and I love that they have a tray where I can add essential oils or vapor rub products when needed.
It's one of those little comforts that makes my home feel cozy during the colder months.
My Secret Weapon Is My Phone
If you looked at my phone, you'd probably laugh.
It's full of reminders.
Replace the air filter.
Wash the dog beds.
Clean the air purifiers.
Vacuum the furniture.
Wash the rugs.
Without reminders, life gets busy.
Having everything scheduled means I don't have to remember it all. My phone remembers for me.
A Beautiful Home and Seven Pets Can Coexist
People often think having multiple pets means giving up on having a beautiful home.
I disagree.
My goal has never been perfection.
My goal is to walk into my house, take a deep breath, and feel peace.
There will always be pet hair. Someone will always decide the clean blanket belongs to them five minutes after it comes out of the dryer. A muddy paw print will eventually appear after a rainy day.
That's life with pets.
But with a few good routines, products that genuinely help, and a realistic mindset, I've learned that I can have both—a home full of animals I adore and a home that feels clean, fresh, and welcoming.
After all, my pets don't just live in my house.
They're the reason it feels like home.
❤️ Before You Go...
If you enjoyed spending a few minutes with me today, I'd love to stay in touch.
Michelle's Room is where I share honest product recommendations, pet-friendly home ideas, beauty favorites, DIY projects, and the occasional life lesson I've learned along the way.
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