16 cleaning products that every pet owner needs
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While pets are great, cleaning up after pets is considerably less so. Despite all the joy and companionship they bring to our lives, one of the worst parts of pet ownership is keeping up with the sheer amount of fur, spills, dander, and, yes, poop. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent items that make cleaning up after our four-legged friends a little easier and less time-consuming. From robot vacuums to self-cleaning litter boxes, these 16 products available on Amazon will help keep your home and garden clean despite your pet's best efforts.
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1. One of the best robot vacs for pet hair
Cleaning litter boxes and picking up dog poo may be the worst pet-related chores, but vacuuming matted tufts off the rug and chasing after those rolling tumbleweeds of fur with a hose ranks highly as well. Here at Reviewed, our testers think robot vacuums—and specifically, the iRobot Roomba i7+—are the best way to solve those pet hair blues.
Get the iRobot Roomba i7+ for $549
2. A splurge-worthy automatic litter box
Scooping litter? Basically the worst chore ever. Everybody hates it, and with good reason: it's icky, messy, and has to get done every day in order to keep that unmistakable "cat smell" that everyone hates from engulfing the house. For the cat parent who hates scooping, this self-cleaning litter box is an amazing present. It’s not cheap, but when we tested it, we absolutely fell in love with it and felt it was well worth the investment.
If you’re enamored with the idea of a self-cleaning litter box but are put off by the price, try the more affordable Omega Paw Roll' N Clean Litterbox.
3. The best poop bags we have tested
Owning a dog comes with a lifelong commitment to the handling and disposing of daily waste. If you’ve accepted this burden, then it makes sense at the very least to use the best dog poop bags available. Our number one when it comes to number two, are the Pogi's Poop Bags with Easy-Tie Handles. The bags are leak-free, extra roomy and eco-conscious—made from oxo-biodegradable plastic that breaks down in 18 months. Additionally, the clean powder scent is effective at masking the bag’s contents, so you won’t feel like you’re lugging around poop while wearing perfume.
Get the Pogi's Poop Bags with Easy-Tie Handles for $15.99
4. This tester-approved cat litter
There are so many cat litter brands to choose from, and all those choices can make your head spin. Should you go with scented or unscented? Clumping or non-clumping? Lightweight? Multi-cat? But which is the best one that, most importantly, your cat will love too?
Fortunately, we’ve taken a look at some of the bestselling litter on the market and found that you can’t go wrong with Boxiecat Premium Unscented. It was easy to handle and did well at clumping, blocking odors, and not tracking too much outside the box.
Get the Boxiecat Premium Unscented Cat Litter starting at $17.99
5. A spill mat for messy munchers
Over-enthusiastic dogs can make a bit of a mess at dinnertime, but that’s what the Soggy Doggy Slopmat is for! We’ve tested these microfiber mats, and we love that they absorb any water that might get splashed around. They also keep food bowls from sliding around, and they have a cute dog bone design, to boot.
Get the Soggy Doggy Slopmat for $24.49
6. A portable carpet cleaner for spot cleaning
Sometimes a robot vac simply won't cut it. Having a high-powered vacuum is important for cleaning carpets, rugs, and hardwood, especially when your giftee's floors are likely covered in pet hair, mud, and unfortunately accidents. The Pet Stain Eraser features a rotating brush specially designed to tackle pet stains, and its compact size makes it ideal for quick pickup jobs. Plus, reviewers give this powerful machine a solid 4.5-star rating.
Get the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser for $97.84
7. A sturdy and stylish metal scooper
Plastic litter scoopers are cheap, but they break easily and often don’t have the heft to pick up heavier waste. Switching to a metal scooper can be a life-changer. This metal litter scooper, which comes in six colors and even features little prongs at the end of the scoop for heavy-duty scraping.
Get the WePet Cat Litter Scoop from Amazon for $9.99
8. This essential shower attachment
If your dog is often getting dirty, muddy, and stinky, the Waterpik Pet Wand Pro shower attachment is just what you need. This affordable shower accessory makes bathtime so much easier, as it delivers a targeted stream of water that rinses dirt and grime right off your dog's coat.
Get the Waterpik Pet Wand Pro for $35.99
9. The best cat litter box we’ve tested
Picking the right place for your cat to do its business is serious business. If you’ve just adopted a kitten or are looking to upgrade your existing cat poop possie, we recommend the Nature's Miracle High Sided Litter Box. This litter box is as simple as it gets, but it gets the job done. The Advanced High-Sided Cat Box fits in a variety of spaces. Its sides are high enough, and the box is large enough to handle days of cat waste before it needs cleaning. A narrow but deep “scooped” front catches the mess kicked up by your kitty and deposits it right back into the bottom of the litter box, where it belongs. And, thanks to the three handles built into the litter box’s sides, emptying the Advanced High-Sided Cat Box for cleaning is a breeze.
Get the Nature's Miracle High Sided Litter Box for $21.55
10. Our favorite cat litter mat
The best litter tray in the world is useless if your four-legged friend keeps traipsing debris into the carpet. If you’re sick of cleaning up stray particles around the house consider investing in a good quality mat. Our testers loved the PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat. The non-slip and anti-microbial material is designed to grab hold of the stray pieces of litter on your kitty’s feet, stopping them from tracking it all over the house and into your bed (gross!). It’s made with synthetic materials, meaning I can easily hose it down when it gets nasty.
Get the PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat for $32.41
11. This appropriately-shaped toy basket
Do you find yourself tripping over dog toys all the time? Then you could use this sweet storage basket, which is shaped like a dog bone. The basket is crafted from faux rattan and is perfect for hiding away even the largest dog toy collections.
Get the Bone Dry Bone Shape Toy Basket for $36.42
12. A handheld vacuum for quick cleaning
Unless you have a hairless dog or cat, chances are you fight a regular battle against the fur that threatens to take over their home and car. A cordless vacuum is perfect for quick touch-ups around the home, and the best-valued handheld vacuum we've tested is the Black & Decker Pivot.
Don't be fooled by its compact form—this little vacuum delivers powerful suction, capturing 70% of the dirt we laid out. It even features a pivot joint so you can maneuver this vacuum into tight places with ease. It's the perfect present for anyone who wants to keep their home spic and span—despite having pets.
Get the Black & Decker BDH2000PL for $78.95
13. A robust car seat cover for muddy mutts
If you often take your dog on outdoor adventures, you will appreciate the Active Pets Car Seat Cover, which will help protect your vehicle seats from dirt, hair, and scratches. The hammock is designed to fit into the back seat of most cars, and it’s quick and easy to install.
Get the Active Pets Car Seat Cover for $37.99
14. A long-lasting lint roller
Anyone who lives with pets knows that there’s pretty much always dog and cat hair on just about every surface, from the sofa to the stove. If you’re going through lint rollers like water, try the ChomChom Roller. This little device uses a combination of electrostatic charge and rubber blades to pull hair off furniture, bedding, and clothing, and it can be used indefinitely, making it much more sustainable than lint rollers. Our writer and pet-owner-extraordinaire Camryn Rabideau swears by the ChomChom, which she uses to remove both at and dog hair from her furniture and clothes.
Get the ChomChom Pet Hair Remover for $24.95
15. A rugged machine washable rug
Between accidents, pet hair, and everyday dirt, rugs tend to get pretty dirty when you have a dog—that’s why Ruggable rugs are such a game-changer. These rugs have a unique two-part construction that allows you to remove the surface layer and wash it in the washing machine. It’s the perfect option for anyone who is frequently scrubbing down their floor coverings with a carpet cleaner.
Get the Ruggable Machine Washable Area Rug starting at $129
16. This disposal system designed especially for cats
A Litter Genie is a cat litter disposal system designed to minimize mess and odor. (If you’ve ever heard of a Diaper Genie for baby diapers, it’s from the same company.) It serves as a fully contained trash bin for cat litter, coming with its own trash bag inserts, scooper, and storage area that keeps waste in an airtight container.
It’s a simple contraption, but a brilliant one. Our tester couldn’t say enough good things about it and would recommend the Genie to anyone with a cat looking for a smarter solution for dealing with litter waste.
Get the Litter Genie for $18.76
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 16 cleaning products that every pet owner needs
