For many animal lovers, the joy of owning pets comes with a constant battle against fur, mud, and stubborn odours. But one UK-based Reddit user is defying expectations, proving that even a veritable menagerie doesn't have to mean a messy, smelly house.
The Monday Method: A Blueprint for a Fresh Home
The individual, who astonishingly shares their home with 13 cats and three dogs, revealed their highly effective cleaning strategy. They explained that they are frequently asked how they manage to avoid being perpetually covered in pet hair and how their house remains free of unpleasant smells.
The pet owner, who also has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), attributes their success to a strict and structured routine. Every single Monday is dedicated to a full deep clean. This specific day was chosen strategically because their bin collection is on a Tuesday, meaning all the accumulated waste can be taken straight out to the road without sitting indoors.
A Room-by-Room Assault on Dirt and Grime
Their meticulous process involves tackling the house room by room, starting with the bathroom, followed by the bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and finally the dedicated litter box and mud room. The user doesn't cut corners, detailing that they wipe down every single surface, including the tops and bottoms of coffee tables, the entire toilet, the bathtub, and the tops of dressers.
Items like windows, light switches, and walls are cleaned on an as-needed basis, whenever they begin to look dirty. After all surfaces are spotless, the entire house is mopped with a Bissell CrossWave, which the owner describes as one of their most valuable adult purchases. They even pull out their couches weekly to mop underneath them, a step many would skip.
Daily Habits and a Healthy Mindset
Beyond the major weekly overhaul, the user maintains a rigorous daily schedule. The litter boxes in the pets' special room are cleaned daily, and they perform spot cleans as needed. Vacuuming happens at least every other day to keep pet hair under control.
Bedding—both theirs and the animals'—is washed every week. A key tip for avoiding pet hair on clothes is to fold and put away laundry immediately after it has been washed and dried, preventing fur from settling on clean garments.
The entire weekly deep clean takes them between 90 minutes and an hour to complete. They concluded by sharing a vital piece of advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed by housework: never beat yourself up. They champion the idea that a home is meant to look lived-in, and it's perfectly acceptable if you don't achieve everything in one day.
Other Reddit users were amazed by this commitment. One person commented on the brilliance of a Monday clean, while another with four cats shared their own daily routine. A third simply stated that the described cleaning schedule sounded like a week's worth of work for them, highlighting just how impressive this pet owner's dedication truly is.
