Equipment

Rake and pans are popular options for pooper scoopers at many stores. These are often adjustable or long enough to clean up the mess without bending. However, unlike those with a spade and pan, they are most efficient on grass and not efficient on other surfaces. The rake can also be difficult to clean. If you have a dog and a cat, this may be a scoop to consider as the rake does work well with the pan for cleaning a litterbox.

Claw scoops are popular and traditionally what many people think of when it comes to pooper scoopers. They are often lightweight, but the squeeze handle requires hand strength. While they are one handed, you will need a waste bag or bucket with you as you can pick up one mess at a time and will need to dispose of it before cleaning another. They often work well on a variety of outdoor surfaces but are not as efficient indoors. They can also be helpful for litterbox cleaning.

Personally, these are my favorite pet scoops. Many are adjustable which means I can clean up after my dog without bending. They are also easy to clean, work easily on multiple surfaces, and get most of the mess in one attempt. Down sides of this product are they can be expensive, some versions can be heavy, and they require two hands. 

One-handed design: you scoop the waste using the pointed shovel end, raise the scooper up to vertical, and the mess falls right into the attached bag . You can attach any type of plastic bag to the end using the provided strap, and clean multiple messes depending on the size of the bag. Requires good motor control and strength of one arm. May take a couple times to get entire mess into the scoop.

Long handled scoops are great for cleaning a litterbox without bending. There are now adjustable litterbox scoops on the market but you can also make your own at home by taping or gluing a litter scoop to something like an old broom handle, long stick, or long handled shoe horn. When using a long handled scoop, try to have the litter box against the wall to give yourself more leverage. Dog pooper scoopers often make great long handled litter scoops as well.

Self-cleaning and automatic litterboxes are becoming more popular and efficient. This can be a great option for you if you are looking to lessen the amount of time and effort involved in cleaning. However, these products can be expensive and often require specific types of litter to use. They will also require you to empty the canisters, meaning some bending may still be involved. Some cats also do not adjust easily to the change to box and type of litter.

The type of litter you use can make a big difference in cleaning the box. If litterbox cleaning is tiring or difficult for you, consider a non-clumping or a natural based litter. Non-clumping litter means that you will be only scooping out the poop waste when you clean. Clumping litter makes urine clump together for removal but also can make it stick to the bottoms and sides of the pan, making it difficult to remove. Natural litters are similar to clay non-clumping litters but they are often much lighter in weight. However, they often need to be changed more frequently and may have less scent control than clay-based litter.

One-handed design: you scoop the waste using the pointed shovel end, raise the scooper up to vertical, and the mess falls right into the attached bag . You can attach any type of plastic bag to the end using the provided strap, and clean multiple messes depending on the size of the bag. Requires good motor control and strength of one arm. May take a couple times to get entire mess into the scoop.

Spray cleaning products are a helpful way to clean up animal messes and disinfect the floor and counter. Clorox, Bissell, and Oreck are brands with pet product lines that we have found to be the most effective in removing animal smells and removing stains. Clorox Urine Remover is very effective in removing cat and dog urine smells quickly.
If you have a dried mess on the floor, spray these products, let it sit for a few minutes and then the mess will be easier to wipe up without scrubbing.

Cleaning stains and pet messes out of carpet can be tricky. We have found that spray carpet cleaners from Oreck, Bissell, and Resolve work well at lifting stains so that they can be removed with a wet cloth or a vacuum after using the product. Carpet shampooers are very helpful if you have messy pets and a lot of carpet. Many carpet shampooers are bulky and heavy. Getting one with a long handheld device can make it easier to clean without pushing the entire machine. Bissell also makes small handheld shampooers that are light and very effective at cleaning pet messes. If your pet tends to make a mess in a specific spot, consider putting down puppy training pads or newspaper to help prevent the mess from getting into the carpet.

Many pets shed a lot meaning a vacuum will be a good friend to have. If vacuuming is tiring or difficult for you, try to find a lightweight one and break the task up to save your energy. Lightweight vacuums do not need to break the bank either. Walmart has lightweight vacuums with handheld options for under $50. We have them at the animal rescue and they work great! Another option if vacuuming is difficult is to invest in an automatic vacuum. Roomba is the most popular brand but there are many robotic vacuums available that work well with pet hair. If you do choose a robotic vacuum, find one that will be easy for you to empty the canister.

If you have tile or hardware floors, you will likely want a mop or mop alternative for cleaning up after your pet. Mops are great if you have a large area to clean up, but they can be difficult to manage especially with a mop bucket. Consider a bucket on wheels to make the task easier for yourself and choose a smaller bucket to avoid it getting to heavy to push/pull. Mop alternative like the Swiffer, can be great for cleaning up after your pet quickly. The Swiffer pads will pick up and clean the mess with a couple pushes of the Swiffer. These types of mops are difficult to use to get really dried on messes; we recommend spraying these messes prior to trying to clean them with any type of mop. Mops similar to the swiffer are nice because they will not get your floor as wet as a typical mop and dry quickly without having to ring-out a mop and try to clean up excess water. Mops like the Swiffer do require you to purchase pads though which can add up.

A steam mop is lightweight like a Swiffer but has machine washable pads. The use of steam to clean the floor also means that the floor will be drier when you are finished and it is more effective at removing tough messes.

If your pets use the furniture, you will likely want to clean if regularly to remove pet hair. Using a furniture cover or covering the furniture with a sheet/blanket will add a barrier between your pet and the furniture that you can easily through into the washing machine to clean and remove hair.
Using the handheld option on a vacuum or buying a small handheld vacuum can also help you quickly remove pet hair. However, this may take some scrubbing to get hair out of the fabric if it has built-up.

Using a pet hair brush is a great tool to get hair out of your furniture, and you can use it while sitting on the couch to save energy. Brushing your furniture will take time but it will also get hair up that may be deeper in the fabric.

Regularly brushing and grooming your pets will also make furniture easier to clean as they will shed hair less.
The spray products about and carpet cleaners are also great tools for removing pet stains from furniture. Clorox wipes are great for quickly cleaning non-fabric based furniture pieces.

This is a list of recommended aquarium cleaning supplies: https://www.thesprucepets.com/aquarium-cleaning-supplies-1381094. Many of these supplies come at different lengths so you can find the right fit for you. Many aquarium tools have thin handles that can be difficult to grip. Adding a foam handle build up, wrapping a wash cloth around the end, or adding layers of tape can allow you to make the tool easy to hold.

Self-cleaning aquariums have become popular and more efficient over the years. These are a great option for those wanting a very little maintenance, smaller aquarium. We recommend this website when deciding if and which self-cleaning system is right for you: https://fishtankadvisor.com/best-self-cleaning-fish-tanks-reviews/

The key to making reptile cages easier to clean is placing them at a comfortable height for you to access and daily cleaning tasks. This website is a great resource for cleaning routines: https://www.petcoach.co/article/habitats-cleaning-and-disinfecting-reptile-cages/

To make cleaning easier, use cage materials that are easy for you to handle and lift out of the cage. Also use a sand shifter that is easy for you to use. This may mean building up a handle with tape, foam, or a washcloth so that you can grasp it easier. It may also mean making the handle longer so you can access all areas of the cage easier. Taping the shifter to the end of an old back scratcher, shoe horn, or old painter stirring sticks are ways you can make it long-handled at home.

Another key factor is proper use of a good disinfectant. The article above explains how to make a reptile safe disinfectant that will properly clean the cage. Putting the substance in a squirt bottle may make it easier to spread throughout the cage. If you have trouble with squirt bottles, putting it on a clean cloth is also another strategy or using reptile disinfectant wipes.

Cage cleaning is time consuming and takes a lot of energy. Having a second cage available for your reptile is a way for you to break cage cleaning tasks up across time without rushing to return your pet to its home.

Small mammals (i.e. hamsters, guinae pigs, ferrets, rabbits) need regular cleaning of their cages, see this website for general cleaning routine: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Small-Pet-Cage. Using liners for the bottom of the cage or lining the cage with old newspaper under the bedding will make cleaning the cage easier to manage. Training your small mammal to use a litterbox will also decrease the amount of cleaning needed: https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guinea_pigs/training_your_guinea_pigs/litter_training

The biggest way to decrease effort involved in cleaning these cages is to place them at a height that is comfortable for you to access. Choosing lightweight cages will also decrease the amount of energy needed to clean the cage. Using disinfecting wipes or spray will make cleaning the surfaces easy and quick.

Many small mammal cages have latches that can be difficult to grasp and use. If that is the case, you can add foam, tape, or pieces of plastic to the latches so you can get a better grip.