When you have a pet, you love your pet unconditionally. There’s no getting around that. But you never learn to love the mess that comes with having to take care of a pet, do you? Luckily, the way to lessen your stress over the mess isn’t as difficult as you may think. It only takes a little bit of discipline and some well-defined house rules.

First, teach your pet to get used to only being in certain places around the house. Don’t let them wander around anywhere they want. Otherwise, you will be in for some surprises in corners you wouldn’t even think to look. According to Greg Macchia of Clean Conscience in Broomfield, CO, there should be a space for feeding—somewhere hygienic for you and your pet, a space for sleeping, space for playing, etcetera. This is good especially if you leave your pet to go to work. At least you can be sure they will stay only where they’re supposed to, and you won’t come back to a messy house.

Next, invest in a good vacuum cleaner. This will not only help with any mess your pets might still make, but it’s also great for picking up fur from the furniture. Most furry pets shed, and it gets on the floor, on your clothes, in the air—it accumulates quickly if you neglect it. So make sure to check fur-prone areas with your vacuum at least once a day.

For clothes, you don’t really need a lint roller. Just keep a roll of packing tape handy for when you get too carried away during playtime, and end up with clumps of fur all over. It’s cheaper and multi-purpose too! Just wrap a strip around your hand, sticky side up, and go through your clothes from head to toe like you would with a lint roller. (Pro tip to lessen the amount of fur flying around in your home: groom your pets outside. Invest in good, metal flea combs to get rid of any loose hair or skin particles before you let your furry friends back inside.)

Lastly, make sure that the bed you give your pet to sleep in is easy to clean. It’s easy for you, and even better for your pet. When their bed stays clean, you lessen the risk of bacteria growth, and infestation of ticks or fleas, which can irritate your pet. So as cute as all the foam beds are, if you prefer not to go through the time consuming trouble of regular washing and drying, opt for baskets with removable covers. That way it’s easier to alternate between covers when one is in the wash, and you can just brush the basket down or spray it clean regularly.

When it comes to proper home cleaning, you can never be too careful to protect your family and pets.