The best cleaning products for pet owners that can tackle any mess

I have already mentioned my dog's puddle problem. It's not a big issue when it happens on a solid-surface floor that I can easily clean, but when the urine hits an area rug or even the grout between tiles, I grab Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain and Odor Eliminator.

This product uses a proprietary blend of biological enzymes to break apart the stain and odor molecules and a non-ionic surfactant to lift out the stain so it can be absorbed out of the carpet, upholstery, or grout and into a cleaning cloth.

You'll only be left with a fresh scent — with a hint of tea tree oil — that will dissipate in a few hours. For old urine stains, you may need to repeat the treatment or allow extra time for it to work. It can even be used in the washer to freshen urine-stained bedding of dogs and toddlers.

I also tested this on leather shoes with success. A friend's cat decided that her shoes were a great potty spot, and the shoes reeked. We sprayed them heavily and left them to air-dry. After just one day, the odor was gone and it didn't come back.

Pros: Nontoxic; safe for carpets, fabrics, and hard surfaces; effective on stains and odor; 1-gallon bottles are available for refills, money-back guarantee

Cons: Not effective as an overall carpet shampoo for use in a steam cleaner

There have been times when pet hair tumbleweeds scurried across my floors. No more. While my dog is short-haired, I've found the perfect vacuum for pet hair control, the Shark Apex Uplight Corded Lift-Away Vacuum. This vacuum is low-maintenance and high-performance.

This is a lightweight, bagless combination upright and handheld vacuum with exceptional suction that pulls in both pet hair and the fine dander particles in dust. The vacuum head has a self-cleaning dual brush roll system, is low profile to reach under furniture and beds, and has an LED light to help you see dust and dirt. It moves easily from carpet to hardwood floors.

To reach pet hair on areas above the floor, the upper pod comes off and can be used with a wand or a long hose. The vacuum comes with crevice and upholstery brush attachments, a replaceable HEPA filter, antiallergen seals, and a 25-foot cord.

Pros: Powerful suction, self-cleaning brush roll, upright and handheld combination vacuum, lightweight

Cons: Cord is not self-winding, dust cup is too small for vacuuming a whole house without emptying

When I see pet hair or even bits of kibble on the floor and don't want to get out the vacuum, the Evercare Mega Lint Roller is my go-to solution. With a 10-inch roller and an expandable handle that reaches up to 42 inches, I can make quick work of small messes.

While I do use it on the floor, I use it most often for upholstery. My dog has a piebald coat of white, dark brown, and auburn fur. So she creates a multicolored layer of pet hair on every surface. With its adjustable handle, I can break down the roller to just the right size to comfortably reach every surface of a chair or couch.

The adhesive is super strong so it grips much better than less expensive lint rollers. Because the sheets are so sticky, it can be difficult to remove the used layer. Here's a tip: Before you pick up any debris, find a corner of the sheet and fold it down just a half-inch or so. That makes the sheet much easier to remove when it's covered with fuzz.

The starter kit comes with 125 disposable sheets so you can trap lots of hair. I actually have two rollers. I keep one with cleaning supplies and one in my bedroom closet. It's perfect for removing hair from the comforter between washings and I use it on my clothes as well.

Pros: Super-sticky adhesive sheets, expandable handle, refills readily available

Cons: Removing the used sheet can be difficult

When it's time to clean hard-surface floors, they should be swept or vacuumed to remove loose debris before you apply any wet cleaner. If you don't, you'll often end up simply pushing the dirt from one area to another. But who wants to drag out two tools? You won't have to with the Shark VacMop Pro. It's a cordless hard floor vacuum-mop combination with disposable pads.

I have been amazed at how much quicker I get the floors mopped since I started using the VacMop. I feed my dog in the laundry/mudroom, and even though I have a mat under her dishes, she manages to spread the food. And since she loves to play outside, muddy or grass-filled paws hit that floor first. The Shark VacMop takes care of it all.

With a disposable pad that expands to trap and hold dry debris, I can get rid of dirt, dog food, and pet hair first. Then that same pad becomes a mop to soak up wet messes and the cleaning solution. When I'm done, I pop off the pad over the trash can.

The pads snap on and the reservoir holds enough cleaning solution to easily clean several rooms. The control triggers for the vacuum and spray nozzle are easily accessible on the handle and there are LED lights on the VacMop head that help you see every bit of dirt.

Lightweight and cordless, the VacMop's lithium-ion battery is fully recharged in about three hours. The charger connection is magnetic so it is super easy to connect.

The starter kit comes with the VacMop, a 12-ounce bottle of Shark Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner (works on sealed wood, tile, vinyl, stone), and two disposable pads (refills are available).

Pros: Vacuums and mops hard-surface floors, cleaning solution leaves floors streak-free, easy to recharge

Cons: Replacement pads are more expensive than using a traditional mop

Most air fresheners are laden with chemicals that can be toxic to a pet's respiratory system. But with a Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag, you can get rid of odors and know that your pet is safe.

Moso acts as an odor-absorber rather than covering up the bad odor with another fragrance. The small fabric bag contains 200 grams of moso bamboo charcoal that absorbs odors.

When I'm away from home, my dog feels more secure if she is in her crate. I keep a Moso bag nearby and never come home to odors. Along with fresher air, the other thing I like is that the bag lasts for two years. Just once a month, I place it in the sun for an hour to "recharge." The heat helps remove moisture that has accumulated in the charcoal, leaving more room for it to absorb odor molecules from the air.

I keep Moso bags in boots, seldom-used closets, and the car to keep everything smelling fresh. When it's the end of a bag's cycle, I empty the charcoal into the compost pile to enrich the garden.

Pros: Nontoxic, natural product containing no petroleum-based chemicals, available in a variety of sizes, reusable for up to two years

Cons: Does not remove odors immediately, takes several hours to work well

In addition to the top cleaning products to remove pet hair, stains, and odors, there are several other cleaning products that may be useful in your home:

Nature's Miracle Advanced Stain & Odor Eliminator, 32 oz. ($7.67): Using enzymes, Nature's Miracle breaks down stain and odor molecules that remain in carpet and upholstery. While it performs well, I did notice a heightened odor while the fabric is wet. Older stains will needed repeated treatments.

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, 90 oz. ($11): When your pet has an accident on any washable fabric, the addition of Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the washer's rinse cycle will kill odor-causing bacteria that may remain after washing, even in cold water.

SaniDate Hard Surface Sanitizer, 128 oz. ($35.45): While SaniDate doesn't pretend to deep clean surfaces, the one-step disinfectant will kill bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus aureus on pet toys and feeding bowls.

Hoover Paws and Claws Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo, 64 oz. ($20): When your carpets need an overall cleaning, Hoover Paws and Claws does a good job of removing soil and leaves a fresh scent and a Scotchguard coating on fibers to help repel future stains. To completely remove older urine, feces, or vomit stains, I would recommend pre-treating the area before shampooing.

If you have pets in the home, a quality vacuum cleaner designed specifically for the challenge of cleaning pet hair is a must and will make it much easier to keep your home clean.

It helps to have the right cleaning tools and products on hand to tackle pet stains, odors, and other messes. To make sure you get the best of the best, we've reviewed the top cleaning products to bring you our top picks for pet owners.

Whether your pet has short hair, long hair, or something in between, the right lint roller will pick it up off your clothes and furniture to keep things looking neat and tidy. These rollers come in many shapes and sizes, so take a look at our top picks for the best lint rollers for pet hair to choose the one that works best for you.

Are you prepared to care for your family pets when an emergency strikes? These recommendations can be tweaked to fit the specific needs of your pet or environment, but they will serve the needs of almost every cat and dog.