There is nothing better than a household filled with canine furry friends. But what about keeping that household clean and tidy? Is it possible to have it both – a clean house and many dogs roaming free around the house?
To be honest, it can be quite difficult. Having furry companions challenges your daily struggles to keep your home clean. No matter how much you clean there will always be some hairs left on the couch, some paw prints on the floor, and some doggy drool on the silky sheets. The joy of having a dog comes together with the dirt and debris. This is something you need to get used to even before getting a dog.
Luckily if you follow some rules and practice a few cleaning techniques you can keep the hygiene in your home on a satisfactory level, in spite of your dog’s efforts to leave its marks everywhere.
To make things simpler for you, we have compiled a list of the 10 best tips for a clean home with dogs.
Table of Contents
1. Make a bath time schedule
Not only make one but also stick to it. Regular bathing sessions help keep your dog’s coat clean and free of doggy smell. Use a freshly scented shampoo or make one at home. Remember that too much bathing can cause skin problems, so it is advisable to discuss the bathing frequency with your vet.
2. Make a brushing schedule
Brushing is important because it helps mechanically clean your dog’s coat. In addition during brushing, dead hairs are easily removed. Without the brushing, those hairs would be scattered all around the house. Brushing also improves circulation and keeps the hairs healthy, thus preventing excess hair loss.
3. Keep your dog clean between baths
As stated too much bathing can be unhealthy. However, you need to keep the dog clean. The best way to do that is to use dry, powdered shampoos or doggy wet wipes. Another option is to clean your dog with a damp towel. All of these techniques are efficient in removing dirt and smell.
4. Use a dog bed
Dog beds are amazing tools in the fight against dirty houses. Simply put, dog beds concentrate all of your dog’s dirt, debris, and shedding in one, easy to clean place. In addition, dog beds are easily portable and you can always relocate them as suited.
5. Keep the dog bed clean
Dog beds are efficient only if regularly cleaned. Luckily most dog beds are made of easy-to-clean and non-stick fabrics. High-quality dog beds are covered with removable materials that can be machine washed and dried.
6. Keep the dirt outside
It is useful to keep an old towel by the door and as soon as your dog gets back from its walk to wipe its feet. Even if the dog only walked on pavement, the paws are still covered with dirt and can leave marks around the house.
7. Get a toy box
If your dog has tons of toys to keep it mentally stimulated and entertained, chances are you will need a toy box. That way all of the toys will be in one place, instead of being scattered around the house. You can even teach your dog to put its toys in the box.
8. Select your furniture carefully
When purchasing furniture always choose pieces made of easy-to-clean fabrics. Excellent examples of such materials are leather and microfiber. They are easy to wipe down and clean. The furniture should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week.
9. Vacuum
Regular vacuuming is the most effective way to pick up and remove dog hairs. If you are not a fan of old-fashioned vacuum cleaners you can purchase a robot vacuum such as a Roomba you can also read our guide for the best pet hair vacuums here. These machines can be programmed to run on a certain schedule.
10. Deodorize your home
Despite keeping your dog clean and odor-free, the process of deodorizing your home requires some additional tools. These include air fresheners, scented candles, essential oils, charcoal, and simmering spices. These should be used on a daily basis.
Yet the most loving dog parent, from time to time, gets blind-sided and frustrated by the mess his dog created. Even dogs with couch potato personalities make messes all around the house and they hardly even move from the sofa. Not to mention the type of mess, a hyperactive dog with a go-all-day stamina can make, even on a slow day. Nevertheless, all dogs are cute and no matter the mess, we always forgive them and love them more and more.
Considering everything it can be concluded that keeping your home clean is a challenge on its own. When the house hosts furry friends that challenge is more complicated, but fortunately not impossible.
Follow our tips and you will have it both – a clean house and a happy canine friend or friends, your choice.