10 Tips for How to Keep Your House Clean With Dogs

Pet lover? This post shares my best tips on how to keep your house clean with dogs! This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

The holidays are coming up, I have family visiting next week, and I am generally extremely busy. All of this has made me realize just how hard it is to keep your house sparkling clean when you have a dog. Can you relate?

And I don’t just have just any dog, I have a corgi — a breed notorious for how much they shed. And let me tell you, it’s 100% true. I could make another dog out of the fur she sheds! And it’s everywhere, all the time.

Even if you have a home full of pets, these are my best tips for keeping your house clean.

1. Invest in a Good Vacuum

Did I mention the hair? Since I have a shedding dog, I need to vacuum daily. A good vacuum makes all the difference in this house. 

I use the FloorRover Dash from Eureka. This model is actually made with pet owners in mind. It provides powerful deep cleaning on both carpets and hard floors, which is great because I have both in my home. It picks up dirt and pet hair like no other, and it all stays put thanks to a multi cyclone filtration system and HEPA filter. This Eureka pet vacuum also has a sleek, lightweight design and I appreciate the 12 feet of extended reach!

2. Groom Your Pup Regularly

Grooming your pet regularly is the #1 tip on how to keep your house clean with dogs. I always add a deshedding treatment to her groomer visits, which helps with the shedding (especially during the summer). To keep up with this at home, I use a personal deshedding tool.

Regular nail trims also help when it comes to your pets scratching hard floors, furniture, or fabrics.

Last but not least, a stinky pup makes for a not-so-great smelling home. Bathing your dog regularly will not only keep your home looking good, but smelling good, too! 

3. Have Plenty of Emergency Cleaning Supplies on Hand

When it comes to cleaning supplies, you can never have enough in a pet-friendly home! It’s important to deal with accidents and messes as soon as possible to avoid stains or odors, so I always have a fully stocked emergency cleaning station.

Some of my favorites include Disinfecting Wipes from LemiShine and Stain & Odor Remover from Kids n Pets. 

Stain & Odor Remover from Kids n Pets is made from natural, non-toxic enzymes that break down biodegradable messes. It’s perfect for pet stains and accidents! Disinfecting Wipes from LemiShine are effective against 99.9% of germs and bacteria. They are formulated with natural disinfectants such as plant-based ingredients and are bleach-free, making them safer for homes.

4. Invest in Pet-Friendly Furniture

If you allow your pets on furniture (and even if you don’t and they don’t listen!), investing in pet-friendly furniture is key. There are plenty of different fabrics (hello, stain-resistant!) and types of furniture made specifically for pet (and kid) households. These are worthy investments, opposed to watching your favorite furniture pieces get stained, scratched, or constantly covered in pounds of hair.

5. Reward Your Pets for Good Behavior

Don’t forget to reward your pets for their good habits! Train your pups to pick up after their toys, use their own pet furniture or dog beds instead of yours, and to be as neat as they can (but remember, they’re still an animal). 

I reward Cocoa with Pumpkin Treats from Fruitables! Fruitables Pumpkin Spice Skinny Minis are perfect training treats because they’re only 3 calories each and grain-free, while Fruitables Pumpkin & Cranberry Baked Treats are packed with superfoods! 

6. Control the Clutter

How to keep your house clean with dogs? Control the clutter! If you have dogs, you know that their pet toys and half-chewed bones can end up everywhere. It’s important that everything has its place. I have a bin for all of Cocoa’s toys, and I not only try to keep things organized, but I also downsize her toys every month or two. She ends up accumulating so many toys (whether it’s from subscription boxes or gifts), and there are some she just never plays with. 

If your dog’s toys are getting out of control, consider doing an overhaul and donating some to a local pet shelter. I do the same thing for other pet accessories (beds, blankets, leashes/collars).

Lastly, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated space for your dog’s outdoor gear. This can be a cubby or a shelf with hooks/hanging organizer. Keep your dog’s leashes, collars, reflective lights, rain gear, etc. on it and keep it close to the door to avoid getting things too muddy or dirty (and for easy reach!).

7. Keep Pets Busy to Avoid Destruction

Here’s the thing: When dogs get bored or are anxious, they can be destructive. This means ripped apart pillows, emptied garbage cans, and plain ole messes. One of my best tips is to always keep your dogs active and engaged. This can be hard sometimes if you’re busy, have company staying with you, or it’s the holiday season.

This is why I love iDig from iFetch. Cocoa loves to dig, and this digging toy will keep her busy for hours. iDig creates a positive outlet for dogs’ innate desire to dig (and not my couch or bed, which Cocoa loves digging) and is great mental and physical stimulation for dogs of all sizes. They also make great gifts for the holidays, so be sure to use the discount code BABBLE15 for 15% off an iDig digging toy.

8. Choose Colors Carefully

I live with a black dog that likes to roll in mud, so you can bet that you’re not going to see much white furniture in my house. This includes things like throw blankets, pillows, rugs, and more. Even though I love the look of white decor, I have to be realistic. When it comes to furniture and fabrics, it’s best to choose darker color palettes to keep your home looking fresh. To still have the look and aesthetic I like, I do have “only when company comes over” throws and pillows that are light-colored!

9. Three Words: Wipe Your Paws!

Always clean down your pup before they come in! We live in the Pacific Northwest, so Cocoa gets muddy no matter what we do, and it doesn’t help she has a very low-to-the-ground belly! We have a routine where we always wipe down her paws and belly with pet-safe cleaning wipes (or just a towel!) before bringing her inside.

10. Get a Handle on Dinnertime

Dogs can make an absolute mess while eating. To keep dinnertime contained, invest in silicone and waterproof anti-slip mats. These mats are easy to find online or at pet stores, keep water and food bowls in place, and are a breeze to clean up!

We hope these tips on how to keep your house clean with dogs is helpful for a sparkling, pet-friendly home! What are your favorite tips? Did we leave any off the list? Let us know in the comments below!