8 Tidy Home Tips for Dog Owners
We’re sharing 8 tidy home tips for dog owners today!
In a million years, I never thought I would have the privilege to love one dog much less four.
Growing up in a military family our pets consisted of exactly one hamster, one bird, and a few goldfish we won at the county fair.
Dogs were not even on the radar.
Ever.
We just moved around way too much to have them.
The minute my sisters and I left for college, got our own places, and started our own families though we began welcoming dogs into our homes.
While I can attest there have definitely been MANY mischievous moments and sometimes downright frustrating escapades, dogs are an important part of our family and we are better people for loving them.
Life with pets is so much fun, but it can also be extra work keeping the house clean, fresh, and free from odors. It’s something we try to stay on top of every day.
I’m definitely not an expert but after having 4 rescues, 3 of which were terriers known for hunting, I’ve learned a lot along the way.
Here’s a look at 8 tidy home tips for dog owners to keep in mind…
Stay on Top of Pet Hair:
Our biggest challenge is definitely pet hair. We vacuum, mop or Swiffer nearly every day!
We keep lint rollers in designated areas around the house (especially in the living room) to help get any pet hair off the furniture quickly.
It also helps to keep pet blankets or sheets covering furniture because they can be easily picked up, shaken outside, and laundered as needed.
We take Piper to the groomer on a regular basis (about every 6 weeks) and brush her hair outside between visits. Her hair is long and wiry.
While we know it’s not going to eliminate the shedding problem completely, it does help to cut down on the amount of pet hair that winds up in the house.
Keep Pet Wipes and Other Essentials Handy:Â
Another tidy home tip for dog owners is to keep pet wipes by the front and back door. This will help stop dirt and mud from coming inside.
We keep ours hidden in baskets!
We also keep wipes in our cars too because pup cup sticky business is no joke ?
Bathing and Grooming:
When it comes to bathing and grooming, your vet will be able to advise you how many times per month your dog should be bathed.
It is not uncommon for dogs to have allergies or special skincare needs based on breed or age, so, be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Obviously, if they’ve been rolling in the mud or you catch them crawling out of the turtle’s tunnel you need to bathe them immediately.
Making sure your pets have been properly bathed, groomed, and cleaned will go a long way in helping to cut down on pet odors indoors.
Select the Right Air Freshener:
We launder our pet’s toys and linens just as frequently as we launder our own linens which makes selecting the right air freshener one of the easiest tidy tips for dog owners on the list.
It’s usually every week and sometimes even more depending on how active Piper has been.
In addition, while she is out of the room, we spray Febreze on the pet beds that do not have removable/washable covers. We also spray it on any pieces of furniture she’s been sitting on to keep things smelling fresh.
We use a light dusting of baking soda on the carpets to help absorb odors (again, wait until your dogs are out of the room before doing this so they don’t ingest baking soda) prior to vacuuming.
Finally, we follow a cleaning schedule, burn candles or simmer pots while we are at home nearly every day.
It may seem like a lot but incorporating these tasks as part of our daily and weekly routine feels like second nature now.
Carefully Choose Window and Other Cleaners:Â
Our home has a lot of windows and Piper is always looking outdoors for rabbits, turtles, birds, or lizards.
She also occasionally licks the floors and glass doors, so not only do we want them to be clean, but we also want the cleaner we use to be as safe as possible.
I know cleaners come in a wide range of scents right now, but we love the smell of Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lavender. You can find their list of ingredients here.
Frequently Check Your Air Filters:
Depending on the type of dog you have and how much they shed, it’s best to keep an extra eye on your air filters.
We check on ours every few weeks just to make sure pet hair isn’t adding additional stress to our heating and cooling system.
Changing your filters frequently will also help combat pet odors.
Food Storage:
Another easy tidy home tip for dog owners is to keep food in an air-tight container, free from pests, and put away.
When we created this dog feeding station in the panty it was a game-changer. Now we keep bulk food stored in large containers while smaller portions and treats are kept in jars.
If you have large or mischievous dogs this system might not be an option for you. Nevertheless, consider keeping all of your dog supplies together so things can stay safely organized.
Accidents Happen:
Let’s face it, dogs get sick and have accidents even when you’re diligent about taking them outside for potty breaks. It goes without saying, clean the mess up immediately and avoid using ammonia-based products.
Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned have come from sharing life with these amazing creatures.
They’ve taught me about love, nurturing, patience and forgiveness in ways that no human would have ever been able to teach me. Dogs are worth every bit of extra effort because they give so much!
Let us know your favorite tidy home tips for dog owners! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Many blessings,
CoCo
CoCo – first thing…they are all absolutely adorable! Second thing…these are all fantastic tips! Living with pets is so rewarding, but at times can be a tad challenging. Thank you for all of your great ideas!
Thank you ladies, as you know those two littles have my heart 🙂 They’re so much work but totally worth it. Those sweet faces, I can’t even! Hugs, CoCo
Oh Coco what sweethearts! They are just he cutest things <3 You are right, they are absolutely worth the work and I wouldn't trade mine for the world! Thanks for the tips and have a wonderful week with your four-legged loves. Hugs, Lisa
I know you totally understand how much I love these sweet petes because you have a sweet pete too. We’re definitely lucky ladies to be surrounded by so much love. Sending you hugs, CoCo
Oh such a sweet post, Coco! I love my two large doggies too, even though I do sometimes get frustrated keeping up with all. That. Hair. :). I will try your tips, thanks for sharing!!
I would love to say that mine sweet pups never shed but let me tell ya, we always have to keep after these sweeties. It’s a lot of extra work but they’re totally worth it. Hugs, CoCo
Oh my goodness, you are spot on with the lint rollers, I swear I go through ten sheets each time I try to clean up the couches… and there’s still hair stuck. Good tip about the furnace filter, I never thought about checking it because of the extra hair around the house.
Thank you, Nicole! I swear we are always pulling the lint rollers out to keep things tidy too. Those sweet pups live the life. Hope you’re having a great day, CoCo
Thank you for making a special home for the rescued pups.
Thank you for the helpful tips on keeping a tidy house for all the family.
In years past we had four rescued pups of various mixed breeds along with an Australian Shepherd. All five dogs were inside/outside as they wanted. The rescued pups were just as special as our Aussy who as a breed is known for being intelligent. They all knew to go to the family room and lie down whenever a visitor or serviceman came to the door.
So many, many stories I could share of the antics and personalities.
The next best thing to a toddler. How we loved each of them who are all gone now..
Love your post.
Connie
That is so exciting to hear, Connie! Piper has definitely turned our world upside down but we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s encouraging to know you had rescues that all got along and were well behaved. We’re still working on a few things but she’s getting the hang of it. My sister has an Australian cattle dog rescue and he is amazing with Piper. He is also super smart and very patient with her which is exactly what she needs because she’s kind of all over the place. I really appreciate all your encouragement and sharing your experience too. It makes me less scared to take her to daycare for canine socialization. Hope your day has been a blessed one, CoCo
Such a detailed and comprehensive guide! I never considered how choosing the right window cleaner was so important – I’ll keep that in mind!
Thank you, Caleb! I never really thought about floor and window cleaners either until our rescue Piper started licking them both when she arrived. Now I’m hyper-aware of what she’s ingesting! Hope you have the best week, CoCo
Oh living with dogs can be so much work and I totally agree with you that it is worth all of it!!! To receive their unconditional love is priceless.
Your tips are great and one I did not think of is checking the air filters! Thanks so much;)
Thanks so much for your sweet words, Maria. I’m glad you’ll be able to use some of these tips. You are right their love is priceless! Hugs for a happy week, CoCo
Coco
I loved this sweet post. I’d love to link to it from my Sunday Dirt Road Adventures this weekend. I hope that’s ok.
That would be so sweet of you, Rachel, thank you! Piper has been a ton of work but she’s brought so much joy to our lives. We’re lucky to have her. She’s definitely messy though so any extra tips or tricks we stumble across that work we’re happy to pass along. Hugs and thank yous, CoCo
Such a sweet and helpful post, CoCo! We’ve definitely had our challenges with our Bentley! Especially since he’s allergic to just about everything, LOL! But we wouldn’t trade him for the world!
I totally get ya, Christine! It seems like we find new allergies with Piper all the time too. Tell Bently if he ever needs a sweet playmate that reads all the labels before she has a snack we know the perfect little lady ? Big hugs, CoCo
Coco you are spot on ! I grew up with dogs and for the past 25 years I have been volunteering full time for our local humane society..
At one point we had 5 labs and 5 bullies ( all lap dogs ) Rescue is the way and thank you for saving their lives. I live in rural WNC plus rehab injured / orphaned wildlife for the state . Keep up the work , I enjoy your posts along with Rachels. Sometimes I print out before & after of Rachel’s post and hang them at the shelter”s thrift store to encourage repurposing ideas.
Wag more…
Sharon
That is so awesome, Sharon! It sounds like your home is such a happy with one filled with lots of love and furry activity. We’ve only had rescues and while teaching them how to be part of our pack and understanding what they need has not always been easy it has definitely always been worth it. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. Thank you for all the work you do to save animals! Hugs, CoCo