Dog Mama

Muddy paw prints, nose smudges, pet hair, and more—living with a dog can be messy! But it doesn’t have to be. This step-by-step guide to cleaning with pets will allow you and your pooch to enjoy a clean home every day.

These chores can all be done in a 15-minute time frame after dinner and leave your home sparkling for a fresh start the following morning. There’s no better way to start the day!

• Pick up all toys and personal items left lying around the house and pack away.

• Do a quick vacuum with a handheld vac over living room floors and high traffic areas. (Or let your robo-vac do it! See page 31.)

• Wash and dry dog bowls (or pop in the dishwasher).

• Wipe down any kitchen surfaces or counters.

• Empty trash and recycling.

WHY SPLIT CLEANING INTO DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, AND SEASONAL CHORES?

With a clear breakdown of what gets done when, you no longer feel like you’re chasing your tail (hello, dog-related pun!) with cleaning. Every cleaning and organizational expert recommends a small amount of cleaning every day combined with bigger jobs done on a regular timetable as the most efficient use of your time.

This way, every morning you get to enjoy a clean home to start with day with, as well as knowing the bigger jobs are covered as needed. There’s no cleaning guilt or sweeping the floor five times over in one day. To put it simply: this routine works.

The timing estimates are based on having a one- to two-bedroom home with one dog. Obviously if you have multiple pets, a five-bedroom house, and children thrown in the mix, things may take a bit longer, but the principle is the same.

I personally use this method of cleaning every week to get my house in tip-top shape. I follow this particular order of chores as it allows me to maximize the cleaning, with no downtime—getting the job done quicker!

If you can, I suggest popping your dog outside with their favorite treat ball while you clean. Alternatively have another member of the family take them for a walk (trying to clean your home with a dog in it is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos).

• Remove all sheets from bedding and pop in the wash.

• Dust tables and surfaces using a microfiber cloth. As you go, sprinkle your Doggy Deodorizer (see page 51) on your carpets and soft furnishings to be vacuumed up later.

• Rotate your dog’s toys in their toy box (see page 40 for details).

• Clean your kitchen, wiping down surfaces, sinks, and appliances. Replenish dog food supplies including treats and food (see page 36 for dog food storage tips).

• Clean any glass surfaces free of nose smudges and paw prints.

• Vacuum all rooms throughout the house, including soft furnishings and your dog’s bed. Use a lint roller to pick up any stray pet hairs on upholstery.

• Mop all hard surfaces (such as floorboards, tiles)—it’s a good idea to leave this for last so it has time to dry.

• Clean your bathroom, wiping down surfaces and sinks. Clean toilet, shower, and bath. Reward yourself with a shower at the end and you’re ready to start your day! Go get yourself some avocado toast, dog mama.

This easy cleaning and organization session will set you up for the month ahead. Just add these chores to your regular weekly clean once a month.

• Wash all dog bedding, apparel, fabric harnesses, leashes, and toys. Most are machine washable these days but always check the label. For hard toys such as Kongs, hand wash and drip dry.

• Treat any leather collars and leashes with a suitable conditioner.

• Spot clean any marks on walls or furnishings.

• Fully wash and rinse treat jars and all food containers.

• Clean out any dog items from the interior of your car and wash any throws you use to protect the upholstery.

• Take stock of your pet supplies, and order any waste bags, grooming tools, or medication your dog needs.

Pro Tip!

When you’ve finished cleaning a section of your home, light a candle in that room. It’s a great way to bookend your clean and also replaces any doggy smells with a fresh scent.

Depending on your dog and lifestyle you may not need to do all of these steps. Consider which ones you need, those you don’t, and order yourself some Uber Eats at the end to reward yourself!

• Spring clean your dog’s things (see Organizing with Pets on page 35).

• Clean out all food and medications and ensure they are within their use-by dates. Discard any expired food or medication.

• Steam clean carpets and furniture.

• Wash all windows and glass doors, inside and out.

• Diarize your dog’s medical appointments, vaccinations, and grooming bookings as needed.

For people with dogs that spend a lot of time outside, maintaining your outdoor areas is a must. The great thing is this area can use the daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal breakdown just like the inside.

• Clean out any outdoor doghouses or bedding—sweep away any spiderwebs and debris.