Frequent bathing is rough on a dog’s skin and coat, but regular brushing (or vacuuming, if the dog tolerates it) will tackle a good deal of the fur, dander, and dirt before it settles into every inch of the home.
Dog beds can become stinky, so the more often you can wash it, the better. I like dog beds that are “duvet” style so that I can remove the exterior and wash weekly. Molly Mutt has really cute beds, and they offer stuff sacks to hold the filling, and even a waterproof liner that keeps the filling from becoming dirty.
Furthermore, I limit the places in my home where my dog rests by encouraging her to go to her bed when she lays down. That doesn’t mean she’s banished to the bed all day, but if she’s going to be nesting and shedding all over something, I would like for her to do it there.
Absolutely not letting the dog on any furniture is a huge time (and sanity) saver when it comes to cleaning and odor control.
I trained my dog to only poo and pee on a well-draining gravel area along the side of the house rather than the lawn. The reason for this is not only for the health of the lawn, but it also keeps the lawn mess-free so she can run and play there without getting her own waste on her paws. Additionally, the gravel is a small, contained area for me to scoop poop, which I do at least twice a week to keep her toilet area clean and manage the outdoor odors.
Replacing the air filters in the home frequently helps. When the weather is nice, opening windows for a few hours here and there also helps.
And the part that no one wants to hear: I clean daily at least 10 minutes. Each day I will either sweep/mop the hard floors, wipe down hard furniture and other surfaces, or vacuum rugs/carpet and soft furniture. This is in addition to regular deep cleaning. I probably would not clean daily if I had no pets.
If I ever have a multi-story house, the dogs will only be allowed on the main level, and that’s entirely to contain the pet-related cleaning. My friends think I’m the most terrible person ever for having anything off-limits to my beloved animals, but I promise you, it doesn’t hurt the dog’s feelings to have boundaries!
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