Keeping your house clean and smelling good with dogs is not an easy task, but also not an impossible task either.
I'm a clean freak with 3 dogs so trust me when I say I know the struggle. Getting rid of that dog smell in your house can be quite the task, but just because you have a dog doesn't mean your house needs to smell like a dog.
These are my tops tips and tricks that I've learned over the years on keeping my house clean and smelling amazing while also having dogs.
1. Keep Up With Grooming
The best way to keeping your house smelling good is to keep your dog smelling good by having a regular grooming routine. Give them baths on a regular basis and use a shampoo and conditioner with a long-lasting scent. Our current favorite is from Petals and Tails and you can use our code CUTETHREE15 to get 15% off.
In between baths you can also use dog grooming wipes to help extend time between baths. Our favorite is from Floof and you can use our code CUTETHREE to get 15% off.
And if you really want to get fancy and keep your dog smelling good 24/7 you can use these hydrating mist sprays from Petals and Tails these are amazing for your dogs coat and keeps the floral smell lasting forever. Our code CUTETHREE15 will give you 15% off.
2. Shake Everything Off
The first thing I do when I start cleaning my home is I will take all of my dogs beds, blankets, comforters, rugs you name it if they've laid on it it goes outside to be shaken off. This helps get rid of the dog fur throughout the house and leaves it outside for good. Grooming and keeping up with dog fur is key to keeping your house smelling good.
3. Wash Their Beds, Toys, & Accessories
Dirt, dust, and even parasites can accumulate in a dirty dog bed so be sure to wash their beds on a regular basis. I will also wash everything I took outside to be shaken off with a dog-friendly laundry soap, and to help with the dog smell I also like to add a cap full of white vinegar along with a laundry booster.
I'll also include my dogs toys, collars, harnesses, etc. at least once a month. For accessories that can't go into the wash I'll mix a pet odor eliminator with some water and white vinegar to wipe it clean.
4. Invest In An Air Purifier
Investing in an air purifier is a game changer with the smell eliminating game. I got mine from Rabbit Air and I couldn't be happier with it. It has a six stage filtration system that is customized to pet allergies, is very low maintenance with an affordable filter replacement cost, covers up to 815 square feet, is whisper quiet, can be hung on the wall, and comes with a remote.
5. Dust & Vacuum Up Dog Fur
I like to use a handheld vacuum to vacuum up all the dog fur that is on the surfaces and small places throughout my house especially in the main living areas where the dogs spend most of their time. This also works great for cleaning your car and furniture.
For stubborn dog fur that won't come off the furniture I like to use a pet hair remover along with a tapeless lint roller.
Next I will dust all throughout the house, and then I will use a dog-friendly disinfectant and wipe down all the surfaces throughout the house like the countertops, entertainment stand, light switches, door knobs, and window seals. It's amazing how much dog fur can build up even in just one day.
6. Wash Your Dog's Food & Water Bowl
Your dogs bowls is probably the dirtiest thing in your house. I like to include my dogs food and water bowls in with my regular dishes, but on days when I'm in a rush or I don't need to run my dishwasher I'll let them soak with some dawn dish soap in the sink.
7. Wash Your Walls & Baseboards
My dogs love to rub up against my walls so every few weeks I will mix some water with some dawn dish soap and use a dish scrubber to wash the walls and baseboards in the main living areas of the house.
8. Clean Your Windows
Most dog owners know that dogs love to shove their heads against windows so I will touch up my windows with a glass cleaner once a week, and then I will fully clean my windows inside and outside every few months.
9. Let Your House Air Out
One of my favorite things to do while I'm cleaning is shutting my air off opening up all the windows and letting my house air out for 10-20 minutes.
I especially love doing this during fall or rainy days (wipe down your window seals afterwards) because it really helps my house feel less stuffy and clears out the energy in the house.
10. Vacuum & Deodorize Your Carpets
Cleaning and getting your dogs fur out of your carpet is one of the best things you can do to keep your house clean and smelling good with dogs.
I will vacuum the main living areas of my house every day and then I will use a carpet rake to deep clean my carpets and remove all the dog hair every few weeks to a month.
After I vacuum I will use a UV flashlight to check for any accidents around the house, and then I will use a carpet deodorizer to clean my carpets.
11. Use A Deodorizer
Once I finish cleaning I will use my holy grail KOE kennel odor eliminator. I use this EVERYWHERE. I will mix a tiny tiny amount in with some water in a spray bottle and spray it all throughout my house, wipe down my furniture with it, mix it with my mop cleaner, etc.
This stuff will last you forever and it does an amazing job at getting rid of any odor throughout your house.
12. Use A Pet-Friendly Air Freshener
The odor eliminator does a really good job at getting rid of the odor, but I want my house to smell really good so I like to use these plug hugs from Enviroscent.
They're non-toxic, affordable, eco-friendly, and they last forever.