Life with Two Dogs: 7 Tips for Keeping the Home Tidy
It’s no secret that I love my dogs. We have two rescues - both girls - and they are literally my children. Luna is our first fur baby who we adopted as a puppy in 2017 while living in NYC. We adopted Clover this year in Austin right before everything shut down, and she was already about one year old.
Life has definitely changed since getting Clover. She’s the sweetest little thing, but I’ll be honest… she’s a true handful. There have been some really challenging moments for us. While she’s young and still needs a lot of training (for her own safety and our own sanity), we couldn’t imagine not having her in our lives now that she’s here. Plus, Luna really loves Clover. It took a few months for Luna to adjust, but seeing them play and snuggle up on the couch together just makes my heart want to burst.
While having two dogs has made our life so much fuller, it has also made our home that much messier! I’m no stranger to the muddy paw prints and dog toys scattered throughout the house, but with an extra dog in the home it’s just… more. Plus, Clover blows out her coat in the spring and it’s an INSANE amount of hair! It was almost comical… when I brushed her, I swear there could be another dog hiding in there.
So, today I’m sharing tips for keeping up with the doggy messes for a tidier home.
*In partnership with Target (links to featured bedding below!)
1. Invest in a cordless pet vacuum.
You can’t go wrong with Shark or Dyson. It will be your best friend. You can actually find a lot of refurbished ones online for a fraction of the cost. I personally never thought I’d be so enthusiastic about a vacuum, but I use it literally every day (sometimes more), and since it’s cordless it makes it easy for me to move freely around the house. I have the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Vac, and it’s been wonderful for us over the years.
2. Change the sheets more frequently
I know, I know… they tell you not to let dogs sleep with you. I honestly have zero boundaries with that, because to me, the best part of having dogs is cuddling with them. It’s truly a dream having two dogs snuggled up around me at night. However, that means more fur and more drool. For sanity, I’ve let go of trying to keep up with white bedding and now have a few darker sets we rotate between.
I freakin’ love that Target now offers Casaluna products, because it’s absolutely beautiful bedding at such an accessible price point. Our linen sheets and duvet set are labeled Made in Green by OEKO-TEX® & STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified. This means the fabrics have been tested for harmful substances, it’s manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities, as well as safe and socially responsible workplaces. Read more about this traceable supply chain here.
3. Brush weekly - and more during shedding season
This helps so much. We have a Furminator, which someone gave to us. Random story, but when we lived in Brooklyn, we were walking Luna and this guy drives by and says “hey, do you want this?” and tosses it to us out the window. It was a brand new Furminator still in its packaging. It was the best random free thing we’ve ever received for our dogs. That’s New York in a nutshell for ya.
4. Be diligent about wiping down counters
In the springtime when Clover is shedding her coat, you’ll find wispy black dog hairs pretty much floating in the air. Unfortunately, the little “wispies” always seem to make its way onto our tables and counters. I’d personally rather find a dog hair in my food than a human hair, but maybe that’s just me. In any case, I definitely would feel a bit embarrassed if I had a friend over and they found dog hair on their plate… so i’m very diligent about keeping the kitchen tidy and free from dog hair - especially while cooking.
5. Change HVAC filters / Get an air purifier
In addition to regular vacuuming and wiping off counters, we make sure to change our HVAC filters every 60 days. During Clover’s shedding season (March-May), we change it every 30-40 days just because there is so much hair and pet dander in the air. If anyone has recommendations for a reusable HVAC filter that truly works, please let a gal know.
Beyond changing the HVAC, we run an air purifier in our bedroom at night. Air purifiers can be super pricy, but here’s a link to do some research on what’s out there if you’re in the market for one!
6. Use bins & baskets
Bins and baskets are THE key to keeping things organized. I have a bin where I store all the dog toys, as well as a cloth bin in our entryway where I store the leashes and collars. The point of using bins and baskets is to give like-minded things a home and to start building new habits where you can do a quick tidy up at the end of each day without a second thought.
7. Sprinkle baking soda on rug + cloth couch
I’m happy to report that our home doesn’t smell “like dog” - my mom would tell me the truth and she says our home smells pretty fresh. So, I do believe all of the above tips I’ve shared above are working very well for us! However, one final tip I’d like to share is the glorious baking soda tip. About twice a year, I like to sprinkle baking soda mixed with some lemon essential oils onto our rugs and our fabric couch. I let it sit overnight and then I vacuum it up in the morning! It’s a simple, natural, and inexpensive way to keep things feelin’ fresh.
Custom artwork by Jessi Bordi of @hazelandgraceillustrations
I feel so grateful that I get to share my life with Andrew, Luna, and Clover. They bring us both so much happiness and help remind me to break away from the screen and live more in the moment. Our girls have both come so far, and together… they make my heart so darn happy. I'm so glad that life brought us all together, and I couldn’t image it any other way.
If you have any other questions about dog mom life, feel free to leave ‘em in the comments below!