How Do I keep my house clean with my dog that sheds a lot?
How to maintain an aesthetic home that is pet-friendly
“How do you keep your house so clean with a dog?!” If only I could monetize that question and bottle it, I would be a billionaire.
The simple answer:
Cleaning, more cleaning, and finally cleaning!
Let’s be clear, like most things, dog hair is manageable if you establish some type of system or rather put a system in place that you will adhere to.
I for one know that if I do not stay on my cleaning schedule well of course all things wouuld fall apart around here.
The good news is that with a little extra effort (not much, I promise) your house could absolutely look and smell like no one lives there!
I promise you that you are more than capable of keeping your house aesthetic and clean, even with a dog that sheds a lot!
If you live with a dog that sheds… you already know.
The fur shows up everywhere.
On the floors, the couch, the bed, that one black sweater we swore we wouldn’t wear around the house. It floats through the air in the afternoon light and somehow finds its way into rooms your dog doesn’t even use.
And yet — we wouldn’t change a thing.
We love our dogs. We want them on the furniture. We want them sprawled across the rug, napping in the sun, following us from room to room. What we don’t want is a house that constantly feels dusty, smells off, or looks like we’re barely keeping up.
The truth is, keeping a clean home with a dog that sheds a lot isn’t about fighting the shedding. It’s about building a rhythm that works with it.
And it all starts with one habit most people underestimate.
Daily Vacuuming Is the Foundation of a Clean Dog-Friendly Home
If there’s one thing that makes the biggest difference — it’s vacuuming daily.
Not weekly.
Not “when we have time.”
Daily.
Dogs live low to the ground. Their fur, dander, and everything they track in settles into rugs, runners, and carpets almost immediately. Once it sits, it doesn’t just look messy — it starts to hold odor.
Daily vacuuming removes:
Loose fur before it embeds
Dander before it circulates
Dirt before it breaks down
Moisture before it creates odor
When we vacuum every day, the house never reaches the point of feeling overwhelming. It’s a light reset, not a full clean.
And here’s the secret — when we do it consistently, it only takes a few minutes.
This one habit alone keeps shedding manageable and prevents that “dog house” smell from ever setting in.
If Your Home Smells Off, It’s Not the Fur — It’s the Bacteria
This is where things click for most people.
Shedding doesn’t actually cause odor.
Bacteria does.
Fur simply carries what creates odor:
Skin oils
Saliva
Outdoor debris
Moisture from paws
When those elements sit in soft surfaces, bacteria feed on them — and that’s when smells appear.
This is why lighting a candle doesn’t solve the problem. It covers it for a moment, but the source is still there.
To truly keep a clean home with a dog that sheds a lot, we have to address what’s happening at a microscopic level — safely.
The Pet-Safe Cleaning Solution We Swear By
One of the most effective tools in a dog-friendly home is hypochlorous acid.
It sounds clinical, but it’s actually one of the gentlest cleaning agents available — and it’s something your body already produces naturally to fight bacteria.
When used in cleaning, hypochlorous acid:
Kills odor-causing bacteria
Does not mask smells
Leaves no harmful residue
Is safe for pets and soft surfaces
This makes it ideal for homes with shedding dogs where we need frequent, gentle resets — not harsh chemicals.
How We Use Hypochlorous Acid at Home
You can either purchase a pet-safe hypochlorous acid spray or use a small generator that creates it from water and salt.
We use it as a maintenance spray, not a deep cleaner.
Focus on:
High-traffic dog areas
Dog beds and crate mats
Rugs and runners
Couch arms and cushions
Entryways
A light mist is all it takes. Let it air dry.
Because it kills bacteria on contact, odors don’t come back later in the day — which is the biggest difference we noticed after adding this step.
High-Traffic Areas Need Gentle, Frequent Care
Every home has certain spots that collect more fur, oils, and residue than others.
The corner of the living room where your dog naps.
The hallway they run through multiple times a day.
The spot by the door where paws land first.
Instead of deep cleaning constantly, we rotate:
Daily vacuuming
Regular misting with hypochlorous acid
Occasional laundering of soft items
This keeps shedding from ever feeling out of control.
Washable Slipcovers Are a Non-Negotiable
Soft surfaces hold onto fur and odor longer than anything else.
Couches.
Beds.
Daybeds.
Reading chairs.
Rather than fighting it, we design around it.
Washable slipcovers and flat sheets layered over furniture allow us to:
Wash regularly
Protect upholstery
Remove odor completely
Keep the home looking intentional
We keep extra covers on hand so swapping them out is easy — no stress, no scrambling.
Clean fabric changes everything.
Flat Sheets: The Simplest Hack for Pet-Loving Homes
Flat sheets are one of the easiest ways to keep shedding under control.
Layer them over:
Sofas
Beds
Favorite dog lounging spots
They’re easy to wash, easy to replace, and they add to that cozy, relaxed look we love.
This one small adjustment saves hours of cleaning over time.
Wiping Down Surfaces Keeps Odors From Lingering
Even when surfaces look clean, they collect invisible residue.
Dog oils, dust, and dander settle on:
Coffee tables
Side tables
Baseboards
Window sills
Cabinet fronts
A quick wipe-down keeps the entire room feeling fresher — not just cleaner.
We don’t scrub. We reset.
A Clean Home With a Shedding Dog Is About Rhythm, Not Rules
Keeping your house clean with a dog that sheds a lot isn’t about perfection.
It’s about small habits done consistently:
Daily vacuuming
Understanding odor at the source
Pet-safe cleaning solutions
Washable textiles
Gentle surface resets
When we stop fighting shedding and start designing our homes around it, everything gets easier.
Our homes stay fresh.
Our spaces feel calm.
And our dogs get to live fully in the spaces we share with them.
That’s what a truly pet-friendly home looks like.
What do you do to minimize pet hair in your home? Comment below and let us know.
