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Realistic strategies for keeping your house clean with a dog and toddlers. Proven tips from Dog Meets Baby trainer Emme.
By Emme, Dog Meets Baby Trainer
Hi, I'm Emme! I'm a work-from-home mom with two toddlers and a young, energetic dog. Let's be real - my house is far from picture-perfect. But it's clean enough to feel peaceful, functional, and comfortable for the chaos of everyday life.
If you're wondering how to keep a house clean with a dog and toddlers, you're in the right place. Below, you'll find how I actually take care of my home in a manageable and guilt-free way, because we all deserve to live in a clean space. But some days, toddlers be toddlering (dog included), and there's room for that in my life too.
1. Weekly Cleaning Schedule = Mental Load Relief
Instead of stressing over what needs cleaning and when, I created a weekly rotation of household tasks. I started by jotting down all the cleaning tasks that regularly take place over the course of a week, then listed them in an order that makes sense, keeping functionality and ease in mind.
Next, I threw in repeats as needed, like vacuuming additional times per week depending on my dog's shedding, guest visits, or impactful weather (anyone else dread the rainy season when their entryways get incredibly muddy??).
On Monday, I start at the top of my list and work my way down. Tuesday, I pick up where Monday left off. Uh-oh, Wednesday has some curveballs, so I don't get dedicated cleaning time and only complete 1 or 2 tasks randomly. Thursday, I pick up right where I left off. And on and on…….
Mapping out specific tasks to clean each day has done wonders for eliminating some of the mental load. This house cleaning schedule helps me ensure I'm cleaning everything regularly, even if I don't get to something one day, because I know it'll just be on the line-up for the next day.
2. Time Chunking: The Hack That Changed My Cleaning Routine
I picked this up from a social media scroll, and it's been a game-changer.
Time chunking is where you break your available time into focused sections. For example, I typically dedicate 20-30 minutes to cleaning each day, so my chunking might look like this for a toddler nap:
Setting a timer helps me stay focused and avoid getting distracted by messes in other rooms or side tasks. It has honestly made my day feel more structured and more relaxed. This cleaning routine for busy moms works because it's flexible. I end up doing a little bit each day, without letting any one task pile up and become completely overwhelming.
3. Best House Cleaning Tools I Actually Love Using
If a cleaning tool isn't user-friendly, I'm not going to reach for it often. I look for features like:
My Current Favorite Home Cleaning Tools:
Check out our blog post on managing dog hair.
4. Washable Furniture > Special Care
One of the smartest changes we've made is switching to pet-friendly furniture and home items:
We've specifically looked for home items that blend easy care with product quality, so they're not only long-lasting and durable but also easy to clean when the mess of dog(s) and kid(s) inevitably happens.
5. Multi-Purpose Cleaners = Fewer Bottles, Less Stress
I've narrowed our cleaner stash down to a few tried-and-true multi-purpose, pet-friendly cleaning products that can clean or sanitize almost all surfaces around my home:
6. Utilizing Sleeping Hours (Instead of the Weekend)
I like using weeknights or nap times for deeper cleaning or more occasional tasks, so our weekends stay more relaxed. This includes:
Some other nighttime habits I've seen others implement that sound interesting - throwing on a TV show or movie while folding laundry or practicing a "nighttime close" where you reset the house to how you'd like it prepared for the next day.
7. Cleaning With the Kids Around
It's important to me that my kids see what goes into maintaining a home, plus they actually love helping!
Here's what they do (with toddler-sized tools or supervision):
*For some dogs, extra precaution may need to be taken with children around their toys for safety reasons. Please have a plan for what's safest for your family in this instance.
We've also put a lot of effort into independent play - a skill that's paying off. But when needed, I'm not above some screen time while I speed-clean.
Check out our Free Toddlers and Dogs Guide for tips to help everyone coexist peacefully.
Keeping a house clean with dogs and toddlers is no small feat. And no one system works for everyone, or every season. You might thrive on cleaning checklists, apps, minimalist routines — or just hiring help. Go with what works for you.
And remember: what your routine looks like today will evolve. Your kids grow. Your dog's needs change. And your systems will grow with you.
Here's to homes that are lived-in, loved, and just clean enough to keep our sanity.
Have your own clean-with-kids hacks? I'd love to hear them — let's share the wisdom.
My beloved dog Lola, who passed away in 2025, was a shedder. My other dog, Hela, doesn’t shed, but she’s a magnet for everything—twigs, sand, mud, foxtails… you name it. Add elementary school children in a forest school, many playdates, living close to the beach, and many visiting dogs, and keeping a mostly clean home can be a challenge! Here’s how I manage it without losing my mind:
1. Robot Vacuums Are Lifesavers
We have two Eufy robot vacuums. They’re basic compared to the high-end models, but durable, low-profile (so they don’t get stuck under furniture), quiet, and excellent at collecting dog hair.
2. Muddy Mats for Mess Management
Thanks to a recommendation from a dog-walker friend, we have two Muddy Mats, one by the door and one in the car. They are a game-changer:
3. MudBuster for Muddy Paws
Hela’s muddy paws are no match for the MudBuster. We give her a few treats while washing her paws, then dry them on a towel. The water always comes out dirtier than you’d expect!
4. Hand Vacuum: Quick and Convenient
I keep a hand vacuum in the kitchen, always charged, so it’s easy for anyone to grab when crumbs or dirt appear - perfect for the kitchen and the car. My hand vacuum cleaner has been unavailable for a while, but you can pick up a similar one here.
5. Dry/Wet Vacuum + Broom and Dustpan Set
We have a dry/wet vacuum that’s honestly a joy to use, it’s super easy to maneuver. It is perfect for the toddler phase, especially with all the random wet messes that end up on the floor. Between that, the Eufys, and our hand vacuum, we’re pretty much set. I use it about once a week. For everyday sweeping, this broom and dustpan set is perfect.
6. Dyson Stick Vacuums
My husband is a creature of habit and him and his Dyson are inseparable. He refuses to use any other vacuum cleaner. He’s had it for years, had to replace a few parts but the overall quality is amazing.The model we have is no longer available, but this is the newer version of it. If Dyson is in your budget, my husband highly recommends it.
7. Brushes for Hair Control
When Lola was with us, I used several brushes to manage shedding. My favorites:
For more products and tactics on dealing with dog hair (especially with a baby), check out this blog post:
1. Shark Rotator Pet Vacuum | 2. Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner | 3. Force of Nature | 4. Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap | 5. Shark handheld vacuum | 6. Folex Stain Remover Spray | 7. Microfiber Cloth Set | 8. Washable dog bed covers
1. Eufy Robotic Vacuum | 2. Pet Hair Removal Tool | 3. Uproot Cleaner Pro Pet Hair Removal Tool | 4. Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum | 5. Bissell Crosswave Wet Dry Vacuum | 6. Muddy Mat | 7. Fish Silicone Brush | 8. MudBuster
Online resources to help your baby and dog get along—right from the start and as they grow up together.
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