MNer's With Dogs, Talk To Me About Cleaning Routines...

[picklypopcorn]

I'm very new to this housekeeping malarkey (my house is currently a shit tip) and I'm trying desperately to get things sorted and get myself in a routine so it can't get like this again. I work a 10 hour working day so have about 4 hours in the evening, 1 of which is used for dog walking. I don't have kids but I do have 2 hounds who love mud and cover my house in dog hair. There is more hair on my living room rug than there is on my dogs. I'd like to dedicate another one of these hours to cleaning my house regularly but have no idea where to start (please don't flame me, I need your help )

I have a 2 bed semi:
Kitchen - vinyl floor
Downstairs bathroom with shower, WC and sink - tile floor
living room - laminate floor & big rug
hallway & stairs - carpet
master bedroom - carpet
Large ensuite with bath, WC and sink - vinyl floor
bedroom 2 - vinyl floor
Cellar (man den, DP's job! )

How would you go about setting a weekly routine for this?

[MrsSpecter]

I would hire a cleaner!

[picklypopcorn]

Haha alas money is an issue! My mum had a cleaner when I was a kid, I blame her for my inability to clean!

[MrsSpecter]

ah ok, so it'll have to be your own elbow grease then.

Is it possible to restrict the dogs to only certain rooms? I have a golden retriever and he is only allowed in the kitchen (which is huge and also serves as our living room so he isnt on his own) it makes a huge difference to hair and muck in the rest of the house.

[picklypopcorn]

Dogs are only allowed downstairs thank god, but the hair seems able to bloody teleport all over the house :(

[MadSprocker]

Do you have to have a big rug in the living room? Could you have a couple of smaller rugs or no rugs at all?

[picklypopcorn]

No rug at all would be an option but the floor looks really bare without one if that makes sense?

[MadSprocker]

Yes it does.

[BeBopTalulah]

Bassetts! Beautiful

After much lint rolling/duck taping/dog hoovering I went to the vet and asked if there was anything I could do to stop mine shedding (semi long haired and shedding throughout the year). I've started an oil supplement called Yumega, which is supposed to condition their coat and reduce shedding. I do think it's working, as I have noticed far fewer dust bunnies.

Sorry, no actual cleaning advice...

[IorekByrnisonsArmour]

Lovely dogs

I have 2 and the best thing I've found is stop the hair getting in.

So the dogs are brushed after their morning walk. This is done outside. And then every other day they are groomed with a scary tool thingy.

Vacuum, or if you have a steam mop, attach one of the microfibre head things over the bristles of a broom and sweep the area daily.

It makes a huge difference.

[ExcuseMyEyebrows]

Sorry, can't give any advice as I don't have a dog yet but I'm very jealous of your lovely pair

They're gorgeous doggies. I imagine they speak to each other in a vair posh accent 🐕🐕

[Dogwalks2]

As you can guess from my name I've 2 dogs rough long coated, I brush them once a week but we invested In a robotic Hoover, worth every penny🏆

[mogmum]

Just to say your dogs are beautiful. I've got 2 beagles and I find that although it is a pain I hoover daily in the areas where they spend most time and mop the floor twice a week which helps

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

Hard floors is my recommendation...the dust bunnies gather up in the corners for company and its much easier to sook them up the hoover

And then it's just damp mopping.

[scrivette]

I have a black and white Bassett Hound (how do you cope with two?!) and need to vacuum every day (although I don't!) to keep on top of the hair.

As he can get a bit stinky I open the windows as much as possible.

[picklypopcorn]

Haha it's actually easier with 2, they entertain each other!

[EmNetta]

Lovely hounds - I had two beagles -but those short hairs dig themselves into every fabric. I think the best idea is plenty of dog-brushing, yes, done outside when possible, as this not only keeps house cleaner, it doesn't smell either. Mine were only bathed if they'd been rolling in stuff, as regular brushing kept their coats clean too.

[willfuckformichilenstarfood]

I have 1 dog, everyday we do a quick Hoover with the cordless vacuum but once a week I do a goooooood Hoover with the Henry. Also Hoover sofas etc every other day!
Wash dog beds weekly (get sooooo smelly)
Wash dog bowls after every meal
Mop floors 3 times a week (I have a steam mop. Takes minutes!
Dust surfaces twice weekly!
Once it's up to spec I spend less than half hour a day cleaning and an hour at the weekends. We have a 2 bedroom too X

[mortgagefreesoon5]

I also have a dog, she is only allowed downstairs, we live in a two up two down bedroom terrace and I have two under 3, so space is at premium! I try to keep the clutter to a minimum ( I get a bag from time to time and put 30 things to charity), makes cleaning easy, open windows everyday, I ve got a good rug at the front and back of the house that collects all sorts, we have wood floor, i love accent rugs but they were not practical for us, and no shoes are allowed indoors , apart of clogs downstairs,
I use a dry mop with a cleaner downstairs, it only takes me 10 min everyday and I find that a lot of the dirt keeps down this way.
I wash dog bed every week and brush the dog in the garden.
It's all about making little changes to get where you want to be