Favorite Housecleaning Tips + Tools
People often ask how I keep our home and furniture clean with dogs, and recently many wanted to know how we managed to remove white paint that Finnegan spilled on our new dining room rug. A puppy brings lots of joy — and mess. I can’t promise a spotless home all the time (we don’t have professional help), but over years of raising dogs and children we’ve developed routines, tools, and practical guidelines that help us maintain a calm, welcoming house.
To start, here’s how we dealt with the white paint Finnegan knocked off the dining table. It happened late at night; my husband found the mess and knew the rug was new, so he sprang into action rather than wake me. He grabbed our carpet cleaner right away and treated the stain. Thankfully the cleaner worked so well you can’t even tell paint was ever there.
I believe in being prepared with simple, effective solutions for the kinds of messes that happen repeatedly in your home. Identify the problems that frustrate you most — pet accidents, tracked-in dirt, upholstery mishaps — and keep the right tools accessible so you can resolve them quickly. That approach keeps small issues from becoming overwhelming.
Cleaning and tidying are part of my daily rhythm, so tools must be convenient and simple to use. I don’t rely on every trendy gadget; a few dependable items cover most needs. Below are the cleaning tools we use regularly and why each is useful in our home.
Essential cleaning tools we use
- Robot vacuum
- Lightweight cordless vacuum
- Upright vacuum with hose
- Upholstery and carpet cleaner
- Broom and dust pan
- Multi-purpose cleaner (we use a gentle, plant-based option)
- Spot cleaner for tougher stains
If you want your home to feel clean, focus on the floors and keep surface clutter under control. Floors show dirt first, and clearing clutter immediately improves the sense of order in any room.
On our main floor a robot vacuum runs daily and picks up dust, crumbs, and pet hair without much effort. It has a HEPA filter and an automatic emptying base, and we schedule it to run when the house is quiet. For messes the robot can’t handle — corners, stairs, furniture — we keep an upright vacuum with a hose attachment that reaches everywhere.
For upholstery and rugs we rely on a portable carpet cleaner. It’s fast to pull out for spills and pet accidents and saves a lot of stress. Choosing furniture with durable, cleanable fabrics also makes maintenance easier.
We avoid harsh chemicals and use a mild, plant-based cleaner for most tasks, including in our upholstery machine when appropriate. Having the right cleaner on hand prevents stains from setting and keeps fabrics looking fresh.
A simple spot cleaner is my go-to for isolated spills. It’s not used every day, but when an unexpected stain happens, it often works wonders and spares you from a bigger cleaning session later.
For quick tidying, a good broom and dustpan are indispensable. We keep one set in the pantry and one upstairs so a fast sweep is always within reach. I sweep the stairs regularly — messy stairs bother me — and a quick pass makes the whole house feel cleaner, especially with sand or outdoor debris tracked in from walks.
Upstairs I store a lightweight cordless vacuum for fast touch-ups in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. It’s easy to grab and removes hair, dust, and grit quickly, which makes rooms look refreshed after just a minute or two of cleaning.
Caring for your home becomes more enjoyable when you build simple routines and keep a few reliable tools ready. Those small, consistent actions make it possible to live happily with pets and guests, and to recover quickly from the occasional mishap.