Hello, friends…I hope you had a great weekend!
We had a nice weekend as we celebrated my little sister’s 26th birthday; which is hard to believe. We also had a little time to knock off a couple of items on our to-do list, including taking Brody to the groomers. It’s usually around this time of year that he starts to shed all of his winter undercoat and keeping the floors and furniture hair free takes a little more effort. Which brings me to today’s post…
Brody is family and a huge part of our lives. He has free reign of the house which often leads to one of the most asked questions I receive, which is ‘how do you keep your furniture looking clean and white with kids….and a dog?!’
Many believe it’s an impossible combination and there have been many debates on the matter, but let me debunk the myth and say you can absolutely have white furniture with kids and/or a dog.
Admittedly, it does take more time and effort to keep the furniture clean and white, but it’s a ‘sacrifice’ I’m willing to make as being surrounded with light and bright furniture brings me joy. I also believe that having white slipped furniture is more hygienic as you will notice any mark and tend to wash it more often.
Today I wanted to share some of my favourite tools and ways in which I keep my furniture clean.
Brody is a super active dog who constantly wants to be outside. He has a little bell that hangs from the door knob that he ‘rings’ whenever he wants to go outside (which at times, seems like every 5 minutes) and when he comes back in, he knows to stay on the door mat until we wipe/clean/dry his paws. Rainy days are the worst as he not only gets wet, but muddy, but for the most part, this isn’t a big deal.
Tip 1 – Vacuum Often (daily or every other day)
If left for long periods of time, dust build up will turn into dirt and grime on the areas that come into contact with skin, such as the arms of couches and seat cushions. These dust particles can get pushed into the fibers every time someone sits or uses the furniture, eventually taking the appearance of a stain.
Practicing regular vacuuming of your furniture as part of your cleaning routine will minimize all of those loose particles of dust from settling into the fabric. This is especially helpful when you have furry babies that like to jump onto the furniture, but regular vacuuming of your furniture will make it appear brighter and keep pet hair from penetrating the fabric.
When the kind folks at Best Buy Canada asked if I wanted to give the Dyson Cordless Stick Vacuum a try, I immediately said yes, as we’ve had a Dyson for a while and I stand behind their quality. Ordering from Best Buy is also so easy but make sure you stay tuned for a great surprise at the end of this post.
You can see from the photos above how efficiently it removes Brody’s hair. I am also willing to say that vacuuming the furniture every other day prolongs the time in between washing.
Another great aspect of the Dyson Cordless Stick Vacuum is its convenience as it can go from a floor vacuum to a handheld vacuum in seconds. It’s also aesthetically appealing and compact so I keep it tucked in a little corner in the kitchen so it’s always handy. It comes with several attachments and what I love the most is that it’s cordless.
Tip 2 – Spot Clean Stains as Soon as they Occur
It’s important to spot clean a stain as soon as possible, ensuring you blot a spot rather than scrub as scrubbing too harshly can make the weave of the fabric become loose. Work in a circular motion and use a cotton rag, and here’s a little secret – use reverse osmosis water to treat any common stains. Just place some water onto a clean cotton rag and rub it around the stains. Carbonated water also works great to loosen the particles so they’re easier to remove. For heavier stains such as wine, tomato sauce or lipstick, you may need to use a fabric cleaner and the entire surface may need to be cleaned as opposed to the single spot where the stain occurred.
Tip 3 – Wash Every 3-4 Weeks
You would think that because my kids are older, they would know better, but teens seem to revert back to toddlerhood and sometimes worse because they’re constantly eating and they don’t necessarily adhere to the ‘rules’. But one of the rules is to not eat anything on the couch that might stain, such as pasta, strawberries etc. But like I said, they don’t always listen to the rules and stains do happen and that’s where slipped cover sofas come in handy because I can simply treat the spot and throw them in the wash.
Here is another trick that has worked wonders for me: after washing your covers, throw them in the dryer but dry them 15-20 mins at a time, checking to see their dampness and take them out right before they are completely dry. This avoids shrinking and the slip covers go back onto the cushions super easy.
Tip 4 – Rotate your Cushions
As mentioned previously, dust build up will turn into dirt and grime on the areas that come into contact with skin and so I tend to rotate the cushions regularly. Not only does this prevent them from sagging in one given area but it’s also a quick panic tip if you have unexpected guests. haha.
And there you have it – some easy ways to keep your furniture looking clean that as I said, does require a little extra effort, but nothing too strenuous.
I realize this might not be for everyone and each family needs to decide what is best for their own lifestyle. But I will tell you something that will be useful for all homes and that is a brand new Dyson Cordless Vacuum, which my friends at Best Buy Canada have offered for one of my amazing readers to potentially win. Just follow the simple rafflecopter instructions and I will pick a winner next week!
Please note: Giveaway is open to Canadian residents only.
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I can’t wait to hear your own personal tips on keeping furniture clean.
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.
much love,
Lucy
What a cute dog and family member! Thanks for the tips.
Nancy
This vacuum looks amazing
I have been eyeimg it for my new travel.trailer
I have a dog and a cat that make it impossible to keep my furniture clean all the time. However, I totally agree with spot cleaning the minute something is spilled. I’ve avoided long-term stains by keeping the spot wet, not allowing it to set, before it’s cleaned. Aside from that, my vacuum is a monster, and really difficult to manoeuvre on furniture and higher surfaces, so the Dyson would be Godsend.
I started doing the FlyLady routines to try and stay on top of everything. Just doing a bit every day and bigger cleans once in awhile seems to work.
Thanks for your great tips. Where did you get your wonderful slip covers?
As a fur momma of a rowdy German shepherd puppy, I understand! Your tips are great! We vacuum at least twice a day, but it’s worth it having our sweet big guy in our lives!
As a fur momma of a rowdy German shepherd puppy, I understand! Your tips are great! We vacuum at least twice a day, but it’s worth it having our sweet big guy in our lives!
We got a cover from bed bath and beyond. It’s easy to put on and washes up really well. I suggest looking there!
I have the same sofa, and a similar big muddy dog! Thank goodness for being able to throw the slipcovers in the wash! Love the other tips as well 🙂
So THATS the trick! Thank you for sharing and thank you for hosting this great giveaway!
I try and keep the dust and dirt down by asking everyone to please take their shoes off as they enter our home. We live in a rural area with little cement so dirt and mud are a constant. By taking our shoes off before walking around the house it eliminates most of the dirt and mud. Great post Lucy!
Double bonus today – reading your inspiring blog and the chance of winning a Dyson! Thanks!
Johanna
Dyson products seem amazing. Would love to try out the cordless vacuum stick.
I cover my couch with a throw to keep it cleaner.
The cordless Dyson looks like a great idea!
This looks like a GREAT vacuum
I love your home! So bright and cheerful. I also own a white chair and a Dyson vac looks like a great way to keep it looking like new!
I also love the look of white, Lucy, and have been thinking of investigating an easier way of keeping on top of the dirt and dust. I find it too difficult (and heavy!) to keep lugging out the cannister vacuum! Even if I don’t win, I’m going to check out this model. Thanks also for your painting demos!
I’ve wanted one of these for quite some time. They look so quick and handy! Miss our dog so much, but I don’t miss the hair!
To keep furniture clean, eat in the kitchen!
omgosh with 4 kids AND OCD 🙂 , this vacuum would be amazing! honestly the only tip I have is to constantly stay on top of it. Vacuuming constantly is a must with the in and outs of so many kids and such a busy lifestyle.
Your blog always makes me smile and cheerful. Not only because its good tips but also because it’s something for “me”. Not about sports, bills or kid parenting tips…someday I’ll have a family room that looks like yours 🙂
My tip to keep furniture clean is to not eat on the furniture. This prevents spills and crumbs. Keeping the pets off would help too but they aren’t having any of that! By the way, my instagram name is @edmontonjb (no space to put it in the rafflecopter form)
Thank you for your great tips! I Would like to Try it.
Thanks for the great tips!
Brody is so adorable.
I love the look of your white furniture and appreciate the tips. My Mom and sister both have a Dyson and live theirs. Thanks for giving us a chance to own one as well!
What a great giveaway. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips! We have 2 cats so I can totally relate!
This is exactly what I need to help keep my slipcovers clean between washings! Awesome giveaway! Love your blog.
No saucy meals around the furniture.
I vacuum my furniture to keep it clean.
Thanks, Lucy…finally a contest for us Candians. Lol. Where did you get your slip overs?
Sorry I didn’t check my typing…Canadians.
My tip for keeping furniture clean is never let your kids touch anything. Just kidding, I don’t really know any good ways to keep them clean when you have messy toddlers.
You’re living room looks so nice. I like the white couch. We’ve never had a white couch and we used to have a cat and a dog. We got a new couch and its brown. My mom has bad knees so she couldn’t go shopping for long to look for a new couch and she says she doesn’t like the new couch she picked out. She picked out the wall to wall carpeting from a swatch from Empire Today and she says she hates it too. Sometimes I think my mom is not happy with a lot of things lately and it’s not because my dad passed away because she was saying this before he died. I think she needs to get more sleep at night. Say HI to Brody for me. He’s such cutie!
I don’t live in Canada but I love this vacuum cleaner. It looks like it works so well in their TV commercials. I’m moving to Canada for a week so I can win this1 LOL
Thank you for sharing the Dyson give away! I’ve been wanting one of these!
No white furniture but kids and a cat! Thanks!
We have 2 dogs and 2 long haired cats. I keep a couple of cleaning gadgets made for picking up pet hair in our family room where the cats like to snuggle with us on the sofa. Every day I clean the cat hair off the upholstery. Keeping my tools right there makes it easier to keep up with it.
We have 2 dogs who also love running around outside. Having a cordless Dyson would make cleaning up after them way easier.
Hi Lucy! My fav tip is covering up my white slip covers with a blanket when I’m too lazy to clean my dogs feet. 😉 Thanks for the giveaway opportunity – and I LOVE you decor/style. Best, Denise xo
Having a Dyson would be a blast … and cordless to boot … how amazing would that be !!!!
Thanking you in advance for my win … Enjoy the SONshine.
Jayne
I live in the desert so as soon as I dust or vacuum, it populates overnight (frustrating). I would love to have a Dyson cordless vacuum! Thanks.
We love our large dog and white slipcovered sofa… easy to wash up!
Great and timely post, as we have just welcomed a Puppy into our Household ( which includes an adult dog and three cats)! Your living room always looks great…
I think I must have the world’s hairiest dogs – a 100 pound doberman and a little mixed breed. They, too, are family members and are always on the sofas. I have to vacuum every day to keep them clean. I have the Dyson animal but I am seriously considering the cordless one like you have.
My tip is to sprinkle baking soda & let sit overnight to remove the build-up of household odors in the upholstery, then vacuum the next day using the brush attachment (hopefully the one on your new Dyson V6 Cordless Stick Vacuum!)
My tips are to keep food, drinks, and kids away from white furniture! Lol luckily I don’t have any so I don’t know of any good cleaning tips!
Your dog is precious. I love the look of a white lounge but with 4 kids and a dog that loves to hop up whenever a storm approaches, that was out of the question….maybe when they all grow up and leave the house I can have my dream white lounge.
My tip to keeping my lounge clean to not let the kids eat or drink on or near the lounge lol.
I love white furniture and I love Dyson products. Sounds like it’s a winning combo! Thanks for the tips…..extremely helpful!
I cut and sewed a drop cloth and put it on my couch. When it gets dirty I throw it in the wash..my couch looks brand new
We don’t let our dog on the couch since he sheds so much!
I like to vacuum and dust the furniture every few days. I also wipe down or spot treat as needed.
Clean often!
Just wanted to say I enjoy your blog, great tips. I’m entering to win the Dyson Vacuum, but I have to laugh because I NEVER win anything!
Susan
Thanks for the great tips on living with a dog and white furniture! I have a very large (118 lb) Golden Retriever who loves the sofa best and I’m always concerned about dirt. Would seriously love to have a Dyson to help deal with his fur! Always am excited to read your latest blog offering Lucy – you’re a ray of sunshine with all your beautiful paintings and your lovely home!
Are you sitting down? 😉 We have 3 American Cocker Spaniels, and 2 cats…seriously. If they have an accident or have an upset…I will saturate the area with white vinegar, than liberally sprinkle over with baking soda,allow to dry than vacuum. I do vacuum the sofas daily and thoroughly vacuum weekly, by doing the arms, back, than flipping and rotating the cushions. I work full time as a pharmacy assistant and I have fibromyalgia , so there are many days now that I cannot lift my Hoover to do my preferred cleaning. I have been dreaming of purchasing a robotic vac for the floors, and the Dyson stick vac for everything. I have had to cut my hours at work for my Lydocaine injections and there are many missed days of work due to my illness…so the win of the vac would be AMAZING. ( I am sooo pumped that this awesome giveaway, is Canadian!!!!!! ) You are the best!
This is such an awesome giveaway! I definitely understand first hand how to keep the pet hair at bay with white furniture/bedding! I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things about Dyson and I would love to own one to really deep clean and get rid of Zoë’s hair! Haha!
I try to tidy each day after supper. It makes housework so much easier. I do have 4 dogs so there is always hair to clean up!
I’ve been thinking about getting a slipcovered sofa. After reading your tips, I think it just may be the way to go. Thanks for the tips and a chance to win. I sweep everyday and lug out the central vac when I need to. Would I ever love a Dyson.
Wipe it down or vacuum every week.
Ooh anything to tackle dog hair while having a crawling baby at home is amazing!! Love your home! Love Dyson!
Finally a giveaway just for us Canadian. Thank you
With a yellow lab and a border collie this vacuum would be awesome!
I’ve used Scotchgard on my couch and works not too bad on spills.
Great tips!
Our toddler leaves crumbs wherever she goes so it is hard to keep on top of the mess when I have to lug my heavy vacuum up the stairs. We will be moving into our new home in September and have a new cleaning closet with an outlet – this would be perfect
WHITE furniture! What a dream! So glad you were brave enough to try it, and show us how attainable it is! We would love the dyson !
I don’t have a pet, but I DO have four kids! A good vacuum makes all the difference!
Love your blog and would love to try this vacuum!
These are such great tips! This vacuum would DEFINITELY help with the endless cat hair build up in my house from our 3 cats!!
I looooove my Dyson stick! It’s so handy for quick clean ups and allllll the dog hair! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
Oh and my favourite cleaning tip is actually preventative… pay the extra $$ to get your furniture sprayed or treated with stain repellant!! I can’t tell you how many times my suede couch has been saved because it was treated!
Buy slipcovered furniture! You’ll never regret it. Just spit wash when needed and yearly wash in the machine keeps them looking brand new!
I love it when you feature your dog on instagram and your blog posts. I think he is the cutest and always puts a smile on my face.
The Dyson Cordless Vacuum cleaner does look exquisite. Lovely. Your pet is really cute. He looks like he is enjoying it. Lol. Really nice home residence by the way.
Thanks for sharing this Information, glad to know about this vacuum, really very useful and i like these photographs most.
Hi Lucy,
I just found your website today and am loving your clean style. I was wondering if you would share where you purchase your slipcovered furniture from? Thanking you in advance for any information. I also have the Dyson and love it.
Hi Barbara, thank you for your email.
These are inexpensive IKEA couches and what I love about that is that if the slipcovers get really dingy, I can buy new ones for very little.
Thanks again so much for stopping by and chat soon.
Lu
I absolutely love your style! Can you please tell me the make of your adorable white slip covered sofa?
Thanks!
Hi Lucy!
I’m really surprised to read your article. An informative article that is starting with a real story and nicely closed. It is really a great and user-friendly blog. Your blog helps me a lot.
Love to see you again with more articles.
Thanks for sharing.
Much obliged for these extraordinary tips! I frequently talk about the significant of normal vacuuming to handle dust parasites (a typical indoor allergen and asthma trigger), so it’s extraordinary to get a few hints for appropriate use and upkeep.Mark Johnson
Great giveaway reading. No doubt, dyson cordless vacuum is really working so amazing when it comes to clean carpet. Thank you for sharing this giveaway.
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I am live in the desert so as soon as I dust or vacuum, it populates overnight (frustrating). I would love to have a Dyson cordless vacuum! Thanks.
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