There’s nothing better than waking up next to a cute, fluffy face. That we can all agree on. But we can also agree that sharing the bed with your dog comes with a few sacrifices. You give up half the bed, you get kicked in the middle of the night, and their fur ends up EVERYWHERE.

Just because you cuddle up next to your canine every night doesn’t mean you have to give up on having stylish sheets or a clean bed. With spring (and spring cleaning) just around the corner, we thought we’d share a few pro tips on how to maintain a pristine, odor-free, beautiful bed for you and your pup(s) to enjoy.

Whether you and your dog are bunking up every night or just once and awhile, there are a few tricks every pup parent should know when it comes to maintaining a spotless sleeping space.

Some basic rules of thumb are:

1. Choose the right fabric and thread count. Your best bet is linen or cotton-sateen blends with a high thread count. Low-thread count cotton and materials like jersey attract hair like a magnet, so avoid these.

2. Keep alternate sets of sheets handy. Have two to three sets of sheets on hand so you can rotate them.

3. Create “dog-friendly” spaces in your home. Offering alternative places for your pup to sleep, such as a dog bed on the floor, will reduce the amount of time they spend in your bed.

4. Throw a quilt or blanket over your top sheet when you leave the house. If you know your dog likes to sleep in there while you’re gone, give your bed an extra layer of protection. (Or, you can shut the door to your bedroom.)

5. Bathe your dog regularly. To ensure the smells/dirt/germs from the dog park and other places don’t make it into your bed, make sure to properly bathe your pup every one to two weeks.

6. Brush your dog to minimize shedding. Keeping your canine groomed will help to reduce the amount of hair that builds up in your space.

Living with a dog doesn’t mean you have to give up white sheets and delicate fabrics either. There’s no denying it: the look and feel of crisp white sheets always gives your bedroom that wonderful hotel/spa-feel. If you love the look and don’t want to compromise your home’s aesthetic, don’t worry — you don’t have to!

Below is a step-by-step guide for maintaining white sheets, even with dogs around:

1. Gather sheets and pillowcases as a load all to themselves. It’s good to do this on a day when you have a few extra minutes to devote to the process.

2. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash cycle before putting your sheets in.

3. Next, add sheets and your detergent as usual. Wash using a warm water cycle.

4. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. For a high-efficiency machine, add this where the fabric softener would go. The white vinegar softens and removes odors, so don’t worry about the smell — it’ll rinse out!

5. Finally, dry on low to medium heat.

Having a dog doesn’t mean you have to compromise your clean sleeping space. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful bed in no time. Sweet dreams!

Featured image via Wildlandia BlogH/t Wildlandia Blog