How to Groom a Maltese at Home

The Maltese is one of the most elegant small breeds — with a long, silky white coat that requires dedicated daily care. Whether you keep the full show coat or a practical puppy cut, here's how to groom your Maltese at home.

Understanding the Maltese Coat

Maltese have a single-layer, long, silky coat with no undercoat. They're considered low-shedding — dead hair stays in the coat rather than falling out, which means mats form quickly without daily brushing. The white coat also shows tear staining prominently, requiring regular eye cleaning.

Essential Tools for Maltese

• Slicker brush: Swihauk Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush — daily brushing essential
• Detangling spray: We Love Doodles Detangler Spray — use before every brushing session on the silky coat
• Dematting comb: Poodle Dematting Fur Rake Comb — for working through tangles gently
• Grooming scissors: GLADOG 5-in-1 Scissors Set — essential for face, paw, and body trimming
• Clippers: oneisall Low-Noise Cordless Clipper Kit — for puppy cut maintenance
• Dog dryer: Jellyfish Handheld Dog Dryer — blow-dry straight for best results

Step-by-Step: Grooming a Maltese at Home

1. Daily brushing is non-negotiable. Mist the coat lightly with detangler spray and brush through section by section with the slicker brush. The silky coat tangles easily — never brush dry.
2. Check mat-prone areas daily. Behind the ears, armpits, and around the collar are where mats form first on Maltese.
3. Work through tangles with the dematting comb. Use the rake gently on any knots, holding the base to protect the skin.
4. Bathe every 1–2 weeks. Maltese need frequent bathing to keep the white coat bright and clean. Use a whitening or brightening dog shampoo followed by conditioner.
5. Blow dry completely straight. Use the Jellyfish dryer while brushing to straighten the silky coat. This gives the cleanest finish for trimming.
6. Trim the face. Use the GLADOG curved scissors to trim hair away from the eyes. Keep the beard neat and the muzzle hair trimmed to a manageable length.
7. Body trim (puppy cut). Use the oneisall clippers for an even length all over. The puppy cut is the most practical home cut for Maltese — much easier to maintain than the full floor-length coat.
8. Trim paws. Scissor the fur flush with the pads and neaten around the feet.

Tear Stain Management

Maltese are highly prone to tear staining on their white coat. Clean the eye area daily with a gentle eye wipe, keep the facial hair trimmed away from the eyes, and use filtered water to reduce mineral-related staining.

How Often to Groom a Maltese

• Brushing: Daily
• Bath: Every 1–2 weeks
• Full clip: Every 6–8 weeks
• Face trim: Every 2–3 weeks

Final Thoughts

Maltese grooming is a daily commitment — but the puppy cut makes it very manageable at home. Daily brushing with detangler spray prevents the mats that make grooming sessions difficult and keeps that beautiful white coat looking its best.