Is there any way to control or keep the tear stains to a minimum on a Maltese?

The answer is yes.  Daily maintenance of gently wiping your dogs eyes with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and you can even use a small amount of baby shampoo.  Consistent daily wiping is the key to keeping the stains at a minimum.  Be sure to have your Maltese vet checked to make sure there are no problems.

If you continue to struggle with the stains on your Maltese I encourage you to read an article written by Tonia Holibaugh concerning tear stains. Her information is very educational and helpful and her site offers more Maltese information which I am sure you will find very interesting including a tear stain remover to purchase and try.

https://malteseonly.com/teartonia.html