Just treat it like your wife. You should clean it after every use...at least I prefer it that way! As for guns, I have found that it is much easier and quicker to give them a quick once over after a trip to the range, than to wait until a couple or more. Plus, I find it kind of relaxing to disassemble and clean/detail them, but that's just me...
Like my wife? No, i'd never ignore my guns for football.