Cleaning in the Dog Days of Summer

Having a clean home is so satisfying but sometimes dogs can bring in dirt, dander, and dust.  Stay inside and stay cool in July by cleaning and organizing for your pet!

Clean Dog Toys

The doggie toy box is a place for dirt and smells to hide! Dump out the doggie toy box and collect toys from the yard and around the house.  Throw out toys that are broken or torn.  You can run plastic toys through the dishwasher and cloth toys through the washing machine.  Wipe off the doggie toy bin and replace it with clean toys!

Crates and Bedding

You can wash plastic or metal crates with warm, soapy water, and then let it air dry.  Wash all the doggie bedding in the washer and dryer or replace with new bedding.

Wash the Pet Bowls

You can put most doggie bowls in the dishwasher.  For a deeper clean, you can wash food and water bowls with a 50/50 water and vinegar mix (this is doggie safe).

The Puppy Dining Area

Dogs are sometimes messy eaters and the floors and walls around their bowls can get dirty too.  Run a wet rag along the walls and baseboards regularly and deep clean at least once a year.

Be careful with cleaning products!

Not all cleaning products are animal-safe.  The American Veterinary Medical Foundation warns that bleach, phenols, and high chemical concentrations can make your dog very sick. Some safe alternatives are vinegar and baking soda.  Vinegar can be mixed in equal parts with water and used for deep cleaning.  Baking soda can be mixed with water and used to scrub.  Baking soda can also be sprinkled on carpets and vacuumed after 30 minutes to remove pet smells. Read about other family-safe cleaning products here.

And don’t forget the dog!

Warm days are perfect to give the dog a bath!  Brush your dog before the bath to help with shedding.  Now is a good time to check your pup’s eyes, ears and skin for anything that the vet should look at.