Washing your dog may be a fun experience for both you and the animal, but it’s significantly less enjoyable for your home’s drains. Your drains take the brunt of a shedding dog’s hair and dander, which can lead to significant clogging and blockage issues if you aren’t careful.
You may be wondering why we included a brush among your materials, and the answer will be found before the bath even begins. During this period, whether outside or in another designated location, brush your dog down completely to remove all their loose or hanging fur or dander.
An important tip for the back section of the bath: Never let your dog out of the bathtub before you drain the water from the tub. Letting the tub drain first will make drying them without a major mess far simpler – you just place a towel down for them to stand on, plus another across their body to dry them off.
At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our drain cleaning services are always available if you’re experiencing clogs for these or other reasons. But when it comes to bathing a dog, there are some simple steps you can take to keep the experience enjoyable while also significantly limiting the stress placed on your drains and pipes. Here are some general tips on bathing a dog without risking major drain clog concerns.
Through this entire process, continue making efforts to block hair from entering the drain area, even with drain blockers present (some small amounts of hair may sneak through these). For more on this or any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure, and brushing your dog regularly and often can make dealing with their fur much easier. Not only will it help to reduce the amount of hair on your furniture, floors, and clothes, but it will ensure that less of it ends up going down the drain. A good brushing is always in order right before a bath and will make the cleanup less difficult.
All of these tips will make the bath itself easier. Now, here are some ways to keep your drains in good shape when you wash your dog!
All dogs shake when they get wet, so be prepared for you and your bathroom to get sprayed. If you’re able to, have a really big towel on hand that you can hold up and shield the rest of the room from getting too soaked, and then let your pup shake away!
How often you wash your dog will come down to the type of dog you have as well as your individual pet, and your own business. Some people have dogs that don’t really smell all that much and can go a few months in between baths. Some dogs need baths as often as once a month or more. If your dog is big on playing in the dirt or in flea-and-tick infested areas, or has an oily coat or wrinkled skin, baths will be needed more frequently. If your dog is pretty clean or has dry, irritated skin, less frequent baths are the way to go.
Drain covers that let the water pass through while trapping the hair are not only useful for human bathers, but canine ones too! There are many different types of drain covers in the market that are designed to fit a wide variety of tub and shower drains, so do a little experimenting to find out which ones do the best job in your particular bathroom.
Some dogs have a lot of hair! If you prefer to bathe your dog at home, you could face problems with hair clogs in your drain. You need to protect the drain and clear the clogs before they become serious so you can avoid expensive plumbing repair bills. These tips can help.
If the vinegar doesn’t work and the drain becomes completely clogged, contact a reputable plumber for drain clearing services. A reputable plumber can clear your drains and help you keep your plumbing flowing properly.
You’ve probably seen drain filters in home improvement stores and hardware stores. A good drain filter can catch hair before it goes down the drain.
After bathing your dog several times, you may notice the drain is slow. You can dislodge the hair from the drain with vinegar. White vinegar is an acidic cleaning agent. Pour a few cups into the drain and allow it to sit for a few hours, then flush away the vinegar with hot water. If the vinegar alone doesn’t work, pour baking soda into the drain before pouring in the vinegar, then allow the mixture to sit in the drain.
While you’re washing your dog, you might notice a lot of stray hair getting stuck to your hands. When this happens, avoid the temptation to rinse the hair off in the water. Instead, wipe the hair off on a paper towel or wipe the hair off on the walls of your shower. This keeps stray hairs out of the water and reduces the chances of a major clog.
How to take dog a bath in tub without clogging Why dogs can smell better
A dog is man’s best friend, and you never want your canine companion to leave your side– except for when they haven’t had a bath, and then you’d rather they be anywhere else. Keeping your dog clean and well-groomed is important to their health and happiness, and to your nose, so for many people giving their dog regular baths at home is just part of being a pet owner. However, this can wreak havoc on your plumbing system and clog the drain the way no human bath ever could, particularly if you have a long-haired heavy-shedding breed, like a golden retriever.
This doesn’t mean that you have to choose between shelling out for frequent and expensive trips to the groomers, nor does it mean you just have to put up with a smelly dog! Here’s a simple guide to how to wash your dog that will make it as comfortable as possible for them, as easy as possible for you, and won’t leave your bathroom drains in a state by the time you’re done.
How often you wash your dog will come down to the type of dog you have as well as your individual pet, and your own business. Some people have dogs that don’t really smell all that much and can go a few months in between baths. Some dogs need baths as often as once a month or more. If your dog is big on playing in the dirt or in flea-and-tick infested areas, or has an oily coat or wrinkled skin, baths will be needed more frequently. If your dog is pretty clean or has dry, irritated skin, less frequent baths are the way to go.
Gather everything you need before you turn on the water and start trying to wrangle that pooch. A brush, shampoo, towels, and definitely a handful of treats are all needed for a seamless bathtime.
All dogs shake when they get wet, so be prepared for you and your bathroom to get sprayed. If you’re able to, have a really big towel on hand that you can hold up and shield the rest of the room from getting too soaked, and then let your pup shake away!
All of these tips will make the bath itself easier. Now, here are some ways to keep your drains in good shape when you wash your dog!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure, and brushing your dog regularly and often can make dealing with their fur much easier. Not only will it help to reduce the amount of hair on your furniture, floors, and clothes, but it will ensure that less of it ends up going down the drain. A good brushing is always in order right before a bath and will make the cleanup less difficult.
Drain covers that let the water pass through while trapping the hair are not only useful for human bathers, but canine ones too! There are many different types of drain covers in the market that are designed to fit a wide variety of tub and shower drains, so do a little experimenting to find out which ones do the best job in your particular bathroom.
If you’re able to, washing your dog somewhere besides the tub or shower can be the best possible thing for your drains. If your dog is on the small side, washing them in a small plastic container can be a great choice, and if the weather is warm enough, all sizes of dogs can be washed outside. This is often much less of a hassle since you don’t have to worry about splashes on the mirror or puddles on the floor. This also means that no loose hair gets near the drain in the first place and you won’t have to worry about clogs!
No matter how careful you are when it comes to keeping your drains clear, sometimes clogs do happen. When a slow drain is making using your sink, bath, or shower difficult, contact The Plumbing Works and our experts will help you to get back on track!