How to clean a dog bowl
Even though most dogs lick their bowls clean, the National Sanitation Foundation says pet bowls are one of the most germ-infested items in your household.
They rank fourth on the list for the highest concentration of germs – being overtaken by only the kitchen sink, toothbrush holder and kitchen sponge. This is because the leftover residue on your dogs bowl harbours bacteria, including salmonella and E. Coli.
Therefore, you should clean your pet’s bowl every day to prevent the growth of mould, yeast, algae and fungi.
This may sound like hard work but you can simply toss them in the dishwasher on a sanitising cycle. Or the National Sanitation Foundation suggests deep cleaning your dog bowl by hand.
How to Clean Plastic Toys and Rubber Toys
Durable hard toys like an Orka Tire or kong can be easily cleaned of grime by putting them in the dishwasher (as long as the manufacturer’s guidelines say so). After dishwashing a hard dog toy, air dry. Thin latex rubber toys will likely melt in the dishwasher. Dog parents should hand wash these types of toys with mild dish soap and warm water.
You can also DIY a disinfecting spray household cleaner by mixing white vinegar, baking soda, water, and alcohol. Use a toothbrush to scrub those tiny creases some toys have.
FYI: If you have one of our pet-safe slow feeder dog food bowls, those are top-rack dishwasher safe.
How to clean a dog collar
Did you know that that your watch could be up to eight times more dirty than your toilet due to the daily build-up of bacteria, according to research?
Well, now imagine you are a dog, running through bushes, jumping in puddles and rolling in mud, while wearing a similar accessory.
You need to wash your dog’s collar on a regular basis. While the washing machine seems like the easiest option, not all materials can withstand it. Some items can fall apart or become damaged if the setting is too high.
The best option is to wash by hand, using a mild detergent, dish soap or even dog shampoo. However, you must make sure all the cleaning products have been thoroughly rinsed out as they could irritate your dogs skin.
Should I feed my dog real bones?
Does your dog destroy every new toy he gets within a matter of minutes? Or is your dog more caring with his toys, letting them last a few days more before tearing them apart? If your dog is the latter, lucky you! You probably spend less money on dog toys than other pet parents. But the longer the toy lasts, the grosser they get … this is where knowing how to wash dog toys comes in handy.
Other than wanting to keep your dog’s toys clean of dried slobber and general yuckiness, it’s important to consider cleaning them for health reasons as well. Toys can be a breeding ground for germs. Contagious diseases like canine parvovirus and kennel cough can live on such surfaces.
Not every dog toy comes with cleaning instructions. Read on to learn how dog owners can properly (and safely) clean dog toys from plush toys to chew toys and everything in between.
