Do you keep your dog's food and water bowls clean? While they love to play in dirty places and make a mess, dogs should still have a clean bowl in order to eat and drink safely. By cleaning the dog bowl, the growth of bacteria that can make a dog sick can be prevented. In addition, eating and drinking activities become more fun!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Hand Washing Dog Food and Water Bowls
Step 1. Choose a mild dish soap
If you prefer to wash your dog's food bowl or water bowl (rather than using the dishwasher), choose a mild, non-toxic dish soap. If you're not sure what kind of dish soap is gentle, check the product label, which indicates it's gentle on hands. If dish soap is gentle enough for you, then it is gentle enough for a dog's food bowl or water bowl.
- Organic dish soap, although more expensive, may contain non-toxic ingredients.
- Harsh laundry detergent and bleach are toxic to dogs.
- Strong laundry detergents can also cause stainless steel bowls to rust.
- You can also make your own dish soap by mixing equal parts baking soda, warm water, and salt.
Step 2. Choose a place to clean the food bowl or water bowl
It is not recommended to wash dog bowls in bathroom tubs or sinks because of the risk of cross-contamination. Dog food bowls or water bowls can contain bacteria that come from the dog's mouth and food and you certainly don't want these bacteria to contaminate the tableware that you and your family use. Instead, use a bathroom sink or a multi-purpose sink.
If you choose to use the sink, you will need to disinfect it after washing your dog's food or water bowl
Step 3. Wash the food bowl or water bowl by hand
To wash the bowl by hand, use a rag or sponge that is used only for dog bowls. Use as hot water as possible. Consider wearing gloves when washing to protect your hands from the hot water.
- Using a rag or sponge in a circular motion, wash the inside and outside of the bowl.
- Pay special attention to the areas that have hardened food residue.
Step 4. Disinfect the food bowl or water bowl
Using hot water and mild dish soap is a very effective way to clean dog food and water bowls. But a slimy substance called a biological membrane can build up in a dog's bowl. This membrane contains a combination of bacteria, mildew, and fungus that can make dogs sick if ingested. Scrubbing and disinfecting the bowl is the best way to get rid of harmful biological membranes and microorganisms.
- The slimy and sticky texture of biological membranes is difficult to remove. The baking soda in homemade soap is strong enough to remove biological membranes.
- To disinfect a bowl after scrubbing, mix 4 liters of water with a tablespoon of bleach. Put this solution in a bowl and let it sit for two minutes before rinsing it off. Also, disinfect the outside of the bowl.
- To make dog bowls cleaner, you can clean and disinfect them, rather than just one of them.
Step 5. Rinse and dry the food bowl or water bowl completely
Dogs can get sick if they swallow dish soap residue on the bowl, so it's important to rinse the bowl thoroughly with water. You can dry the bowl with paper towels or let it air dry before refilling it with food or water.
- If the bowl has been disinfected, an important step is to rinse off any excess bleach on the bowl.
- If you dry the bowl with a rag, make sure it is only used for dog bowls.
Step 6. Disinfect the sink
When you are done using the sink, prepare the tub for human use again by disinfecting it with diluted bleach (one tablespoon bleach per 4 liters of water). Snap the sink plug into place and fill the sink with the bleach solution. Leave it for 5 minutes. Next, unscrew the stopper to drain the solution in the sink. Finally, rinse the sink quickly and let it dry on its own.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Dog's Food Bowl and Water Bowl in the Dishwasher
Step 1. Put the dog's food bowl and water bowl in the dishwasher
It is advisable to wash the dog's food bowl and water bowl in the dishwasher, as the water is hot enough (60 degrees Celsius) to remove and kill bacteria. Also, cleaning the bowl in the dishwasher is a good alternative if you don't have time to wash by hand.
Even if you wear cleaning gloves, your hands may still not withstand the hot water in the dishwasher
Step 2. Clean the dog bowl separately
To prevent cross-contamination, it is better to wash only the dog bowl in the dishwasher. If you want to wash separately, consider buying multiple bowls so you can use the dishwasher every few days. It may not be practical to wash only one or two dog bowls in the dishwasher.
Step 3. Clean the dog bowl with your cutlery
You might be a bit disgusted by putting your dog's food and water bowls with your bowls and plates. But this is not a problem to do if there is a 'sanitize' setting on the dishwasher. This setting will effectively eradicate and remove bacteria, thereby preventing cross-contamination.
- If you're not comfortable mixing your cutlery with the dog bowl, wash it separately.
- Choose the hottest setting on the dishwasher, whether you're washing cutlery separately or together.
Method 3 of 3: Learning Basic Cleaning Instructions
Step 1. Clean the dog's food bowl or water bowl daily
Cleaning your dog's food bowl or water bowl daily is an important step in keeping your dog healthy. You'll need to clean the dog's food bowl several times a day, depending on what food is being fed. For example, if giving only wet food, a combination of wet and dry food, or raw food, clean the dog's food bowl after eating.
- If you're only feeding dry food, cleaning your dog's food bowl once a day will suffice.
- If dogs are kept outdoors or the food and water bowls are used for multiple dogs, clean them several times a day.
- If your dog's food and water bowls are feeling a little slimy, consider cleaning the food bowl and water bowl twice a day.
- Food bowls and water bowls can also allow saliva, dust, and dirt to build up. In addition to making your dog sick, he may also not want to eat or drink from his bowl if it looks very dirty.
Step 2. Check for scratches on the food bowl or water bowl
Not all food bowls or water bowls are still in good condition even though they are often washed. Gradually the less strong bowl will scratch so that bacteria grow in it and make the dog sick. If the food bowl or water bowl has been cleaned, look carefully for scratches.
- Replace the bowl that has been scratched.
- Stainless steel bowls and porcelain bowls are very strong and can be cleaned frequently.
- Ceramic bowls and plastic bowls are not good choices because they are highly absorbent and can contain bacteria. In addition, plastic bowls are very easy to scratch.
Step 3. Clean the area around the food bowl and dog bowl holder
It's not enough to just keep the dog's food and water bowls clean; the area around the place to eat also needs to be cleaned. To clean the floor in this area, mix equal parts vinegar and water and clean with a mop every few days. Alternatively, you can place a rubber mat under the bowl to catch any spilled food and water.
Wipe or wash the tablecloth by hand every day to keep it clean and prevent bacterial growth
Tips
- If you have small children, make sure they don't play with the dog's dirty food bowl or water bowl. The bacteria in the bowl can make your child sick.
- Homemade bleach solutions are only effective for 24 hours. If you don't use a large amount of bleach within 24 hours, reduce the amount.
Warning
- E. coli and Salmonella are bacteria that can be found in dogs' mouths and their food. These germs can make you and your family sick.
- The harmful bacteria in biological membranes are E. coli, Listeria, and Legionella.
