Do you keep your faithful friend's food and water bowls clean? While he likes to mess and play in the dust, these vessels should be thoroughly cleaned so he can eat and drink safely. By washing them, you prevent bacteria from proliferating and making your four-legged friend sick; moreover, you can make his meal much more enjoyable!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Hand Wash Bowls
Step 1. Choose a mild detergent
If you prefer to wash the containers by hand (rather than putting them in the dishwasher), you must use a neutral, non-toxic dish detergent. If you are not sure which product is delicate, read the label on the package to check that it is not aggressive on the hands; if it's gentle enough for you, it should be gentle enough for dog bowls too.
- Organic detergent, although more expensive, probably does not contain toxic substances.
- Aggressive products and bleach are toxic to the animal.
- Those that are too strong can also cause rust stains on steel bowls.
- If you wish, you can make a cleaning product yourself by combining baking soda, hot water, and table salt in equal parts.
Step 2. Choose a place to clean the bowls
It is not recommended to work in the bathtub or kitchen sink, as there is a risk of cross-contamination. The containers may contain bacteria transmitted from the dog's mouth or from food, and you certainly don't want to contaminate the dishes you use in the family. You should use the bathroom sink or large sink instead.
If you decide to operate in the kitchen sink, you will need to disinfect it after washing the dog's bowls
Step 3. Hand wash the two containers
Use a dish sponge or cloth intended only for cleaning dog bowls. Make sure the water is as hot as you can tolerate. Consider wearing gloves when cleaning to protect your hands.
- Make circular motions with the sponge, washing both sides of the bowls, both inside and out.
- Be especially thorough in areas where food is caked.
Step 4. Disinfect the containers
Hot water and mild detergent are very effective in cleaning bowls thoroughly. However, a greasy substance, called a biofilm, may accumulate on the surface containing a combination of bacteria, algae and fungi that could be harmful to the animal if it ingests them. Scrubbing and sanitizing the saucers is the best way to get rid of this surface layer and harmful microorganisms.
- Since biofilm has a slimy, sticky texture, it can be difficult to remove. The baking soda in the craft cleaner should be abrasive enough to remove this patina.
- To disinfect the bowls after scrubbing them, mix 4 liters of water with a tablespoon of bleach. Pour this mixture into the bowl and let it sit for about two minutes before rinsing off. Be sure to sanitize the outside of the bowls as well.
- If you want to do an even more thorough cleaning, you can wash and disinfect the containers, instead of limiting yourself to just one of the two operations.
Step 5. Rinse and dry the bowls thoroughly
Your dog could get sick if he swallows the detergent residue, so it is extremely important that they are rinsed completely with water. You can also dry them by using kitchen paper or by leaving them in the air before refilling them with water and food.
- If you have also disinfected them, it is essential to get rid of the bleach residues.
- If you decide to dry the containers with a tea towel, be sure to use it only for this purpose.
Step 6. Disinfect the sink
If you've worked on the kitchen sink, you can go back to using it again for household dishes after disinfecting it with a diluted solution of bleach (one tablespoon of bleach per 4 liters of water). Put the cap on, fill the sink with this mixture and let it sit for about five minutes. Then, remove the cap and let the water run out of the drain; finally, do another quick sink rinse and let it air dry.
Method 2 of 3: Washing the Bowls in the Dishwasher
Step 1. Put the containers in the dishwasher
This method is more suitable, as the water reaches a high enough temperature (60 ° C) to remove and kill the bacteria. It is also a great alternative if you don't have a lot of time to clean the containers by hand.
Even when wearing cleaning gloves, your hands are unlikely to be able to tolerate such high temperatures as the one reached in the dishwasher
Step 2. Wash the dog bowls separately
To avoid cross-contamination, you should do a specific wash only for these containers, keeping them separate from other dishes for human use. If you opt for this choice, you should buy several bowls, in order to fill and start the appliance every 2 or 3 days at half load; in fact, it is not very convenient to wash only one or two bowls at a time.
Step 3. Wash the dog containers along with the dishes
You may be a little reluctant to wash the pet's bowls along with your dishes and pots. However, this is acceptable if your dishwasher has a schedule that also "disinfects" the load. This setting should be sufficient to kill and eliminate bacteria, thus preventing cross-contamination.
- If you are not comfortable with the idea of keeping your pet's bowls with your dishes, do a separate wash cycle.
- Regardless of how you decide to proceed, always set the wash cycle at the highest possible temperature.
Method 3 of 3: Basic Cleaning Tips
Step 1. Clean the food and water bowls every day
Daily grooming is an important part of keeping your furry friend healthy. Depending on what you eat, you may also need to clean them more than once a day. For example, if you only eat canned food, a combination of kibble and wet food or raw food, you should clean the bowl after each meal.
- If you feed your pet only with kibble, it is sufficient to clean it daily.
- If you have dogs that are used to living outdoors or use a single bowl of water for multiple dogs, you need to clean it several times a day.
- If you notice a slimy film forming on the surface of the bowls, you should consider cleaning the food after each meal and the water twice a day.
- Containers can also accumulate saliva, dust and debris. In addition to the risk that the animal could get sick, it probably won't even want to eat or drink if it sees the containers that are too dirty.
Step 2. Check if the bowls are scratched
Not all containers withstand frequent washing. Over time, less durable models become covered with scratches, which can cause bacteria that are harmful to the dog to develop. Once the containers have been cleaned, carefully check for scratches.
- Replace scratched bowls.
- Stainless steel and porcelain ones are more durable and can withstand frequent washing.
- Ceramic and plastic containers are not a good choice, because they are very porous and can retain bacteria; in addition, the plastic ones are very easily scratched.
Step 3. Clean the area around the dog bowls
It is not enough to keep the containers clean; the surrounding area also needs to be just as clean. To wash the floor, prepare an equal parts water and vinegar mixture and use it to clean every two to three days. Alternatively, you can place a rubber mat under the bowls to catch any food and water spills.
Wash the mat every day with a mop or by hand to keep it clean and prevent bacterial growth
Advice
- If you have small children, make sure they don't play with your dog's dirty bowls, as the bacteria they contain can cause disease.
- A diluted home bleach solution is only effective for about 24 hours. If you know you won't need to use a lot in this time, consider making less.
Warnings
- E. coli and Salmonella bacteria can be found in the dog's mouth and food. Be careful, as these germs are also dangerous for humans.
- Harmful bacteria present in the biofilm are E. coli, Listeria and Legionella.
