How to Clean Dog Bowls?
Most pet lovers can go as far as investing in dog bandanas, and custom dog bowls to ace pets’ aesthetic. Only a few of them are conscious of intentionally cleaning these bowls.
One of the ways to exercise responsible pet ownership is by keeping your pets’ food and water bowls clean at all times. You may be wondering why this act is necessary since pets are just animals. The fact is that as much as your pets are at risk of infections, you as their parents are also not safe if their food bowls are kept unclean.
When dogs’ saliva mixes with feed while eating, the bowl becomes a breeding place for bacteria such as E.coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.
Moreover, the moisture left in their bowls causes fungi growth which produces poisonous substances. These substances when inhaled, eaten, or absorbed into the skin can deteriorate humans’ and pets’ health and may lead to death.
Also, your dog’s skin and oral hygiene will be susceptible to life-threatening infections.
Keeping your dog’s feeding bowls clean at all times will save you from all these and much more.
How Often To Wash Dog Bowls
The ideal frequency to clean your dog’s bowls is after every meal, especially if your dog’s food is raw or wet. This implies that the rate at which you have to wash them depends on the kind of food you feed your dogs.
If you feed your dogs with dry foods, thoroughly washing them at least once a week is considered safe. Although, you may have to do a bit of wiping and rinsing daily to get rid of leftovers.
Because dogs’ water bowls are known to naturally grow algae, they also have to be washed every day to ensure they are taking in fresh water.
Dog Bowls Cleaning Methods
To clean your dog’s bowls, you can decide to handwash them or use the dishwasher. Let’s look at the processes involved in each method.
Hand Washing
Follow the processes below for a thorough hand-washing of dog bowls:
- Prep Bowl for Washing
Preparing your dog’s bowl for washing will require that you trash every leftover in your pet’s bowl after a meal. If the food is wet, you will have to wipe off the moisture in the bowl.
- Immerse in Soapy Water
Make soapy water using hot water and any dishwashing soap of your choice, and dip your dog bowl in it. Leave the bowl in the soapy water to soak for 11 to 15 minutes. Note that only hot water is capable of effectively killing every growth and bacteria because some bacteria can survive warm water.
- Scrubbing
Still, in soapy water, scrub the bowl thoroughly with a sponge or brush. Consider using a cleaning agent like baking soda for particular stubborn stains.
- Drying
After scrubbing to your satisfaction, proceed to rinse thoroughly and air dry it for the rest of the day.
Dishwashing
If you have a dishwasher, cleaning your dog’s bowls should be much easier. With the dishwasher, you will have to use the highest heat setting to replace the function of hot water in the hand-washing method.
If your pets are healthy and you wash their bowls every day, you can run them through the dishwasher with other plates. However, if you do not find this comfortable, washing your dog bowls separately will be the best option.
How to Wash Stainless Steel Bowls for Dogs
You will find plastic, ceramic, and stainless steel types of dog bowls in stores, but most people prefer stainless steel as the best material for their dog bowls.
This is because it is considered more hygienic because of its smooth surface. This kind of surface renders it incapable of harboring bacteria. However, if not properly cleaned and maintained, it will rust in a short while. To wash stainless steel dog bowls:
- Use a soft sponge or cloth to wash its surface. Scrubbers can cause scratches on the surface of the bowl.
- To disinfect it, use warm water with a moderate amount of vinegar to soak the bowl. If you will be using bleach, simply mix it with plenty of cold water.
- Rinse with plain clean water and dry.
Helpful Tips on Maintaining Dog Bowls
● Washing dog bowls separately
Except if you are using a dishwasher, it is always best to wash your dog’s bowls separately to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria. This is also applicable to the hand-washing method.
● Disinfect
Disinfecting helps kill germs which complement the thorough washing and routine cleaning of your dog bowls. Consider using natural disinfectants like white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide of 3% concentration.
● Sterilise
Unlike disinfecting, sterilizing requires the use of stronger chemical cleaning agents like bleach to terminate bacteria. Sterilizing chemicals could be harsh and unsafe when they come in contact with dogs. Therefore, ensure to dilute heavily with water to reduce their harshness. It is also not advisable to use bleach on stainless steel bowls because it could result in rust.
● Having Multiple bowls
If you are a busy pet owner, having multiple pet bowls will ease the stress of having to wash them often. Still, your pets will always have a clean bowl to use.
● Keeping to Cleaning Routines
Not many people find it easy, but consistently keeping to cleaning routines is key. You can choose a pattern that you find most convenient to maintain a clean feeding environment for your pets.
● Proper Food Storage
Proper storage of food goes a long way in preventing food contamination. Little habits of keeping dried foods in sealed containers and refrigerating wet foods are often all that’s needed.
Where to Buy Dog Bowls
FastPrintStar is that versatile and reputable online custom dog bowls manufacturer you want to try out. You can fully express your affection for your pets with their collection of custom collapsible dog bowls and custom-name dog bowls.
The thermoplastic elastomer material and carabiner fitting they use for production guarantee the durability and professionalism of their dog bowls.
Talking about the design, you are at liberty to create and display the favorite images and inscriptions you have chosen for your dog. All you have to do is upload the electronic file of your image on their order page. They accept different file types including JPEG and GIF.
Their custom dog food and water bowls are also available in nine different vibrant colors for you to pick from. You will also not be going through any stress at all as everything you need to do will be done online and delivered to your doorpost.
Their global shipping service has bridged the gap for location barriers.
Reach out to FastPrintStar for affordable custom dog bowls and several other dog accessories like dog harnesses and dog leashes. You also stand the chance of enjoying a free mock-up and a free delivery when you choose 14-18 business days as your delivery date. The benefits offered to customers at FastPrintStar are numerous and uncommon!
Conclusion
A dog bowl, despite its seemingly simple function, can harbor harmful bacteria and fungi if not cleaned regularly.
By maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for your pet’s meals, you’re not only protecting their health but also your own.
To clean your dog’s bowls, you can either hand-wash them or use a dishwasher. For hand-washing, first, remove any leftover food and wipe away moisture. Then, immerse the bowl in hot soapy water and scrub it thoroughly with a sponge or brush. Finally, rinse the bowl with clean water and air dry it completely. If you use a dishwasher, make sure to use the highest heat setting to effectively kill bacteria
Remember, a happy, healthy dog starts with a clean bowl. So, make it a part of your daily routine to wash and disinfect your dog’s bowls, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re providing them with the best possible care.
