Clean the dog bowl regularly is essential to ensure the health and well-being of the dog. Of course, dogs are less fussy than us (and cats), so it is possible that they also eat from bowls that are not perfectly clean. However, here they settle bacteria, germs and limescale which can create problems for our four-legged friends. But how to wash your dog’s bowl without bothering him?
Best bowls for dogs
Let’s start from best bowls for dogs. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the materials, the best are those of steel or ceramic. This is because they are non-porous, therefore they do not absorb bad odors.
Furthermore they are easier to clean and sanitize compared to the classic ones plastic bowlswhich tend to deteriorate and wear out sooner.
How often should you wash your dog’s bowl?
Technically Dog bowls should be washed after each meal. Maybe you eat from dirty dishes from the night before? Here, you should do the same thing with dog bowls. (READ also: Are you washing your dog’s bowl enough? A study answers it)
This is especially true if you provide the dog with wet foodthen canned food or homemade food. In fact, food residues could deteriorate rapidly and cause dangerous bacterial proliferation. Besides the fact that the dirty bowls give off bad smells.
The same thing goes for the water bowl: wash it daily to avoid the development of limescale, annoying stains and mould. Try it: empty the water bowl. If you feel a strange slippery film when you pass your finger, it means that you don’t wash the bowl very often.
How to clean the dog bowl? The products to use
Wash the dog bowl it’s not complicated, you just need to dedicate a few minutes of your time to this task. You must:
As for the products to use, you have several choices:
If you prefer to opt for gods instead natural remediesyou can use:
Whatever product or remedy you use, never overdo it and always remember to rinse again and again. There must be no residues or particular odors left.
How to remove limescale from your dog’s bowl?
However, if the dog’s bowl is full of limescale stainsso it’s best to leave it to soak for at least an hour in a bowl full of hot water and white wine vinegar. This way the limescale will soften and you can then rub it away. Again, rinse well before using it again.
If in the bowl, however, they have formed whitish or greenish halosit may be that a bacterial or bacterial proliferation is being created mold. In this case it is best to prepare a paste based on baking soda, lemon juice and white vinegar. You will then have to spread this mixture on the bowl, concentrating on the stains and leave it to act for at least 15 minutes. Then take a sponge and scrub away. Rinse and dry well.
Can you wash your dog’s bowl in the dishwasher?
Steel and ceramic dog bowls can safely be wash in the dishwasher. For those made of plastic, it is best to check the label if that plastic can withstand the high temperatures of the dishwasher.
And to clean the cat’s bowl?
We’ll talk about how to clean a cat’s bowl in a specific article. Here we just anticipate that you have to be even more careful than when washing the dog’s bowls. This is because you will have to use mildly scented detergents and rinse the bowls well after washing.
The cat, in fact, is much more picky compared to the dog and if he perceives even the slightest odor on the bowl that he does not like, even the residue of the smell of the detergent used, he would stop using the bowl and eating.
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