Pet Supplies

After use, pet supplies like pet dishes, litter boxes, crates, carriers and beds can become breeding grounds for pet dander, odor and bacteria. To keep your home smelling fresh and your pets healthy, clean these items regularly. Using a few nontoxic items you may already have in your home, you can remove dirt, debris, pet hair and odors from these items. Clean these items to please your pets and yourself in environmentally friendly ways, avoiding harmful chemical residue and fumes.

Instructions

1 Remove covers from pet beds and launder them in cold water with 1/2 cup vinegar to remove odors and disinfect them. Fill a bathtub with a few inches of warm water and 1 to 2 tsp. of dish soap. Submerge the foam from inside the pet bed, washing away any debris, stains or hair. Rinse the foam well and dry in the sun, along with the cover when clean. Sun drying removes odors and prevents shrinkage of the pet bed cover. Replace the cover on the foam and leave out the newly cleaned bed for your pet. Wash bedding every two to three weeks.
2 Wash pet dishes in hot water and dish soap. Use a washcloth to clean stainless steel dishes as scouring pads can leave ugly scratches on the metal. To remove dried-on pet food, add a sprinkle of baking soda to the soapy dishes to scrub away food particles gently. Rinse in hot water to remove any soap residue and wipe dry.
3 Scrub down litter boxes every two to three weeks after emptying and disposing of the litter. Spray down the inside with a vinegar and water solution to kill any bacteria and neutralize urine odors. Use a scrub brush to remove any caked on litter and rinse. For very soiled boxes, use a paste made of oxygen bleach and water to scrub down the box and rinse. Dry the box in the sun before refilling with fresh litter for your cat.
4 Clean pet crates or carriers by taking them outside and using a garden hose to wash them down. Spray the inside and outside with equal parts vinegar and water or an enzymatic pet cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit for 10 to 15 minutes and wipe down the inside with a washcloth. Either rinse thoroughly with a garden hose or you can wash and rinse in a bathtub. Wash fabric carriers in the same manner or put them in the washing machine with laundry detergent. Dry crates or carriers outside in the sun.
5 Wash plastic, metal or ceramic pet food containers after using up dry cat or dog food. Empty pet food crumbs, and then fill with hot water mixed with 2 to 3 tsp. of oxygen bleach and 1 tsp. dish soap. Let the solution sit in the container for 10 to 15 minutes, then use a scrub brush to scrub away any food residue. Rinse thoroughly in the sink or bath tub, depending on the size of the container. Allow the container to air-dry, and then refill with fresh dry pet food. This solution will disinfect containers from bacteria buildup.
6 Soak pet toys in a solution of 1 tsp. dish soap or 2 to 3 tsp. oxygen bleach and 2 cups warm water. Allow the toys to soak for 10 minutes, scrub away any debris and rinse in hot water. Air-dry. The oxygen bleach or dish soap will not leave any harmful residue on the toys.

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