Do You Know How Often Should You Clean Your Dog Bowls?

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Dog bowls are one of those things dog owners often overlook and don't take proper care of. If you ask any dog owner how often they wash their dog's bowls, the answer will, in most cases, be – not that often.

If you are one of them, don't beat yourself up, many of us don't realize how dirty dog bowls are and that we need to provide proper cleaning to ensure the health of our dogs. We are here to teach you why it is important to regularly clean your dog bowls and what is the best way to do it. Let's start.

Why is it important that you clean your dog's bowls?

You'd be surprised how many owners don't clean dogs' bowls – not even once. We will not consider them irresponsibly but rather just uneducated. If they knew how dirty dog bowls are and how many health problems they can cause to their pooch, we are sure they would change their mind and start cleaning them.

Dog bowls will quickly gather all sorts of harmful bacteria, and if you don't regularly clean them, your dog could end up with different problems. You don't want that for your dog, do you?

Regularly cleaning your dog's bowls will remove all harmful bacteria that can harm your dog and provide your dog with a "clean plate" for his meal. We are guessing you also wouldn't like to eat off a dirty plate.

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How dirty are dog bowls?

A recent study has confirmed that dog bowls are 3rd dirtiest place in your home. Yep, you read that right. Do you now understand why cleaning them is such a big deal? Depending on different aspects and factors, many different bacteria can be found in your dog bowl, but none of them are good for dogs.

IMPORTANT: Cleaning dog bowls is vital if you own a puppy, senior dog, or dog with immune system problems. These dogs are at higher risk of having more problems because of bacteria found in dog bowls.

With that in mind, it is time to start cleaning your dog's bowl from this moment on.

How often should I clean my dog's bowls?

How often you clean your dog's bowls depends on some factors. The most important factor is what kind of food your dog eats.

If he eats only dry food, cleaning his bowl once a day will be enough to keep it clean. Dry dog food will not stick to the bowl, and because of that, you don't have to clean it after every meal.

If your dog prefers his kibble mixed with some wet food for extra taste, you will have to clean their bowls after every meal. Most probably, you already know that wet food will leave marks and it can dry on the bowl's surface, and this is the ideal scenario for germs to develop and take place.

The dog water bowl should also be cleaned daily. It is not just enough for you to change his water; it is necessary that you thoroughly clean the bowl every day to secure a germ-free bowl.

WORLD DOG FINDER TIP: To make it easier, you can buy spare bowls for your dog.

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How to clean dog bowls?

As you may know, currently on the market, there are different dog bowls. Depending on the bowl your dog uses, cleaning them will also differ.

There are two ways to clean them: dishwasher and hand washing. Depending on your dog's bowl, you can choose your preferred method.

For hand washing your dog bowls, we have nothing special to say. You just need to take the bowl and get to work. Make sure that you are using good soap and that you thoroughly wash the whole bowl. There shouldn't be any soap left on the bowl.

If you are thinking about using a dishwasher, you must first make sure that your dog bowl is dishwasher safe. Some bowls are not designed to be washed in the dishwasher because of high temperatures; in this case, you will have to do it by hand.

Sterilizing dog bowls

Besides regular cleaning, our vets also advised that you sanitize your dog bowls at least once a week. Although you may ask why, the reason behind this is that even after you thoroughly clean your dog bowl, there is a possibility that some germs remain.

Although your dog bowl looks clean, that doesn't mean it is germ-free. By sanitizing dog bowls, you can ensure that all the germs will disappear.

Here is how to do it:

1. Add 120 ml of bleach into dog bowl mixed with water
2. Let it sit for 15 minutes
3. Rise your dog bowl, and voila – perfectly clean.

RELATED: Best Dog Water Dispensers

How to clean water bowls?

Many dog owners have a hard time removing water built up from their dog's bowls. Our trick will help you clean your dog's water bowl in no time. Simple pour vinegar mixed with water and let it sit. After 30 minutes, rinse your dog bowl, and it will be good as new. Mineral dopiest will quickly go away.

What dog bowl to choose from?

There are many different types of dog bowls that you can choose from. Depending on your dog's age and preferences, this choice will be solely up to you. We will always advise going for stainless steel and ceramic bowls because they are the easiest to take care of. Plastic bowls are the hardest to maintain.

Here are some helpful resources for deciding what will suit your dog best.

Best ceramic dog bowl

Read more at https://worlddogfinder.com/blog/dog-product-reviews/ceramic-dog-bowls

Best plastic dog bowl

Best stainless steel dog bowl

World Dog Finder team