5 Awesome Dog Cleaning Items & 5 You Need To Avoid

Today we are going to wrangle down those dirty dogs of ours. We’re covering the five must-have cleaning items you don't want to be caught dead without. As well, we’re going to talk about the five cleaning products in your house that could be putting your pup health in harm’s way.

After this you’re going to have healthy, happy, and pristine pup who you’ll parents will be proud to call they’re their favorite grandpup.

Related source: Arthritis in dogs

The 5 Must Have Cleaning Products

Biodegradable Poop Bags

There is nothing fun about picking up pet waste, but we don’t have to make it a crappy experience for all of us. Give back to mother nature with biodegradable dog poop bags.

Biodegradable pooh bags are certified to decompose within a certain amount of time.

Top of the line waste bags will have the certification ASTM D6400 which means it will break down within a few months. The label ASTM D6400 means the pooh bags have a chemical that ensures the plastic will break down within a couple of years.

But while they might have the label biodegradable, this may mean they only me under very limited conditions.

If you can’t find a certification number, just make sure the dog waste bags are made out of plant starches and food-grade polymers — super earth friendly.

There are not a lot of great ways to properly dispose of pet waste — especially for cat’s. For dog’s you can flush their poop or compost it.

When composting you’ll need to ensure the compost’s internal temperature raises to 145 degrees Fahrenheit for several days to kill any dangerous pathogens. As well, dog waste needs to be compost as it’s high in nitrogen, but if you use biodegradable dog poop bags made from plant starches you can help offset this.

Ear Cleaning Sprays

It’s always important to keep an eye on the cleanliness of your dog’s ears. This is because moisture can get trapped in there which attracts bacteria. This brings along rancid ear odors and bacterial infections.

Some dogs get lucky and never have a problem, while many breeds with floppy and long ears may constantly struggle with them.

There a several great all-natural ear cleaning products that destroy bacteria and give your puppy's ears a delightful scent. Look for ear cleaning sprays with lemongrass and safety tips for pets that pull away.

Baking Soda

If you’re coming home and complaining about a musty house that smells of dog, it’s time to break out the baking soda. Unlike air fresheners, baking soda doesn’t mask smells but absorbs them. This makes removing odors a breeze.

Simply vacuum first to pick up any particles lying around. Then turn your house into a winter wonderland — really, your carpet should be mostly white and covered after applying the baking soda. Let it sit for at least a few hours — overnight is best — then just vacuum it up.

Natural Teeth Cleaning

Who doesn’t just crack up laughing whenever their fluff nugget is cheesing it up and smiling like a goof? It’s important to keep your dog’s teeth clean — teeth cleaning bills take many pet owners by surprise. We’re talking in the $300-1000 of dollars people!

And unlike common belief, keeping your dog’s teeth clean is easy and affordable. Best yet, you get woken up to malodorous doggy breath in the morning.

Forget the toothbrush, the two best products for teeth cleaning gels/liquid solutions and animals bones. Sprays/gels will help break up tartar, kill bacteria, and give your pup a lovely fresh breath. Bones are great for deep cleaning, and knocking lose tartar that even brushes struggle with.

Not all bones are created equally, but will a few helpful tips, finding them is easy.

● Don’t want to read more, just go grab bully sticks. More rawhide than bones — they won’t splinter, become sharp and cut gums, and are just durable enough for brilliant teeth cleaning.

● Avoid cooked and bird bones, as they can splinter / present a choking hazard.

● Leg (femur) bones are often too hard, as well, never give your dog a bone larger than their head.

● Use the simple rule “would my dog hunt this animal in the wild?” — you’ll be surprised by how helpful this tip is.

Cleaning Products You Should Be Careful Using If You Don’t Want To Hurt Your Dog

Floor Cleaners

If putting floor cleaner in your mouth doesn’t sound appealing or safe, then make sure you’re not using them around your dog. I’m sure there have been more than a few occasions you’ve caught your lump of fluff licking the floor.

As well, you don’t want them walking on it and picking it up on their paws, which they’re sure to lick.

Traditional Cleaning Products (Bleach, Ammonia, Chlorine)

Bleach, chlorine, and isopropyl alcohol are traditional items that you find in many people’s bathroom. All of these are, of course, dangerous and you’ll want to keep your pet away from them when in use. Dogs have a habit of being nosey and licking things to discover what they are.

Fabric Softeners

If you're looking to get rid of pet dander, you’ll want to avoid fabric softeners. It’s common to see benzyl acetate, camphor, and chloroform in fabric softeners, as well, the smell can overpower their delicate noses. For getting rid of pet odors, try baking soda instead — there are a ton of different ways to use it as well.

Air Fresheners

Dogs have over 300 million olfactory receptors compared to about 5 million in humans. Air fresheners can really overpower the king of your dog senses. Dogs with allergies are easily triggered by air fresheners, as well as by candles and strongly scented product cleaners.

The worst of all of this . . . air fresheners don’t clean your house they just mask the smell — this is why they can easily overpower your dog’s sense of smell.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

Whenever you use a toilet bowl cleaner, it's a smart idea to get into the habit of putting the seat down. Even if your dog doesn’t drink from the toilet when you’re around, you never know what they do the second you're not around.