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How Often Should You Clean Your Dogs Bowl?

Last Updated September 30, 2020

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As dog owners, we are probably all a little guilty of not washing our dogs feeding and drinking bowls as often as we should. Given the ease with which it is just to fill them up, it can be so easy to forget that they do actually need pretty regular cleaning despite how clean our dogs may lick them after they have been emptied particularly their food bowls!

Here we look at how often you should clean your dogs bowl as an owner. We include some tips and reasons why you should clean it regularly it will give all of us motivation to do it far more often than most of us do.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dogs Bowl

Quite simply, we all need to clean our dogs bowls far more than we initially think. Without doing so the bowls can be a breeding site for invisible bacteria that your dog keeps on licking day after day. Bearing this in mind, its a good idea to wipe your dogs bowls down at least once day, every day. This will help keep any nasties at bay and help protect your dogs health and well being.

Bear in mind that you also have to take into account the type of food you give your pooch. For most of us, we will give our dogs kibble. The dry nature of this food stuff means that a daily wipe or clean is more than sufficient. However, some dogs will be given a diet of wet dog food or even raw dog food. If this is the case for your dog, it is imperative to clean your dogs bowl after every meal. The moist nature of wet food and the bacteria that breeds on raw food when not refrigerated properly means that the proliferation of germs is much faster than with kibble or dry dog food.

Other Ideas To Take On Board

Its a good idea to get into the habit of putting your dogs food and water bowls through the dishwasher at least once a week. The heat of the water that is reached in a dishwasher is so high that it will completely kill off any unhealthy bacteria that may have bred there. Obviously, if your dog has a wet or raw food diet, it is advisable to put their bowl through the dishwasher far more often. Every other or every third day should suffice.

Once you start getting into the habit of putting your canine friends bowl into the dishwasher, you will find it easy to maintain as you will see the difference in how clean, or rather how unclean it is, almost immediately. In fact, it will probably make you hang your head in shame when you do start doing it from the get go. They come up so sparkly and shiny, especially the traditional metal bowls, that you will realize just how dirty your dogs bowl had become over time.

Additionally, it is a good idea to avoid the use of strong soaps or powerful detergents when cleaning your dogs bowl. Furthermore, try to ensure that the cleaning product that you do use does not have a strong smell either. Such strong smells have been known to put dogs off their food which is obviously not what any dog owner wants to see, particularly as it is quite out of character for most dogs out there. Instead, find a detergent that is able to kill off any bacteria whilst being gentle on stomachs and noses.

When you put your dogs bowl through the dishwasher, you can actually just put it through with no tablet in whatsoever. The heat of the water does the most work in this case and is the most important part of the cleaning process. If you just put the dog bowl in, and set your dishwasher to an economy or eco setting, this will be more than enough to achieve the necessary results on your dogs bowl whilst keeping your electricity bill down and not wasting too much water. Plus, by putting your dishwasher on while it is practically empty, you are actually helping the effectiveness of all future washing cycles as it helps clean out any muck that the machine may have had a build up of with no chance of getting rid of it.

Also, bear in mind what your dogs bowl is made from. Ceramic bowls are porous so require far more cleaning than others. Stainless steel bowls are sturdy, but show up dirt easily. This can be both a good and a bad thing as it is easy to see when the bowl needs cleaning, though hard to clean so that it shines like new every single time! Plastic bowls are easy to clean though they are so light that they can be difficult for your dog to eat from.

Lastly, do you use a dog food mat to put your bowls on? If that is the case, remember that this will need to be wiped down and cleaned too. Your dog will have licked it to get any splashed over food so its just as susceptible to harboring bacteria as the bowl itself.

You May Also Like: Slow Feeder Dog Bowls

The Bottom Line Of Cleaning Your Dogs Bowl

It is, therefore, a good idea to get into the practice of cleaning your dogs bowl as often as possible. It is easy to get out of the habit of doing it as feeding our dogs soon becomes like second nature to us so that we forget we are doing it the result is that we take little notice of the bowl itself.

As discussed, this can have negative repercussions on the cleanliness and hygiene of what your dog is eating from and therefore can have an impact in their overall health. It is good to remember that dogs actually have a much more sensitive digestive system than we often credit them with so it is an idea to remember why it is beneficial to wash their bowl regularly.

When we keep their general health in mind, we are much more likely to clean their bowls often so that they stay at the peak of fitness at all times. This way we are free to enjoy their devoted and unique company which is why we love them so much.

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

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

Author WDF Staff

11.09.2022.

Every product and service on World Dog Finder is independently selected by our editors, contributors, and experts. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a referral fee. Learn more

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.

RELATED:Elevated Dog Bowls - Best Choices

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.

RELATED:Best Slow-feeding Dog Bowls [Review]

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

Our top pick is the Bone Dry Lattice Collection Pet Bowl & Canister. These are high-quality dog bowls, well-made, and sturdy. Not only are they well designed, but they are also the best on the market so far. They come in 7 different colors and 3 sizes. You can even order additional pieces if something happens to other ones. Available sizes are small, medium, and large, so these bowls have you covered no matter what breed you have at home.

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

Best plastic dog bowl

This plastic food bowl has a rubber on the bottom that will prevent your dog from moving the bowl around the house. Also, it will prevent him from spilling water or food, thus keeping your home clean. This plastic food bowl you can easily clean in the dishwasher without getting worried that it will ruin the bowl. You can choose various sizes of this bowl, depending on your dog's size and eating needs.

Best stainless steel dog bowl

This dog bowl is made of stainless steel that is puncture and rust-resistant, and you won't be able to damage it. The bottom ring is made of a non-slipping material, and this will prevent your dog from spilling food or water. The beautiful design of this dog bowl will ensure that it matches your home become perfectly. YETI dog bowl is dishwasher safe, and you don't have to be scared that you will ruin it if you like to wash bowls in the dishwasher.

World Dog Finder team