A simple guide to cleaning a dog cage

No matter how cute and cuddly your furry friend is, keeping their crate clean, sanitized, and smelling fresh can be a challenge! Whether your pet really likes tidiness or not, I’m sure you don’t want a cluttered and weird-smelling home. Maybe you bought a metal dog crate or a plastic variety and you're wondering how to make sure your best friend has a warm, comfortable and safe environment to snuggle in. Read on and we'll answer all your questions.First, we will look at the short answer as to how to clean your dog crate, then we’ll go into more detail on the best way to do it and what will help you.

Why do I need to keep my pet crate clean?

While you may not think it will matter if your pet is messy, failing to clean their litter box in a timely manner can lead to bacterial growth and your pet may become sick as a result. So for their health and yours, they really do deserve a clean and sanitized home.

It’s worth knowing that their natural instinct, along with any training you’ve done with them, makes them extremely hesitant to perform bodily functions inside the cage. However, even the most behaved canines make messes sometimes and, just like humans, every so often their beds and homes need a spruce up.

So, let’s begin by looking at how best to make your furry friend’s crate spotless to show them how much you care

How to clean a metal dog crate

To ensure the best results, first remove all your dog’s bedding, toys, water & food bowels and blankets for washing. Take the cage outside if possible or use a bathtub with an old towel. To totally eliminate microbes, use natural cleaning and disinfecting products, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Large heavy-duty crates can be more time consuming to keep clean and fresh rather than their smaller counterparts.

Luckily, most of them have a pull-out tray which makes the cleaning process simpler. So, take a look at our tips below on how to keep a metal cage polished and clean.

Remove Odor

To totally remove smelly pet odors that may have accumulated, apply a generous amount of pet odor remover and let it air dry. Use a generous amount to totally destroy any unwanted odors to keep your furry friends home smelling fresh and clean.

The next stage after odor remediation is to give the enclosures a good scrub!

Wash

If the weather is suitable, it might be easier to take the cage outdoors to wash it, especially if it’s a larger type cage. If the weather is not co-operating, then indoors is fine.

The bathtub is probably the best place to start the cleaning process - depending on the size of your cage! Especially if you have a shower head over your bath.

Line the tub with a thin towel and place the cage into a bathtub. Use the head shower to spray the unit and then fill a bucket with warm water and a cleaning solution - this cleaning solution is perfect! Use a scrub brush to apply the solution to the crate, making sure to scrub the entire cage and make sure you remove any rusty areas too.

To totally eliminate microbes use an eco-friendly and 100% pet-friendly disinfecting product over the whole cage, inside and out, including the plastic tray.

Rinse

After scrubbing away any stubborn stains, make sure you rinse thoroughly. Even though you’re using pet friendly products, it’s still important to rinse minimizing any chance of upsetting pet tummies due to detergent residue.

How do I clean a rusty crate?

If your kennel is in less than optimal condition it may require some considerable work to restore its previous glory. First, use a wire brush to remove all the rust, then prime and paint it with the non-toxic spray paint. Refurbishing will ensure durability and protect the metal cage from further damage.

So now we’ve looked at the best ways to clean metal cages and restore an old rusty crate, let’s look to see how you can get your pets plastic crate sparkling clean, thoroughly sanitized and smelling fresh.

After thoroughly sanitizing and cleaning the inside of your plastic crate, make sure you give the outside a really good cleaning too. Make sure, once again, you’re using specialized products which are safe for your pets and the environment.

“Do not mix any specialized cleaning products with bleach as it may cause a chemical reaction which can damage the kennel or injure you”.

Finally…

We hope you’ve received some great tips on how to keep your doggy crate clean, microbe free and smelling fresh, so they can relax in peace.

Make sure you take a look at our great range of products designed to give maximum effectiveness in cleaning your dog’s important environment, such as kennels and crates - and show them how much you care by giving them a clean and fresh smelling crate..

For more information about pet cage, please visit our website www.petsproofing.com.