How to Clean Dog Cages
Datetime:2012-09-20 Hits:
How to Clean Dog Cages
Cleaning dog cages is probably everyone's least favorite job, but it must be done, especially if you have several dogs in and out of cages, such as what occurs at a kennel. Cleaning the cages properly is one way to prevent the spread of diseases such as parvovirus, which is a highly contagious and often fatal disease among dogs. Cleaning dog cages does not have to be an expensive undertaking; many commercial cleaners can fail to disinfect or kill potential viruses, and you can clean the cages as well or better yourself.
Instructions
1 Purchase a gallon or more of bleach from any grocery or discount store. Bleach is one of the best disinfectants for cleaning dog cages, and it is cheap to buy. Mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts water, or about 1/2 cup bleach to a gallon of water. Mix the combination in a bucket or a larger container, depending on how many cages you need to clean.
2 Thoroughly soak the dog cage with the water hose. Put your gloves on, and use the scrubber to scrub the sides, top, and bottom portions of the cage. Scrub between the wires of the dog cage. Hose off the scrubber, and then scrub the areas again to ensure all the dirt is removed.
3 Use your water hose to rinse the cage when you have finished thoroughly scrubbing it. Be sure you have rinsed it well and that there is no more bleach left in the cage. Allow it to air dry completely before placing a blanket or bed inside; normally, allowing it to dry overnight is best.
Tips & Warnings
Cleaning the dog cage with bleach diluted with water once a week will ensure that it remains clean and disinfected. If you have several dogs in and out of the cage often, such as in a grooming salon or kennel, you may need to use the bleach solution more often.
When cleaning the cage with the bleach solution, make sure your dog does not lick any of the bleach water. Some dogs actually like the taste and will attempt to drink it, so cleaning the cage when your dog is not in the same area is the best option.
