How do I keep my outside dog water bowl clean?
Velda Nicolas
2025-06-23 16:47:21
Count answers: 12
To keep your outside dog water bowl clean, never leave their bowl in the sun or near bird feeders, and bring outdoor bowls in at night for cleaning and to avoid nocturnal visitors. The type of bowl is also a factor to consider, some bowls are more porous, such as plastic or unglazed ceramic bowls, the porosity makes them harder to clean, and they are more likely to carry bacteria, particularly when they develop tiny scratches. The safest choice is stainless steel, which is the easiest to disinfect, followed by ceramic bowls but these must be glazed with a lead free glaze and free from cracks.
Pet food and water bowls should be cleaned regularly, and this means much more than just a quick rinse. Cleaning should be done daily by washing the bowls in very hot soapy water for at least 30 seconds or dishwashing detergent and then thoroughly dry with a towel. This should be accompanied by a weekly full sanitisation in the dishwasher, which can even be run on a separate cycle if you are concerned about anyone in the household who is immunocompromised.
In general, if the bowl doesn’t look like something you would eat or drink from, then neither should your pet. Keeping your pet’s water clean is easy once you get into a routine, and those shiny bowls mean less contamination and less risk of disease for both your pets and human family members.
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