Dirty Dog Gear

Dirty Dog Gear: Cleaning Tips and Solutions

If you own a dog, then you know how playful they can get. From diving into mud puddles to rolling about in the dirt, dogs never shy away from dirt, muck, and for a bit of fun. Unfortunately, that also means you’re left dealing with the aftermath— specifically, the ensuing mess they leave behind.

Suffice it to say, whatever mess your canine buddy gets into, his dog gear is likely going to be joining in too. All those times you took to pick out the perfect gear, with all your future adventures in mind, complete with all the bits and pieces, color-coordinated, even, only to end up all soiled with lots of caked-up mud and not to mention, some rather funky smell.

As important as it is for your dog to get some outdoor fun, it matters too that you know how to look after his gear. Aside from the fact that it is important to keep it dirt and odor-free, well-cared-for dog gear will also last a long time.  

So, read on as we look into some of the best dirty dog gear cleaning tips and solutions.

 

Cleaning your dog’s dirty pack

  • Take out all contents, water bladders included
  • Shake out the pack to shake off any debris and dirt
  • Use warm water and mild soap to handwash the pack
  • Rinse the pack thoroughly
  • Air dry the pack
  • If spot cleaning is needed, use a gentle brush, preferably a toothbrush or a rag, and soapy water

Cleaning the water bladder

Most dog packs these days contain a water bladder. To clean, make sure to:

  • Use warm, soapy water after every use, and make sure it is rinsed thoroughly
  • Use chopsticks to make it easier to hold the water bladder up, allowing any remaining water to escape
  • Inflate the water bladder and make sure it is fully dry before putting it away
  • Hang the water bladder upside down on the drying rack
  • Store the water bladder in the freezer and take the caps off as this helps prevent the growth of mold

Additional tip: If the water bladder contains old, stale water, Bottle Bright tablets can be used to clean it.

 

Cleaning your dog’s boots

  • Take the boots out of the storage bag
  • Use a clean cloth to wash off any dust and loose dirt
  • Make sure that all closures and straps are secured
  • Machine wash the boots; set the machine on gentle cycle and use cold water with mild detergent
  • Air dry afterward

Cleaning your pup’s boot liners

  • Machine wash your pup’s booth liners
  • Use the gentle wash setting and use cold water with mild detergent, avoid bleaching
  • Air dry the boot liners

Cleaning your pup’s harness

  • Ensure that any dirt and debris are shaken off
  • Handwash the harness with mild soap and warm water
  • Rinse the harness thoroughly
  • Air-dry the harness
  • If required, use a gentle brush, preferably a toothbrush or a rag for spot cleaning, use soapy water

Cleaning your pup’s apparel

  • Make sure that fasteners are secured
  • Machine wash the apparel; set it on gentle cycle, and use cold water
  • Hang the apparel to dry
  • Do not bleach, dry clean, or iron

Cleaning your pup’s undercoat water jacket

  • Secure any fastener
  • Use cold water to rinse the water jacket every time it is used
  • Hang the garment to dry
  • Do not bleach, dry clean, or iron

Cleaning your pup’s packable bowls

  • Shake off any debris, dirt, and crumbs
  • Use water and mild soap to handwash the bowls
  • Rinse the bowls thoroughly
  • Air-dry the bowls

Cleaning your pup’s leash and collar

  • Shake off any debris and dirt
  • Use mild soap and warm water to handwash the leash and collar
  • Rinse the leash and collar thoroughly
  • Air-dry the items

Additional tip: If you want to achieve a squeaky-clean feel, you can soak the leash and collar in Oxi Clean. It will leave it looking and smelling good as new too!

If you want to avoid having to do a deep cleaning of your dog’s leash and collar every time you spend time outdoors where there is access to water, you can invest in a waterproof and stink-proof collar instead. These collars have coated webbing which ensures that odor-producing bacteria are sealed out.


Cleaning your pup’s basecamp mat

  • Handwash the mat
  • Use only mild detergent
  • Air dry the mat afterward

Getting the smell off a dirty dog gear

  • Mix together 1 tsp dish soap, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1-quart hydrogen peroxide
  • In an open container, soak the dirty dog gear in the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes
  • Rinse the gear
  • Air-dry the garment

Tips for the toughest dirty dog gear

If you have done all the steps provided above but still see some stain spots and mystery residues that will not budge, here are some helpful tips for you.


Q: There’s a dark gray mark left on my pup’s fur after wearing a collar. Is there any way to prevent this?

A: To prevent the collar from leaving a mark on your pup’s fur, make a paste of baking water and soda and apply it on the collar. Leave it to harden. Use a toothbrush to scrub the solution and then rinse thoroughly. Allow the collar to dry before putting it on your dog again. To get rid of the grey mark on your dog’s fur, just use normal pet shampoo. Dish soap can also be used to get rid of any fur discoloration.


Q: There’s a black residue coming off of the leash hardware connecting with the V-ring. It’s causing discoloration on my dog’s gear and fur. Should I be worried?

A: This is a naturally-occurring process due to the dog’s fur oil causing the anodized aluminum to be “polished”. In some cases, this appears as a discoloration but has nothing to do with the metal’s quality. The process does occur in a low percentage of dogs but is not something to be concerned about.


One way to prevent this is to clean the metal. To do this, just make a paste of baking soda and water. Spread it onto the leash hardware and allow it to harden. Afterward, use a toothbrush to scrub away the solution, rinse it thoroughly, and dry it properly.