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You may have the best-trained dogs in the world, but that does not make them perform some basic chores. There is no known dog worldwide for its prowess in cleaning its playpen. Someone has to do that dirty job; that person is you. Regular and proper playpen cleaning simplifies the work and makes it less irritating.
Type of the Playpen
It doesn’t matter the type of playpen you have, whether used or new; the cleaning process is similar. The playpen requires a proper good scrub to keep it hygienic for the dog. Cleaning a dog’s playpen depends on the type you have, either an outdoor or indoor playpen.
The dismantlable outdoor playpens are about to move for cleaning. The portable and lightweight indoor playpens grant seamless cleaning as they can be dismantled and assembled easily. The cleaning detergents employed are significant to the playpen’s material make-up. Some materials are ideal for metallic playpens, while others are good for nylon or plastic playpens.
Why Clean the Dog Playpen?
Cleaning playpens eliminate odors and grants tidiness to the surrounding environment. Perhaps the most significant reason for playpen cleaning is to enhance the dog’s health. Failure to clean the playpens places your dog at the risk of getting harmed by the fast accumulated bacteria beneath the regularly collected material wastes, germs, and hairs.
Washing the dog playpen also helps maintain the environment by eliminating potential water contamination due to poor waste disposal.
Cleaning Materials
Several available commercial products serve to eliminate odors and disinfect the playpen. There are also simple homemade cleaning alternatives that serve the purpose well due to their pet-friendly nature. Several domestic cleaners contain ammonia, rendering them unsuitable for dog playpen cleaning.
These cleaners are irritants to a dog’s vital organs such as the throat, nose, and eye. Some of the preferred recommended ammonia-free dog kennel cleansers are as below:
Properly dilute bleach with water to create a light weak mix. A thorough rinsing should follow the disinfection before allowing the playpen to dry well. The major downside to using bleach is that with time it will erode the metal playpen. It is better to use bleach on nylon or plastic playpens.
Baking soda serves as an excellent playpen cleaning agent but not a disinfectant. Use a mild abrasive and smell absorbing baking soda mix with salt and water. The paste is ideal for cleaning and scouring, removing the most stubborn ingrained dirt and stains.
Use regular vinegar, a natural disinfectant with weak acetic acid. Mix the vinegar and water in equal measure to effectively disinfect the playpen. Vinegar is entirely pet-safe. Remedy the discomfort created for you or the dog by the vinegar’s smell by adding lavender oil to the mixture. You can also use distilled white vinegar to reduce the smell of any residual vinegar.
Playpen Cleaning Process
Cleaning and disinfecting the dog playpen usually enhances the pet’s health. Depending on the amount of time the dog spends in the pen, the cleaning process should be at least once per week. The playpen cleaning process consists of several steps that are:
First Playpen Cleaning. The process involves removing the puppy’s bed, toys, and feeding bowls for separate cleaning and collecting and disposing of the dog’s waste.
Playpen Rinsing Down. For a portable playpen, rinsing is easy as it requires hosing down the remains of the dog’s leftovers and wastes. Rinsing the large indoor playpen is done using warm water and a clean cloth to drying it up.
Kennel Scrubbing. Regardless of the material of the playpen, proper grease scrubbing is ideal in removing the dog’s waste. The process involves using favorable cleaning agents to swab the floor and walls. After a hard-bristle brushing, rinse the playpen with warm water and dry it off with a clean cloth. Leave the playpen in the open air to allow proper air circulation, naturally dry up, and staying fresh.
Finish Up Cleaning. The finish-up process involves cleaning the pet’s playpen contents. Floss the dog’s toys and feeding bowls in the cleaning agents used to clean the playpen. Use a washing machine to clean the blankets and bedding. Thoroughly rinse the toys and bowl using clean water and leave everything out to dry in the open air.
Playpen Cleaning Classifications
After careful consideration of the cleaning materials to use, you need to pick the best type of playpen cleaning method. Some of the ideal dog playpen cleaning methods at your disposal are below:
Usual Cleaning and Maintenance. A well-behaved and potty-trained puppy allows you to tidy up the playpen once to twice a week. The tidying up involves sweeping or vacuuming out spilled litter from the box and its sides. Use a moist sponge to wipe the floorboard.
Shake out and replace bedding, and place down a clean bath towel if you have a towel in the pen. Change the dog’s pee pads and training paper daily or several times a day, as needed.
Deep Cleaning and Disinfection. Whether you are cleaning a new or used playpen, a good hosing off is necessary. The process removes the worst of dirt. Use dish detergent and regular bleach solution to spray plastic-covered pens.
Laundry detergents are the best bet for cloth-covered playpens. The cleaning process involves soaking, letting it sit briefly then using a scrub brush or sponge to clean. Thoroughly hose off and turn it bottom up to dry.
Cleansing Secondhand Playpens. Use a thorough cleansing method for stored or secondhand pens. The cleaning eliminates exposing the dog to unknown hibernating bacteria, germs, insects, or spiders within the playpen. Thoroughly disinfect after cleaning to avoid possible disease passage from another ill dog. The pen requires a routine thorough cleaning at least once every two to three weeks to eliminate bacterial build-up and mildew problems. It also keeps the pen neat and fresh.
Playpen Preservation. It is ideal to consider using quality rugs and rubber buttons to protect and soak off the spills. This process enhances the durability of the pen. Use a thick padded blanket or a carpet to cover the floor and make the playpen look neater. Use folded pee pads to soak the spilling water from the water dish. Ensure to keep the kennel bottom layers clean and dry best for the pup’s health.
In Summary
Cleaning is a tedious task even to people in maintaining their environment. It is not any less unpleasant a chore to clean and maintain a dog’s playpen. A dog’s responsible owner must ensure the pet’s environment is conducive at all times possible. Carefully and meticulously consider the cleaning process and materials to employ before embarking on the cleaning task.
The longevity of the playpen and comfort of your dog depends on your chosen cleaning process, frequency, and materials utilized. Your dog may not outrightly say “Thank you,” but the expressions and reactions given in return say a lot. A man’s best friend deserves a spruced-up and well-cleaned home just as the man deserves one too.
