This Is How Often Your Pet’s Bowl Needs Cleaning – LifeSavvy

As pet owners, we usually have set times for most things, like when our fur babies eat or use the bathroom. But one thing many of us don’t know for sure is how often we should clean our pets’ food and water bowls (and it’s more often than you might think).

Did you know that your pet’s feeders should be cleaned with soap and water after each meal?

Veterinarian Katie Malensek told Chewy that washing them after each use is ideal because dried food particles and saliva contain bacteria that can multiply without proper cleaning. Just as we would clean our own dishes after eating, Malensek said, we should do the same with our pets.

As for the water bowls, these should be cleaned once a day.

Salmonella, E. coli, algae, and mold are commonly found in our pets’ food and water bowls, which are harmful to everyone in the home, not just our pets.

In fact, the National Sanitation Foundation ranked pet bowls as the fourth most germy household item, after kitchen sponge, sink, and toothbrush holder. They recommend running the bowls through the dishwasher or scrubbing them well with hot, soapy water.

It makes sense, right? Imagine making a plate of food and grabbing a used, dirty plate. We know this may have been news to you, so next time you go to wash your dog’s dish, don’t forget to rub his tummy as an apology (although he’s probably forgiven you by now).