How to Clean and Sanitize Pet Bowls

An empty, clean stainless steel pet bowl on a stone floor with furry dog legs in the background.

Learn how to clean and sanitize dog and pet bowls, cat dishes and more with our Free & Clear line of products, formulated without ammonia, bleach or dyes, and safe around pets and food.*

More from Clorox experts
By Mary Gagliardi

Discover more ways to clean.

Use as directed.

Group shot of Clorox disinfecting bleach, wipes, toilet cleaner and multi-purpose spray products.

We know pets are like family. It’s one of the reasons our Clorox® Free & Clear products are formulated to deliver a powerful clean without ammonia, bleach or dyes, so they’re safe to use around fur babies and food.* On top of that, clean up is easy with no rinse required!

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Cleaning and sanitizing with Free & Clear

What you need

Steps to clean and sanitize pet bowls with Free & Clear

  1. Clean pet bowl

    Hold Clorox® Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner 6-8 inches from the surface and spray onto the pet bowl, then wipe clean with paper towels; clean the bottom last. Or wipe clean with Clorox® Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes.

    Person spraying Clorox Free & Clear Multi-Surface Cleaner at downward angle.

  2. Sanitize the pet bowl

    Hold Clorox® Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist 6-8 inches away from the surface and spray the pet bowl all over (both the inside and the outside) until thoroughly wet.

    Tip

    Surface must remain visibly wet for 1 minute to sanitize, or 2 minutes to disinfect.

    Hand spraying Clorox Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist at downward angle on neutral background.

  3. Allow to dry

    Treated surfaces will air dry in a few minutes, or they can be wiped dry with a paper towel.

    open window ventilation

Cleaning and sanitizing with bleach

What you need

Steps to sanitize pet bowls with bleach

  1. Make the bleach sanitizing solution

    Measure 1 gallon of water (16 cups) into the plastic dishpan, then add 2 teaspoons Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.

    Tip

    Bleach and water solutions must be made fresh daily.

    Close-up of pouring Clorox Bleach from white bottle

  2. Pre-clean the pet bowl

    Wash the pet bowl with the dish detergent and hot water, then rinse with clean water.

    Woman hand washing bowls in stainless steel sink with blue sponge and sudsy, soapy water.

  3. Soak the pet bowl in the bleach solution

    Set the pet bowl into the sanitizing solution and let it soak for 2 minutes.

    Person wearing rubber gloves holding bowl over blue plastic tub in stainless steel sink, with another bowl and water in tub.

  4. Air dry

    There is no rinsing step when sanitizing food-contact surfaces, including your pets food and water bowls and toys. Simply let the pet bowl air dry before use.

    open window ventilation
  • *

    When used as directed.