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How to Clean and Sanitize Pet Bowls

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.*

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By Mary Gagliardi
New Clorox® Pet Bundle

Save 10% on bleach-free essentials
customized for pet owners.

New Clorox® Pet Bundle

Save 10% on bleach-free essentials customized for pet owners.

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. 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. 

  2. 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. 

  3. 3

    Allow to dry

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

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Cleaning and sanitizing with bleach

What you need

Steps to sanitize pet bowls with bleach

  1. 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.

    bleach pouring from bottle
  2. 2

    Pre-clean the pet bowl

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

  3. 3

    Soak the pet bowl in the bleach solution

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

  4. 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.  

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    • *

      When used as directed.