How to Clean your Dog Brush -Tips for Cleaning Pet Grooming Tool

Brushing and grooming a pet is essential. You can get a shiny coat of your pet, removing all the dead skin by cleaning it regularly. This activity helps you to get rid of loose, dull hair strands and keep them free from tangles and knots. It also improves the blood flow and distributes natural oils throughout the pet’s coat. As such brushes and other grooming instruments remove the common allergens and debris stuck in the hair, it is crucial to clean it from time to time. This article will further discuss the step-by-step guide on how to clean your dog’s brush without deteriorating its quality.

How to Clean your Dog Brush?

Cleaning a Dog Brush

According to my method, there are three main parts to clean a dog brush. The first and most important part is soaking. The second one is washing. And the last part is storing and maintaining the brush or other tools.

Soaking

Step 1: Get rid of the fur that is easily removable.

Before starting the brush cleaning process, it is crucial to get rid of all those hair strands which are visible and easily removable. Not only hair, but you can also try to remove the dirt from the brush’s pad and bristles. This process will make the entire cleaning process convenient and less time-consuming. Don’t worry if you can’t clean the visible dander as it is deep inside. The following steps will extract them. Just clean the buildup.

Step 2: Prepare a solution in which you can soak the brush or comb.

The experts suggest making a solution, including water and vinegar, to clean the grooming tools. You can also use shampoo instead of vinegar. Take equal parts of warm water and white or apple cider vinegar and mix it well. If you want to use shampoo, mix one or two tablespoons into a bowl full of water.

Step 3: Soak the brush or comb into the solution.

Once you have prepared the mix, now you can soak the dog’s brush into it. Make sure that all the brush bristles or comb teeth have been submerged in the cleaning solution. Keep them inside for twenty to thirty minutes before washing. This process will also help you to disinfect the tools. If you have a brush that is not made of plastic and has a fabric pad in it, do not soak the entire head to avoid moisture.   

Washing

Step 4: Dip or rinse the brushes with clean water.

Soaking will loosen up the residual dirt and other stubborn debris. Now you can easily clean these dirty stuff from the dog brush. Rinse it in the clean tap water and shake it well to whisk off any excess moisture. 

Step 5: Clean the brush thoroughly with your fingers.

After rinsing, you should clean the brush with your thumb and forefinger to ensure that all debris has been removed completely. If you don’t want to use your hand, you can also do it with an old toothbrush or comb.

Step 6: Spray disinfectant on the clean brush.

Vinegar and shampoo, both include antibacterial properties. Even though you have already soaked the brush into your DIY solution, it is preferable to apply a separate disinfectant to remove germs, viruses, and other bacteria. You can either use aerosol, enzymatic, etc. or make your own using water and bleach. If you have many tools to clean, you can also buy UV lights. Ultraviolet light is one of the greatest options to get rid of bacteria.

Maintaining

Step 7: Dry the dog brush with a clean and hygienic towel.

Never use your freshly washed and disinfected brush immediately after the cleaning process. Give it some time to dry thoroughly before subsequent use. Put it on a dry towel. The bristle side should face down so that the water can pass.

Step 8: Check the brushes and combs often.

Only cleaning or disinfecting a dog’s brush is not sufficient. Even the most carefully cleaned brush or comb may show signs of wear and tear. Being a dog owner, you have to check all the grooming tools from time to time. If it has cracks or broken bristles, it is time to change the brush. Extracted teeth can harm the pet. So, don’t risk it. 

These are the three most important phases of cleaning the dog brush. It is essential to store the grooming tools in a dry, warm space, away from the reach of pets and toddlers. Also, you should repeat the whole cleaning process once a week. If you can spare half an hour a week, you will able to get clean grooming tools that last long.