Homemade Neutralizing Dog Wash

The wash basin's not necessary if you're bathing Buster in the grass.
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A dog may acquire horrible odors from a number of sources: a skunk encounter, a roll in decaying animal matter, a romp in garbage. Dogs roll in disgusting things to transfer the smell onto their coats, then they present their humans and pet mates with the smell to let us know they found something awesome. The smells he finds and brings home proudly are usually overwhelming, and many are persistent. Such nastiness requires a neutralizing dog wash to remove -- and you can make one with a few common household items.

Place a bucket outdoors. Pour 32 ounces of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide into the bucket. Add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap.

Stir the contents with a long-handle spoon. The neutralizing dog wash will foam upward and create bubbles as you mix it. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water, producing foam as the oxygen releases to form a foamy substance.

Call your stinky dog to you and have him stand with his weight evenly distributed on all four legs on the lawn. Dip a sponge into the neutralizer to scoop up foam. Apply the foam to your pet starting at his shoulders and working your way to his tail. Press the foam deeply into his coat to reach his skin throughout his body.

Place a small amount of foam on one long end of the sponge. Wipe his face gently if the offending odor is on his head. Take care to keep your pet still and do not allow the foam to get into his eyes, ears or mouth.

Give your dog some dog treats and entertain him with a toy if necessary to keep him occupied for about five minutes for the neutralizer to work.

Rinse your dog thoroughly with water from the garden hose to remove all of the foam. If the offensive odor is still present, repeat soaking him in the neutralizer, rinse him thoroughly again, then bathe him in his normal dog shampoo.

Dry your four-legged friend with towels and let him air-dry completely. or use a blow-dryer if that is your normal grooming routine.

Tips

  • Do not let your smelly dog inside until he is clean and smells fresh. Otherwise, he may shake if you bathe him inside and deposit the bad odor in your bathroom.

Warnings

  • Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from a drug store. Do not use a stronger solution of 30 percent, which is for hair. The 3 percent peroxide has more stability, is less harsh and will not hurt your dog’s fur or skin.

    Use products that are not expired to achieve the chemical reaction necessary to bubble the smell out of your dog’s fur and skin.

Warnings

  • Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from a drug store. Do not use a stronger solution of 30 percent, which is for hair. The 3 percent peroxide has more stability, is less harsh and will not hurt your dog’s fur or skin.

  • Use products that are not expired to achieve the chemical reaction necessary to bubble the smell out of your dog’s fur and skin.

Tips

  • Do not let your smelly dog inside until he is clean and smells fresh. Otherwise, he may shake if you bathe him inside and deposit the bad odor in your bathroom.

Items You Will Need

  • Bucket
  • 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 32 oz.
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon mild dish soap
  • Long-handle spoon
  • Sponge
  • Dog treats
  • Garden hose
  • Towels