How to Clean a Dog with Club Soda

Cleaning stinky dogs can be a challenge, especially when you are not certain exactly what it is that you are removing from their coats. This can be especially tricky if your dog has sensitive skin, or very thick fur that is hard to rinse. Bathing your dog in a club soda bath is one alternative. Unflavored club soda is gentle on skin, and the bubbles help loosen grime and oils, just as they do on carpet and fabric stains.

Things You'll Need

  • Old clothing
  • Water
  • Basin or tub (optional)
  • Club soda
  • Dog shampoo
  • Towels
  • Dog brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on old clothing.

    • 2

      Pour club soda on the part of your dog's coat that is most obviously stained or smelly. Many biological stains---such as skunk spray---are oil-based, so it's important to rinse them out instead of just spreading them all over the dog.

    • 3

      Apply a quarter-sized dollop of dog shampoo to the spot you are treating, and rub it in thoroughly.

    • 4

      Rinse the shampoo out with club soda, trying to let it run straight down off of the dog, so that you don't spread any of the debris.

    • 5

      Put warm water in a basin or tub if you have a small dog. Wet larger dogs with a hose. Keeping one hand on your dog's head or shoulders sometimes keeps them from shaking, but it's not fool-proof, so be prepared to end up as wet as the dog.

    • 6

      Shampoo your dog thoroughly, making sure he is clean right down to the skin.

    • 7

      Rinse out the shampoo with club soda, which should bubble out any remaining nasty stuff. Rinse your dog again with clear water, because club soda does contain sodium, and if any of it dries on his skin, it can make him itchy.

    • 8

      Dry your dog with clean towels, and give his fur a good brushing to make sure that whatever he brought home to you is completely gone.