Animal shelters need to be cleaned daily to control the spread of disease as well as to keep the animals happy and comfortable. Regular cleaning of animal shelters keep animals from developing skin and respiratory conditions and cuts down on the transmission of harmful viruses by removing urine, feces, spoiled food and other contaminants which can become a hotbed for bacteria and viruses.
Things You'll Need
- Scrub brush
- Dish soap
- Disinfectant
- Hot water
- Bucket
- Dry towels
Instructions
How to Clean an Animal Shelter
Develop a daily cleaning schedule. The enclosure should be cleaned daily with hot water and a broad spectrum disinfectant, such as chlorine bleach, that will kill bacteria as well as several well known and highly contagious viruses like parvovirus and distemper. In order for the disinfectant to be effective, it must be mixed according to package directions.
Scrub the entire enclosure. The entire area of the shelter should be scrubbed throroughly with hot water and a surfactant such as dish soap to remove any urine, feces or other contaminants from the walls, ceiling or floor of the enclosure. Do not cut corners and only scrub the areas in which the dog can reach. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.
Apply disinfectant. Rub the properly mixed disinfectant on the entire surface of the shelter (including the walls, ceiling, floor and doors) and allow to stand for several minutes. Rinse thoroughly. It is important to remove all traces of disinfectant as these substances can irritate the skin and respiratory tracts of the animal being housed.
Thoroughly dry the enclosure. Wipe down with a towel and allow ventilation before allowing the animal to return to its shelter. During this period you can clean and disinfect any food or water bowls and toys that may have become soiled.
Reintroduce the animal back into the enclosure.