Instructions
Land Turtle
Remove the land turtle from his habitat and clean the habitat out.
Dampen a soft rag in regular water. Don't use soap or any other type of cleaner.
Wipe the turtle's shell carefully with the soft rag. If his legs are exposed you can wipe them as well, but if they aren't, you probably don't need to worry about cleaning them because the turtle will use the bedding in his clean habitat to make sure that he is clean.
Water Turtle
Remove your water turtle from his habitat and place him in the bathtub. Run lukewarm water, as similar in temperature to his habitat as possible, until it comes up to his shell. He should be able to stand on the bottom of the bathtub and reach his head easily up for air. You can leave him there while you clean his habitat. Never bother washing a water turtle without also cleaning out his habitat because, if you put a clean turtle back into a dirty habitat, he will get dirty again right away.
Drain the water when you are finished cleaning the habitat.
Lift the turtle and hold him above to tub. With a warm, wet rag, clean off his shell and legs if he has them exposed. Don't use soap or any other type of cleaner. If he has buildup on his shell, let him soak in clean bathwater for awhile and then try to wipe it off again. If it doesn't come off, take him to the vet because he might need an anti-fungal medication.
Rinse the turtle again by running fresh water into the bathtub and placing him in it. If he didn't let you wash his legs, leave him in the bath for about ten minutes, and then drain it. Fill it up again and do the same thing. The longer he can sit in water that is constantly being cleaned, the cleaner he will get.
How to Wash a Turtle
A turtle, whether it is a land turtle like a box turtle or a water turtle such as a red-eared slider turtle, needs to be washed as part of your animal- or pet-care routine. There are different methods for washing a land turtle (or tortoise) and a water turtle, but cleaning out their habitats is important for both types.