How to Clean and Maintain Outdoor Dog Kennels – Top Dog Tips
Outdoor dog kennels are great. They give your dog the chance to get some fresh air while also providing a space where your Fido can come back and relax when he’s done playing.
It allows us as owners to not worry about our dogs while they have free time.
Outdoor dog kennels are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, configurations, and materials, and it’s all determined by what you think is best for your dog.
Pet parents’ most significant problem with these outdoor dog crates is figuring out how to clean them.
Cleaning your outdoor dog kennel doesn’t have to be a drag.
If you have the right tools and all the know-how, you’ll be able to clean your pup’s house in a beat.
In this article, I’ll discuss 11 ways and tips to maintain and clean an outdoor dog kennel.
Why Even Have an Outdoor Dog Crate?
There are tons of reasons to get an outdoor dog kennel.
As a dog parent, you should not let the idea of cleaning one of those dog crates daunt you: cleaning these doesn’t need to be difficult if you know what you’re doing.
Why do pet parents buy them?
Usually, the main reason is that outdoor dog kennels provide a place for dogs to play outside that is confined by a set perimeter but isn’t as expensive as some of those electric dog fences.
Many dog owners with their own house often work in the yard or do something else outside.
If you’re in this position, then there’s no reason to leave your buddy behind.
Unlike soft-sided dog crates, an outdoor dog kennel gives dogs a chance to be somewhere around you while breathing fresh air and without the risks of them running away or wandering off.
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You can find outdoor dog kennels made of various materials, from steel to plastic to coated wood.
Whichever you purchase, I recommend that you make sure that the material is waterproof and durable.
Dog crates made for the outside are not to be messed around with.
Most owners will not want to waste their money on a flimsy thing that will fall to pieces when it rains or when a dog bites into it.
We have written about some of these kennels in our dog supplies reviews section.
After you’ve selected your future dog kennel for the outdoors, you’ll need to know how to clean it, care for it and maintain it.
Below, I’ll discuss some ways you can clean and maintain your outdoor dog kennel to make it as long-lasting and durable as possible.
Eliminating Maintenance Mayhem: Ways to Clean an Outdoor Dog Kennel Easily
The first point of reference is always your common sense.
Read the directions provided with the kennel.
They’re not there by accident.
Directions and manuals come with pretty much everything we buy, so if there are unique product recommendations or instructions, you’ll need to see them to optimize your kennel’s length of durability.
In addition, find out what material(s) the kennel is made of.
Check if your new outdoor dog kennel is a combination of materials such as wood, plastic, and metal.
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Regardless of whether the metal part of the dog kennel is stainless steel, you must clean this regularly.
You’ll need to clean the metal even if it is stainless. Remember, the kennel was outside, so it may get pretty dirty.
Weiman Stainless Steel Spray was reviewed by many home improvement sites as one of the top stainless steel cleaners that they test as their number one choice.
It will clean up stubborn dirt and grime without leaving a residue.
According to certain reviews, the stainless steel might look a little darker after you use it.
If you want a nontoxic stainless steel cleaner, use olive oil instead.
Olive oil does not seem like an obvious cleaning solution, but it is.
Extra virgin olive oil won’t make the steel greasy if you approach this correctly.
All you need to do is use that to clean the steel and then wipe off any excess with a rag.
If you have a dog that likes to chew on bars, using a nontoxic cleaner is a good idea.
RELATED: How to Choose the Right Dog Kennel Cover
Whether your outdoor dog kennel is wood, wood-attached to metal, or wood-coated, make sure to keep it clean.
Clean the wood by first wiping away the visible debris off the wood with a dry cloth.
You will save time and avoid making dirt on the wood ingrained if you first wipe it with a dry cloth.
Then, combine ¼ cup of dish-washing soap with a gallon of warm water. Stir it up and use that to clean the wood.
Using warm water helps to remove dirt on the kennels, but the soap is gentle enough that you won’t damage your hands.
Don’t power-wash the dog kennel, as that may cause it to wear down.
Power-washing is very harsh, so it’s best to use good old-fashioned elbow grease to clean the outdoor dog crate.
A nontoxic way to polish wood is to add ¼ cup of lemon juice and ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil.
If your dog chews on or licks your kennel’s wood, you should use nontoxic polishes or cleaners.
Removing harmful chemicals keeps them safer (and helps the environment too).
If you have a kennel made of plastic, your job is pretty easy.
It is pretty easy to clean plastic, and you can use the soap and water I mentioned with the wood-cleaning bit.
If the plastic is really dirty, try mixing white vinegar and hot water, another nontoxic cleaning alternative.
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An outdoor dog kennel’s most commonly used parts should be maintained and cleaned.
In this case, one of those parts is the hinges.
The door hinges go through the most wear and tear compared to the rest of the kennel.
You’re always opening them to go in and out.
Some outdoor kennels for dogs don’t have hinges, but for those that do, you need to keep them well-greased so you’ll be able to get in and out quickly.
For non-entrance hinges, if you need to store the kennel, it will collapse quicker (no struggling).
Try white lithium grease to keep the hinges of the doors well-oiled.
Regular upkeep is the last and most essential tip for maintaining and cleaning an outdoor dog kennel.
While these tips work great, you need to use them and clean them more than once a month to stay in excellent condition (once a week if your dogs use the kennel regularly).
By implementing these cleaning techniques regularly, you can keep your outdoor dog kennel in a tip-top shape!
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