How to Bathe Your Pet with Rinse Ace

Tips for Successfully & Conveniently Bathing Your Dog -- At Home, Indoors

Now that most of us are spending more time indoors with our pets, keeping them clean is a priority. But how do you bathe your dog inside without the dreaded trips to the do-it-yourself dog wash or groomer, or the mess of juggling super-size cups and buckets to rinse in your bathtub or shower?

“Bath time doesn’t have to be unpleasant for you or your dog,” states Patty Mueller, CEO of Idea Factory, Inc., manufacturer of RINSE ACE® Brand pet bathing products. “Bathing your pet at home can be easy as long as you know how to do it and have a few key items available.”

How often does a dog need to be bathed? It depends on your dog’s lifestyle and breed. Bathing too often can be irritating to the skin so a good guideline is to bathe your dog only when the coat gets dirty or begins smelling “doggy.”

Mueller recommends having these items on hand before you start: brush, comb or rake; shampoo, conditioner, shampoo mitt, bathing tethers, bath mat, drain cover, shower hose with sprayer and towel.

Here are a few tips on how to make indoor pet bathing easier:

1. Gather all the things you need without your pet present (to reduce the pet’s anxiety.)

2. Place a bath mat at the bottom of the sink or tub so your pet will not slip and the surface will be protected from nail scratches.

3. Place a bath mat at the bottom of the sink or tub so your pet will not slip and the surface will be protected from nail scratches.

4. Brush or comb the entire coat. Remove mats and tangles (some areas may need to be trimmed with clippers or scissors.)

5. Place your pet in the sink, tub or shower then attach bathing tethers to the collar to hold your pet in place and minimize its movement as well as free up both your hands.

6. Use a shower hose with sprayer and hold it close to the pet’s coat to allow water to saturate the pet’s coat and skin. (Dumping cups or buckets of water on the coat typically will not thoroughly wet a pet, not to mention how difficult it is to reach the underside.

7. Apply shampoo to a shampoo mitt for better distribution throughout the coat. Work the shampoo lather deep down to the skin. Rinse thoroughly with shower hose until water runs clear. Apply conditioner then rinse until water runs clear. Shampoo or conditioner residue left on the skin may cause irritation.

8. Let your pet shake off the excess water. Then squeeze out excess water by running your hands over the pet’s coat.

9. Finish by towel drying. Keep your pet indoors and away from drafts until the coat is completely dry. Comb or brush, then admire your job well done and appreciate the clean-dog smell.

10. Gather all the bathing and grooming items and place them in a caddy for convenient storage and ease of use for the next bath.

11. Mueller recommends bathing your pet on a regular basis and starting early. “Get your puppy used to a bath and you won’t have any problems when the dog gets older.”Tips for Successfully & Conveniently Bathing Your Dog -- At Home, Indoors