How to Clean a Pet Carrier
Main Takeaways
- Learning how to clean a cat carrier is essential to ensuring your pet’s hygiene and comfort.
- You should use gentle detergents to avoid skin irritation.
- Vacuum any loose hair and debris from your carrier.
- Spot clean your travel bag with a gentle soap.
From vacations to vet visits, you always want your pet to feel like they’re traveling first-class. But for that, you need more than a premium carrier. You need a clean carrier.
Carriers are magnets for fur, dirt, and even bacteria because of environmental contaminants and buildup from public spaces! This makes regular cleaning essential for your pet’s health and comfort.
Learn more about how to clean a cat and dog carrier with these tips at Katziela!
What You’ll Need to Clean Your Pet Carrier
- Pet detergent
- Vacuum or brush
- Small bowl or bucket of water
- Two soft cloths
- (Optional) gloves to protect your hands
Katziela Note: Do NOT use bleach or any harsh soaps! They can damage your bag and irritate your pet.
How to Clean a Soft Cat Carrier
Follow these easy steps for cleaning fabric pet carriers:
Wash Any Bedding
Remove any blankets, pads, or beds from your soft pet carrier, and toss them into your washing machine. Double-check that their bed is machine-washable before washing!
Make sure you use a pet-safe detergent. Regular detergents are made with harsh chemicals and heavy fragrances that can cause skin irritation and allergies in pets. Pet-safe formulas, like our pet cleaning products at Katziela, use natural enzymes to break down sources of pet odors.
Vacuum Pet Fur and Loose Debris
The next step in learning how to clean a cat carrier is to shake out any fur, dirt, and debris. They can be particularly stubborn in corners and seams, so you’ll need a vacuum or brush to get into these small spaces. Lint rollers are also effective.
Spot Clean Your Carrier
You’ll need to grab your soft cloth/sponge, pet-safe soap or detergent, and a bowl of warm water. If you have a pet carrier with wheels, you may also want to remove its wheeled baseboard to keep your carrier in place during the cleaning process.
How to clean a cat or pet carrier:
- Add a small amount of soap to your warm water and swish it around to create your DIY cleaning solution.
- Dip your soft cloth into the soapy mixture. It should not be overly saturated or dripping wet! Wring your cloth before cleaning to avoid soaking the fabric.
- Gently dab any stains and wipe the inside and outside of the carrier. Pay special attention to anywhere your pet rests their head and paws. These spaces often harbor more body oils and grime.
- Use a damp cloth to “rinse” your carrier.
- Let it air dry completely before adding any bedding back into the bag.
How to Clean a Hard Cat or Dog Carrier
Cleaning crates is more straightforward.
- Remove any bedding and wash it with a pet laundry detergent.
- Remove any loose pet hair and debris.
- Disassemble your carrier, if possible.
- Use a sponge or cloth saturated with mild soap and warm water to scrub the interior and exterior of the carrier. Make sure you get all those nooks and crannies!
- Rinse and let it air dry.
Keep Your Travel Bag Fresh and Ready for Your Next Adventure
Knowing how to clean a cat carrier ensures your pet remains comfortable in any environment – exactly what they deserve. Follow the Katziela blog and shop our collections for more ways to elevate your pet’s travel and everyday life!
FAQs
How to sanitize a pet carrier?
You should vacuum any hair and spot clean your carrier with soapy water and a soft cloth to sanitize it. Make sure your soap is gentle/pet-friendly. You can also spray your carrier with a light coat of pet-safe sanitizing spray or wipe it with a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water.
How often should I clean a cat or dog carrier?
You should spot clean your pet carrier after each use. However, you should deep clean (vacuum, wash bedding, spot clean) every 2 to 4 weeks with regular use.
What should I use to remove pet odors?
You should use a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner to remove odors. They break down the real sources of pet odors, like saliva. Other soaps just mask them.