It is inevitable that your dog’s collar will get dirty, even if your dog doesn’t roll in fox poo, over time oils from your dog’s coat will start to cause your dog’s collar to smell. Imagine wearing a headband all the time and never washing it. So, it is important for you and your dog that their collar is kept clean. This article looks to address some techniques on washing your dog’s collar.
5 top tips on how to wash a dog collar
1. Use a gentle dog shampoo or soap to clean your dog collar
You can take your normal dog shampoo and just add some to a bowl of hot water. Put your dog collar in the bowl and if it’s really dirty, you may want to give it a bit of rub to get any ground dirt out. Then leave the dog collar in the bowl for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse clean. Then leave to dry after squeezing out any excess water.
2. Use a brush on synthetic dog collars
If your dog is really dirty you can take a stiff brush and use it to rub the dirt off, this is only applicable on synthetic collars (nylon webbing collars, in particular), and wouldn’t be suitable for leather collars. You can repeat the cleaning cycle above using dog shampoo or gentle soap.
3. Use a damp cloth on leather collars
Leather dog collars are less water friendly and so more care is required. When it comes to leather and washing your dog’s collar, using a damp cloth and very light soapy water should get rid of any residue. Ideally you don’t want to get the leather too wet as it will damage and worse still could weaken.
4. Use baking soda
Adding a couple of teaspoons of baking soda to warm water (in a bowl) can be a good alternative to soap or shampoo. Wait until all the baking soda has dissolved, and then add your dog’s collar. Let it soak for around 15 minutes and then use a brush to clean (if a synthetic collar). You can repeat until you are comfortable the collar is completely clean and odour free.
5. Use a washing machine
Check your dog collar label or brand instructions first to see if it is machine washable. Most collars are not machine washable, and doing so can cause irreparable damage. If your dog collar is machine washable then we would suggest you put the collar in a washing bag, a sock, or pillow case, or Ikea do good little laundry bags. This is so that any metal work is protected and doesn’t make a lot of noise banging around in the machine.
Once washed (following the manufacturers’ recommendation for temperature) you can dry naturally and should have a very fresh collar. Thankfully, most Oscar & Hooch products are machine washable! You can view our range of machine washable dog collars here.
Dog Collars and More at Oscar & Hooch
Alongside our quality dog collars, we also offer a range of other doggy essentials such as leads, treat bags, coats and harnesses. All of our products are lovingly handmade in Somerset from ultra-soft, quality fabrics.
We hope you have found these tips useful, to shop now for a machine washable collar click here.
Washing Your Dog’s Collar FAQs
How often should I wash my dog’s collar?
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to wash them at least once a month. However, if you go on a muddy walk, then their leads and collars might need cleaning sooner!
Should my dog wear a collar all the time?
Your dog should always wear their collar if they’re outside. However, wearing one in the home isn’t necessary, and your dog may find 24/7 wear uncomfortable.
How do you wash a dog lead?
For most leads, you can regularly clean them around once a month, unless they get visibly dirty and muddy. Most leads are made out of nylon or rope, so you can soak them in hot, soapy water for about ten minutes.
