How do I clean and disinfect a dog kennel?

Clean first, then disinfect

Disinfectant only works on a surface that is already clean. So the job is two jobs: remove the waste, hair and grease, then disinfect what is left. Skipping the first half is the most common reason a kennel still smells and stays grimy after being "sanitized."

Take the dog out first, to a safe place away from the fumes and wet floor. Bag solid waste, then pull out bedding, bowls and toys. Soft items go in the washing machine; hard toys and bowls can be washed and rinsed with the rest.

Set up safely

Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends you clean, and sanitize or disinfect in well ventilated areas to prevent breathing irritating fumes.^[1] Wear disposable gloves and glasses,^[1] throw the gloves away when you finish, and wash your hands. Open the kennel room's doors or run a fan.

Keep products where the dog cannot reach them. The EPA says not to spray or store cleaning products near pet food or water dishes,^[3] and that containers without tight fitting lids can easily spill, allowing your pet access to the product.^[3] If a product is mixed in another container, label it.

Wash everything

Extension's method starts with scraping and rinsing: scrape and rinse surfaces with water to remove stuck-on or loose dirt and grease.^[1] Then wash the surface with water and a soap or detergent solution, then thoroughly rinse it with clean water.^[1] In a kennel that means the floor and drain area, the lower walls, the door and latch, and any bars the dog has touched.

Work from the cleanest area to the dirtiest, and from top to bottom, so dirty water does not run over surfaces you have finished. A stiff brush helps on rough concrete, where grime sits in the pores. Wipe down hard-plastic or metal crates the same way.

Choose and apply the disinfectant

Read the product label before anything else. The EPA's advice is to find the EPA registration number on the product and check that it is on EPA's list of approved disinfectants, then follow the product's directions, check use sites and surface types, and read the precautionary statements.^[2] Common active ingredients include bleach, quaternary ammonium, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol solutions of at least 70 percent,^[1] but the label of the product in your hand decides whether it suits kennel floors, how strong to mix it and whether it needs rinsing.

Never combine products. Extension is blunt: it is important to not mix different chemicals, for example bleach with ammonia.^[1] They do not make each other stronger and can cause serious harm.

Apply the solution evenly to the clean surface. Do not rinse or wipe dry the solution as you apply it.^[1] Then wait: leave the solution on the surface for as long as the label instructions say, which is known as the contact time.^[1] The EPA says the surface should remain wet the whole contact time,^[2] so on a warm day or a porous floor you may need to reapply to keep it wet.

Rinse, dry and return the dog

If the label calls for a rinse, do it with clean water so nothing is left for the dog to lick off paws or bars. Squeegee standing water toward the drain, then let the kennel dry fully with the doors open. The EPA says to keep pets and children away from treated areas as directed on the label,^[3] and in the event of a spill, keep animals out of the area until it is cleaned up.^[3]

Put in clean, dry bedding and freshly washed bowls. How often to repeat the job depends on the dog and how the kennel is used. Follow your veterinarian's advice if a dog has been sick.

Stop and call a pro if

• A dog is sick with diarrhea, vomiting or a contagious illness. Call your veterinarian before cleaning, and ask what product and routine suit that illness.
• A dog has licked or breathed a chemical. If you suspect pets have come in contact with them, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.^[1]
• The smell or stains return after a proper wash. Urine in cracked concrete, wood or a damaged floor coating may need sealing or replacing, or a professional kennel cleaner with the equipment for a deep clean.
• There is a large or commercial space. A boarding or breeding facility with many runs, drains and a daily schedule is more than a weekend job.
• The structure itself is damaged. Rot, rusted fencing or a failing drain is a repair for a contractor, not a cleaning issue.

Getting help in Virginia

Costs for hired help are covered in how much dog kennel cleaning costs in Virginia. If the yard side is the problem, read how to get rid of dog poop smell in your yard and how much a dog poop scooping service costs. Browse more pet services answers or local pros under pet services.

When you are ready for someone else to do it, describe the kennel and the job once and local cleaners quote it.