How to Make pH Balanced Ferret Shampoo

Have you been frustrated by the lack of truly pure, gentle, and inexpensive options among mass-produced ferret shampoos? I was! So I decided to make my own, but I wanted to be sure that it was the correct pH for a ferret's skin and fur. After researching and measuring other ferret-balanced products I came up with this recipe. Ounce for ounce the cost beats all ferret shampoos sold in pet stores, it's simpler and cleaner, and best of all- you won't believe how easy it is to make!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 25 oz Seventh Generation Dish Soap, Free & Clear or Lavendar/mint - $4 at Target
• 8 oz Pure Glycerin - $8 at pharmacy or beauty supply
• 1/3 packet True Lemon OR 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 16+ oz Empty shampoo or dish soap bottle
• Graduated measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Optional: funnel

1. Pour half (12.5 oz) of the Seventh Generation Dish Soap into the empty bottle.
   I am allergic to most fragrances, but I found the Lavendar/mint to be fine, and a nice compliment to a ferret's natural scent.

2. Add 4 oz of pure Glycerin to each bottle.
   This gentle emollient (skin softener) can be found in many pharmacies near the Epsom salt and witch hazel.

3. Add 1/6 packet of True Lemon to each bottle (see measuring tip below)
   OR
   Add 1/4 tsp lemon juice to each bottle (see measuring tip below).

4. Cap each bottle and shake vigorously!
   You now have a ferret shampoo that is slightly more acidic than ferret skin. (This is to accommodate for the incorrect pH of rinse water.)
   
   Please note: because this is balanced to skin, and NOT to eyes, do not get your homemade shampoo in your ferret's eyes.

5. Label each bottle as Ferret Shampoo, so that there's no confusion (though it wouldn't be a big deal if someone used it to wash their dishes or hair :)

6. If you are using a soaking bath method, add 2 Tbsp of your shampoo to a sink or kitchen basin full of water (about 9 liters) to create a pH balanced bath. (Add after water to avoid making suds.)

7. And to be REALLY thorough, add 1/3 pack True Lemon (see measuring tip below) to a sinkful or basinful of rinsewater to make it pH balanced also.
   
   Once again, do not get this rinse water in your ferret's eyes. While it is not as far off neutral as seawater if mixed correctly, there is no need to dunk your ferret's head under and it will distress your pet.

8. Enjoy your shiny, fragrant ferret!

Tips & Warnings

• 1/6 packet of True Lemon = 1/2 tsp if the pack is mixed with 2 Tbsp water
• 1/3 packet of True Lemon = 1 tsp if the pack is mixed with 2 Tbsp water
• to measure 1/4 tsp, mix 1/2 tsp lemon juice + 1/2 tsp water, and then you can use 1/2 tsp of the mixture
• Add 4 drops of blue and 2 drops of red food coloring to the bathwater of white ferrets to neutralize yellowed fur.
• Any income generated from this article will go to the Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter, a no-kill shelter caring for ferrets in the Puget Sound area. Please rate, comment, or link to my article here on eHow to help support the shelter! Thanks! www.washingtonferret.org
• Do not get this shampoo or rinse (or any other product) in your ferret's eyes. Anything that is pH balanced to their skin will NOT be pH balanced for their eyes. All "tearless" products are balanced to eyes or include numbing substances to remove any sting. Either way, there is no need to use shampoo or other products on your ferret's face. Plain water is the best choice near eyes.
• This recipe is ONLY for Seventh Generation Dishwashing Liquid. If you want to substitute a different kind of dish soap (an organic one, for example) be sure to test its pH by diluting 1/2 tsp in 1/2 cup of water and using a test strip or kit (ex. Wardley Junior pH Water Test Kit - $4 at Petco). If it isn't very near neutral (7) then you will have to adjust the rest of the ingredients to compensate! I recommend going for "sensitive skin" and low-fragrance CLEAR detergent-based products, because these are more likely to be pH neutral and can be tested with color-changing pH tests. Soap-based products, even "gentle" or organic ones, (such as Dr. Bronner's castile soaps) are usually very alkaline and would dry out skin and fur- even with the correct pH!

Resources

• Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter

[ferretlady]

on 10/17/2009 Hey everyone, thanks for reading my article. You can also help my ferret shelter by checking out my ferret art at cafe press (search for "ferret drawing" to see my work); if you buy anything half of my profits go to the Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter!