A DIY Dog Shampoo

Keep your dog clean with homemade shampoo.

Commercial dog shampoos often contain harmful chemicals that can be detrimental to the dog's health as well as the owners. Making your own shampoo to bathe your dog will ensure that you know what ingredients are being used and will also be more cost effective. The ingredients for dog shampoo can be purchased inexpensively and will make a large amount of shampoo. Some homemade shampoos are made for normal bathing while others are used to repel fleas or treat other problems.

Things You'll Need

• 2-quart container
• 1 cup dish soap
• 1/3 cup glycerin
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• Water
• 2 shampoo bottles
• 1/4 cup citronella oil
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbs. peppermint oil
• 2 tbs. eucalyptus oil
• 2 tbs. white cedar oil

Instructions

Homemade Dog Shampoo

1. Wash a container that will hold 2 quarts with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

2. Pour in 1/3 cup of glycerin, 1 cup dish soap and 1 cup apple cider vinegar. Add 1 quart of water.

3. Place a tight lid on the container and shake gently to combine all the ingredients. Use as you would any dog shampoo.

Homemade Flea Shampoo

1. Wash an empty shampoo bottle with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

2. Pour in 1/4 cup citronella oil, 1/4 cup white or apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. Add 2 tablespoons each of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil and white cedar oil.

3. Shake the bottle gently to combine the ingredients. Bathe your dog with this shampoo whenever fleas are spotted.

Tips & Warnings

• Replacing the dish soap in the homemade dog shampoo recipe with antibacterial soap will make an antibacterial shampoo to be used when sores or hot spots are a problem.

• Glycerin can be found in most pharmacies in the first aid section.

References

• Care2.com: Healthy Homemade Dog Shampoo
• Thedogbiscuit.com: Homemade Dog Shampoo