DIY pet shampoos

Your pets can get dirty but washing your dog or cat too much can strip their skin of natural oils, and just like humans, they can use dry shampoo. This power absorbs brilliantly – and not just moisture, but smells too.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornstarch
• ½ cup baking soda

Items needed

2. Combine the cornstarch and baking soda in a bowl and secure the lid. Gently shake the covered bowl to mix the items together. Remove the lid and empty the dry mixture into the flour sifter. Sifting the ingredients removes any solid clumps before you apply it to your pet’s fur.

3. Sift the baking soda and cornstarch over your dog or cat’s fur. Massage the mixture into their coat with your fingers while sifting. This allows the dry shampoo to reach the odour-causing oils and dirt stuck beneath the surface.

4. Let the dry shampoo sit on the coat for 10 to 15 minutes after you’ve completely worked the mixture into the fur. This gives the naturally absorbent ingredients time to soak up any smells and oils.

5. Remove the remaining dry shampoo by firmly brushing the entire coat with a bristle brush. As a reward, give your dog or cat a treat once you’re finished.

 

Shiny coat

A shiny coat is often the best sign of a healthy pet, so when it’s not looking so good, we need to look at what we’re applying to their skin. This natural shiny coat wash will make you cat or dog shine!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of oats
• 1 cup of bi-carb soda
• 4 cups of warm water
• 1 teaspoon of baby shampoo
• 10 drops of essential oil

Items needed

• Blender
• 2L soft drink bottle with lid
• Small funnel

Method

1. Blend the oat in your food processor so the consistency is like flour.

2. Grab a clean soft drink bottle and pour the ingredients in there.

3. Pop the cap on and shake!

4. Apply to a wet coat and massage in before rinsing.

 

Simple shampoo

If you’re not looking for anything fancy and don’t want to spend a fortune, this simple shampoo will do the trick!

Ingredients

• Organic unpasturised, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (as much as needed)

Method

Apply, gently rub into fur and skin, you can rinse it off or allow your the fur/skin to air-dry.

 

Scented shampoo

Scented shampoos for your pets can be $25-50 for a bottle, but these DIY liquids are super effective and smell great.

Scents for cats: lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rose, ylang ylang
Scents for dogs: orange, lemon, cinnamon, lavender

Ingredients

• 90mL castile soap
• 30mL vegetable glycerine
• 60mL distilled water
• 5-10 drops of essential oil

Items needed

• Small bottle with over 300mL capacity
• Funnel
• Bowl

Method

1. Mix ingredients in the bowl.

2. Pour mixed ingredients into small bottle via the funnel.

3. Apply to your pet’s coat and rub in gently before rinsing.

 

Anti-itch herbal rinse for chronic skin allergies

• 2 tea bags of Rooibos tea
• Fresh squeezed juice of one lemon

Method

1. Place the tea bags and lemon juice in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes

2. Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool

3. Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse. You do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog or cat after application.

Note: Don’t use rooibos tea rinse on dogs or cats that have white fur unless you add lemon juice. Rooibos tea is red, but when fresh lemon juice is added the intense red is softened to light yellow, and will not affect white fur.

 

What do you use to wash your pets? What type of fur and skin do they have? How often do you groom them? Tell us below.