How to Keep Your Pet's Feeding Area Clean

Quick answer: Put your pet's bowls on a washable mat, wash the bowls every day, give fresh water daily, pick up spilled food after meals and wipe the area once a week. Store dry food sealed, away from the bowls. That's enough to keep the feeding spot clean and stop it smelling or attracting ants.

Why the feeding spot gets messy

• Drippy drinkers: dogs with big jowls or beards carry water across the floor.
• Kibble pushers: some pets nudge food out of the bowl to eat it off the floor.
• Sliding bowls: light bowls slide and tip on smooth floors.
• Crumbs: small bits of food under the bowls attract ants and start to smell.

Step 1: Put a mat under the bowls

An absorbent feeding mat with a rubber backing soaks up drips, catches kibble and stops bowls sliding. Pick one with a margin around the bowls: small for cats and toy dogs, large for two bowls for a bigger dog.

Step 2: Wash bowls every day

The US FDA recommends washing pet food bowls and scoops with soap and hot water after each use. At the least, wash food bowls after wet food and give water bowls a scrub every day, because a slimy film builds up quickly.

• Stainless steel is easy to clean and hard to scratch.
• Ceramic is fine while it's not chipped or cracked.
• Scratched plastic is harder to get clean, so replace it when it's worn.

Step 3: Fresh water, every day

Empty and refill the water bowl at least once a day rather than topping it up. On walks, a collapsible travel bowl means your dog drinks clean water instead of puddles.

Step 4: Store food properly

• Keep dry food in its original bag, rolled closed, inside a container with a lid. The bag has the batch details if there's ever a recall.
• Store it somewhere cool and dry, not right next to the water bowl.
• Wash the scoop too, not just the bowls.

Step 5: Help messy eaters

• Use a heavier, wider bowl that doesn't slide or tip easily.
• For treats or wet food, a lick mat with suction cups stays put and makes snack time slower and tidier.
• Give a bearded dog's chin a quick wipe after a big drink.

A weekly reset

• Rinse the mat and let it dry flat or hang it up.
• Wipe the floor and the wall behind the bowls.
• Check under and around the mat for crumbs or ants.

Find mats, bowls and other daily basics in Everyday Favourites.

FAQ

How often should I wash my pet's bowls?

The US FDA recommends washing pet food bowls and scoops with soap and hot water after each use. If that's not realistic, wash food bowls after every wet meal and scrub water bowls daily.

What is the best material for pet bowls?

Stainless steel is the easiest to keep clean. Ceramic is fine as long as it's not chipped. Scratched plastic is harder to clean, so replace it when it's worn.

How do I stop my dog splashing water everywhere?

Use a heavy, wide bowl that doesn't slide, put an absorbent mat underneath, and wipe a bearded dog's chin after a big drink.

How often should I wash a feeding mat?

Rinse it about once a week, or straight away if wet food or a full bowl of water gets spilled on it. Let it dry before putting the bowls back.