How to wash a cat litter box properly

The substance is used to prepare a soap solution. To enhance the effect and to dissolve the stones as quickly as possible, it is recommended to add soda ash to the composition.

Why do you need to wash litter trays and bowls

First, let's determine the appropriateness of this action. The purpose of cleaning the tray raises fewer questions. In the absence of filler, the tray gets dirty every time the pet goes to the toilet, with the filler the situation is easier.

And bowls for food and water seem to be not something that requires regular washing: you can after all rinse everything, especially water containers.

But it's not that easy. Food scraps (especially wet food), cat saliva and hair, dust and dirt tend to collect on food bowls quickly. All this promotes the development of bacteria, which may not be good for the cat's health. And the cat won't want to eat from a bowl that smells bad or drink water where a layer of dust has accumulated. This is why it is necessary to wash bowls regularly, even from water and dry food.

How to use?

The filler is poured into the tray tray in a small amount. It is enough that it barely covers the bottom of the plastic box. You should not pour too much material, because when moisture gets on it, it will increase in size. It is necessary to put a grid or other mesh on top of the tray.

The filler should be placed under the grid. The grid itself should be washed every time the pet goes to the toilet. This approach will eliminate paw soiling, get rid of the unpleasant smell of cat urine and allow the liquid flowing through the grid with holes to be absorbed.

What's the best kind?

Fillings come in a variety of materials and each material has its own properties and degree of swelling when it is exposed to liquid. In addition, it is the type of filler that determines how often it will have to be replaced. For example, if you use ordinary sand as the filling of the box, it will be of little use.

Despite the fact that it will not increase in size under the influence of liquid, the smell in the room will be terrible.

Silica gel is considered the best raw material by the type of liquid absorption, due to which it should be used in minimum quantities. It has a high ability to absorb unpleasant odors. The material is produced from silicate acid gel, which determines its toxicity. This filler is good in action, but it is harmful to pets, in addition, it hisses when it gets wet.

The wood counterpart is effective in use – not only does it actively absorb the liquid coming from above, but it also eliminates unpleasant odors. The granules of the material when absorbing moisture double in size and even more. It is necessary to pour this filler in doses, barely covering the bottom of the tray.

Sawdust material has the ability to block unpleasant odors, but in quality it is inferior to its wood counterpart. A mixed product is made of clay and sawdust. This raw material is uncomfortable to use, as wet pellets can stick to the hair of paws if they get wet. Of all types of material, it is the most impractical.

As for the best material in terms of efficiency and safety, it is a wood filler. It is suitable for pets of different ages, including small kittens and individuals with a tendency to allergies. If there are many cats at home, only silica gel can cope with the unpleasant smell.

There are corn and zeolite filler. The first is considered environmentally friendly, since it is made from corn cobs. The second is made from volcanic minerals. Japanese fillers have a good recommendation – they allow you to clean the litter tray not only from lumps with urine, but also with excrement without a general cleaning, which involves complete removal of the filling and flushing the tray.

Preparing

At first glance, it may seem that washing your pet's litter box to get rid of odor is an elementary activity, but it should be approached responsibly and according to all the rules. This will ensure that the pet will be comfortable going to the toilet and there will be no unpleasant odors in the apartment.

1. There should always be a litter bucket next to the cat's litter box. The bucket will prevent contamination of the floor.
2. It is advisable to buy rubber gloves at the drugstore, as well as a protective mask. It is advisable to wear both every time you need to clean the litter box.
3. To clean your pet's toilet, you will need tools such as a brush, gloves, laundry soap, a garbage can, a mask, baking soda, and filler (you can replace it with sand).

It is important to know: following hygiene will help keep a person safe from toxoplasmosis. After all, harmful bacteria hover in the air and easily enter the human body with dust.

Step by step process

Before you start cleaning the cat's litter box, you need to wear a mask and gloves. Next, you should clean the toilet in any way and remove the old filler. To carry out such a procedure, usually take a garbage bag, place the tray in it, turn it upside down. After that, the bag is immediately thrown away.

The next step involves a thorough wash under a hot stream of water. The tray must be completely cleaned of feces and residues of old filler. To clean the litter tray well and remove the smell, you can add any sanitary cleaner to it and use the brush to scrub the toilet vigorously.

Sometimes urine stone is deposited in a thick layer and is no longer easy to clean. Then the detergent should be applied over the entire surface (you can use stronger products, such as "Sanox"), and leave for a while, for example for 40-60 minutes. This time will be enough for the plaque to move away from the tray. At the end it will just need to be rinsed with water.

Please note: new litter should only be placed in a dry litter tray.

Cat tray care

Taking care of the cat tray is not difficult. The basic actions of the owner of the cat or cat are:

If all the actions are performed regularly and fully, then the animal will not begin to crap past or do it in unintended places.

Cats are intelligent and have an excellent memory. It is their habit to bury their waste products in the ground so that "enemies" cannot find them by smell. That is why they put filler in the cat's litter box. Also by smell they find pairs for procreation, mark and limit "their" territory, and kittens due to a heightened sense of smell find the litter box and accustomed to its visit. And that's why adults ignore the place for the toilet, improperly maintained by owners.

Disorders in the diet, stress, age-related changes in the pet's body and other external factors lead to the fact that the pet's urine becomes corrosive and salts form in it. Fresh deposits can be removed by changing the filler, but uric acid or oxalates can only be removed mechanically.

Washing according to the rules

Proper cleaning of the cat litter box is a guarantee of freshness and a pleasant smell in the apartment. The sequence of this process depends entirely on the design and shape of the operated cat tray.

Open type litter trays need to be cleaned more often than closed type devices. Daily cleaning generally does not require a complete change of the litter, it will be enough to collect the excrement and then dispose of it according to the recommendations on the package with the dehumidifying mixture.

If the cat does not go to the litter box but to the grid, it is recommended to wash it each time you clean it. For this purpose it is desirable to use special products intended for sanitary treatment of cat toilets. The action of such products is aimed at complete sanitation of cat toilets, so the substance will easily cope with the smell of urine and prevent the settling of salts.

Useful tips

In conclusion of the article about the rules of washing the cat litter box we would like to pay attention to the useful advice of "indoor" cat lovers. They concern not so much the washing process itself, as the rules for the use of devices and the choice of adsorbents.

1. Do not use a litter box without litter! Accustom your pet to adsorbents from an early age, otherwise the stench in the room will not be avoided. If a kitten does not like one hygiene product, replace it with another until you have decided on the one that is most comfortable for everyone.
2. Always fill litter boxes only with quality absorbents and mixes. Flavorless substances are the best choice.
3. For adult toilets, do not use "baby" mixes and formulations, as well as fine fillers.
4. For small kittens, give the mixture that will not attract their attention and will not be used as a toy (or worse, eaten!).
5. Keep your cat's litter box clean and pick up feces on time.
6. Don't skimp on the quality of the litter box, because an inferior product will quickly become littered and emit an odor.
7. Don't add citrus-scented deodorizers to litter mixes and don't use household cleaners with such fragrances.
8. Monitor your pet's diet, don't skimp on vitamins and visit the vet regularly.

One great trick is to use a garbage bag as a litter mat (as pictured). This has proven to be a great way to combat bad odors and urinary stone deposits. It also makes disposal of used litter much easier. But this method will be suitable only if the cat does not scratch the filler much or if a lattice is used.

To summarize the article, we would like to note the fact that cat litter boxes have a limited lifespan. If the unpleasant odor remains after washing and completely replacing the filler, it means that the time "X" has come. Cheap models of pots usually need to be replaced about once every twelve months, while more modern devices need to be replaced every three years.

General cleaning

If you use filler and don't wash the litter box every day, that means you'll need to wash it less frequently but more thoroughly. At least once a week, or even more often, you need a general cleaning. Otherwise, your cat's potty will exude a strong unpleasant odor, and the pet will choose a cleaner place in your house next time instead of visiting it.

First, you need to remove the litter. It should never be thrown into the toilet, so you need to throw it in a garbage bag. To do this, you need to put the bag on the tray, so that the contents do not spill. Be careful not to tear the bag and scatter the used litter on the floor. Once you have emptied the tray, take it to the tub rinse it under clean running water and proceed to wash with detergent.

Over time, plastic can form streaks and stone deposits that, if not disposed of, exude an unpleasant odor. In order to get rid of them, you will have to try hard.

What can be used to clean the cat's litter box?

You can choose both purchased special means, and homemade. For example, such means as baking soda and vinegar show good results. They are great to deal with odors and help clean the plastic. Commercial or antibacterial soap can also be used. Lemon or lemon products should not be used, because cats cannot stand citrus scents and they might give up on the litter box afterwards.

A great idea is to use a toilet brush instead of a sponge. First, your hands won't come in contact with it, second, it can be put away on a stand, and third, it's very easy to clean.

If home remedies do not help, you can use any commercial cleaning powders or gels that deal well with bacteria and limescale. In this case, be sure to rinse the tray thoroughly after washing it so that no chemicals remain on it, the vapors of which can harm the animal.

After washing the tray is wiped dry with an unnecessary rag. Now you can pour the filler or put a grid.

Daily hygiene of the cat litter box

If the cat owner uses an odor-absorbing hygienic filler, it is still a good idea to clean up pet feces daily as they appear. Lumpy fillers allow you to remove not only feces, but also urine, as they "trap" moisture, forming fragments that are easy to clean. All you need for cleaning is a special scoop with which you can pick up soiled litter without touching it with your hands.

Non-lumpy fillings (e.g. silica gel or wood fillings) simply absorb the cat's urine without turning into lumps. Therefore, it is not possible to completely remove the liquid, therefore, the daily cleaning consists only of the elimination of feces from the pot. For this, again, a spatula is used.

If the litter box has a mesh top, some owners do not consider it necessary to spend extra money on the filler. When the cat urinates, the liquid gets inside and the animal's paws stay dry because they are on the mesh. Solid feces also remain on top, so once or twice a day they need to be cleaned and the net itself needs to be washed.

Urine accumulated at the bottom of the litter tray should also be emptied regularly (ideally as many times as the cat goes to the toilet to avoid smell) and the tray should be cleaned. Different products can be used for this purpose, as long as they do not have a pungent odor that can repel the animal from the litter box.

General cleaning of the cat's litter box

Using a hygienic cat litter, while it reduces the daily hassle of cleaning, it does require a thorough wash at least once a week. You have to clean the cat's litter box not only because of the smell it gives off, but also because the cat won't do "business" in the right place and will not choose a more secluded and clean place. An attentive owner will not allow strong odors from the litter box, already knowing the frequency with which you need to clean. What does it require?

Preparing to clean the cat's litter box

To quickly and effortlessly perform your weekly cat litter box cleaning, you should prepare the following:

Using gloves will avoid parasite or toxoplasmosis infestation.

Cleaning process

Old filler should be shaken out in a bag, putting it on the tray so as not to spill. The garbage bag should be tied tightly immediately, preventing the smell from leaking out. Make sure the bag is not perforated, otherwise there is a great chance of spilling soiled litter all over the apartment. If the potty filler is not used, this step, of course, is not necessary. Next, the tray should be taken to the bathroom, rinse thoroughly under cold running water, then proceed to clean with a detergent.

Over time, streaks may form on the bottom and walls of the cat tray, as well as "urine" stone, which has a persistent unpleasant smell. It's not easy to clean up the aftermath of a cat's visit to the toilet, but using tried-and-true remedies, the owner can achieve pristine plastic cleanliness. You can use both folk remedies and store-bought ones.

Lifehack: some owners specifically buy an inexpensive toilet brush, and use it to clean the cat's litter box. It's very handy! After washing the litter box, the toilet brush is rinsed with a cleaning agent and put away in a stand.

How to clean the cat litter box

This article is co-authored by Carrie Seay, MS-CABAC, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA, our regular contributor. WikiHow's regular contributors work closely with our editors to ensure that the articles are as accurate and complete as possible.

Number of sources used in this article: 10. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Cats are great companions. Communicating with them is a lot of fun. Since a cat, unlike a dog, is not walked, it must be provided with a clean litter box that is available at all times. If the litter box is not kept clean, the cat may begin to damage carpets or furniture. A dirty litter box is one of the most common reasons cats refuse to use it. [1] X Reliable Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source You should keep your cat's litter box clean daily and have it thoroughly cleaned once a week (or more often if you have more than one cat). If you keep the litter box clean, the cat will not ruin the furniture and will go to the litter box.

Clean the litter box daily.

Put a litter box next to the litter box. If you don't want to put a regular litter box next to it, you can use a small empty bin or a special cat litter box – let the bin be specially designed for cleaning the cat's litter box. It's very important to put it next to the tray so you don't make a mess on the floor when cleaning. [2] X Source of information

Use gloves and a mask. Some experts recommend wearing disposable gloves and a respirator to prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis, a virus that is transmitted through cat feces. [3] X Source of information Even if you haven't touched feces when cleaning the litter box, the dust in the air getting into your lungs can lead to toxoplasmosis infection…

• Use a special scoop available at most pet stores. These scoops have a mesh bottom that grabs the feces and used toilet litter well, and the clean litter gets back into the tray through the holes.

🐱 How to clean a cat litter box to avoid acrid odor

Cat urine contains ammonia, which can cause an unpleasant smell in the house. Sometimes the owner is puzzled: what to wash the litter box to avoid that acrid smell?

This happens because the litter box is not washed properly. The culprit is a buildup of urine stone.

A quality litter tray wash will ensure that not only the cat's paws are clean and fresh, but the entire room as well.

When the cat goes to the litter box on the grid without a filler, then after each visit to the litter box, the potty will have to be thoroughly cleaned. It is better to use special products to clean the tray of dirt and then sanitize it.

• Shake everything out of the tray: clean, unused filler poured into a separate bag;
• completely fill the tray with warm water, soak the grid separately;
  leave so for 15 minutes;
• flush the water down the toilet (if you pour dirty water into the bath or sink, from the drain will smell "cat" and they too will have to clean);
• Put the tray with the grid in a container with soapy water for 30 minutes (liquid laundry soap will work fine);
• drain the water;
• treat the surfaces of the tray and the grid with disinfectant and scrub hard with a brush;
• rinse all parts of the pot;
• dry the structure thoroughly;
• pour the filler.

At the time of treatment of the tray is desirable to have a second spare in case of a sudden desire to the pet to pee.

Important! All work on cleaning the litter box should be done with rubber gloves. Toxoplasmosis never slumbers!

For washing and disinfecting agents have proven to be good: "Domestos", "Belizna". But it is very important to rinse them well, as chlorine is harmful to cats.

It is excellent if the owner has special sprays and products for treating cat litter trays in his arsenal. They are safe for animals and can be purchased at pet stores.

Urine stone will help remove folk remedies: baking soda, vinegar, laundry soap.

Follow instructions for changing cat litter

There are many types of cat litter, each with its own pros and cons. These include how often you need to change the litter to prevent bad odor. Understanding how to use each type of litter will not only help you optimize your odor control, but you can learn that there is a type of litter that works best for your lifestyle and preferences. Be sure to read (and follow!) the instructions that come with the filler you purchase to maximize all of its odor control benefits.

If you're still wondering how to get rid of odor in the toilet, pay attention to the litter box itself. Even if you change the litter in the litter box, over time it can become a source of odor itself. Waste and debris can accumulate on the surface of the litter tray, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odors. For most types of trays, you should wash it with warm water and mild soap or vinegar to make sure you have a fresh and clean surface. It is best to wash plastic trays every time you change the filler to keep the box itself fresh and odor-free. Also, make sure the tray is completely dry before adding fresh filler.

Reconsider the location of the tray

It's worth thinking carefully about where you will place the tray. While it's obvious that you shouldn't put it on a kitchen cabinet or next to a pillow, there are some very popular places to avoid if you want maximum odor control effectiveness. Two of these popular but misguided toilet locations are the laundry room and the bathroom. These may seem like logical places to place a cat litter box because they provide privacy for your cat and allow you to keep the odor away from the rest of the house. However, an invisible problem in these areas is moisture. Because cat litter absorbs moisture, excess moisture in the air means that the life of the litter is shortened and you will have to change the litter more often if you want to avoid odor buildup. Dry filler has much less odor than wet filler. Therefore, the best place to place the litter tray is in a dry, well-ventilated room where humidity is minimal. It may seem counterintuitive, but placing the tray near a fan or vent can help prevent odor as waste and soiled filler dry out faster. It can also save you money in the long run by allowing you to go longer without changing the filler!

Another solution to the odor problem that may seem counterintuitive is to add another litter box, especially if you have multiple cats. Doesn't a second litter box mean double the smell, you may ask? At first you might think so, but if you consider that you're not getting additional cats with the new litter box, the result of doubling the number of litter boxes will be a decrease in the concentration of cat waste. Less urine and feces accumulating in one place means the waste can dry faster and is less likely to be the source of a pungent unpleasant odor.