Ingredients
- Homemade flea shampoo:
- 1 quart of water
- 1 cup of white vinegar / apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup of baby shampoo / non-toxic dish soap (many sites recommend Dawn by name)
- Dry shampoo:
- 1 cup of baking soda
- 1 cup of corn starch
- A few drops of an essential oil –- lemon and lavender seem to be the most popular.
- Sensitive skin shampoo:
- 1 quart of water
- 1 cup of baby shampoo / non-toxic dish soap
- 1 cup of white vinegar /apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup of glycerine
- 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
Preparation
Step 1
Homemade flea shampoo:
Apply either solution with a spray bottle or a thoroughly cleaned out condiment bottle to minimize waste.
Work the homemade dog shampoo into your dog’s fur, particularly along hard-to-reach areas down the spine, the base of the tail, the chest, and under the forearms, and let it soak in for at least five minutes before rinsing.
Comb or brush your dog during that time to remove dead fleas.
Dry shampoo:
Sprinkle the mixture on your dog and massage it into the dog’s skin with your hands or with a comb or brush.
It is best not to use too much baking soda at a time -- a cup for a mid-sized dog, half a cup for a very small dog or puppy -- and not to apply this method too frequently, since the residue from the powder can accumulate, no matter how much a dog shakes itself afterward.
A dry shampoo is a good stop-gap, but nothing beats the fun of having your dog shake water all over you or your bathroom from time to time.
Sensitive skin shampoo:
This homemade dog shampoo recipe’s addition of glycerine and aloe vera provide soothing elements for dogs with sensitive or dry skin.