How to Make Your Own Dog Shampoo With Baking Soda

Dog shampoo should clean your dog, but it shouldn't clean out your wallet at the same time. For a low-cost dog shampoo that works, try these dirt-cheap ways to get your dog clean. As a bonus, you won't have to worry about chemicals in shampoos or scents that could irritate your allergies or your dog's allergies.

Benefits of Baking Soda

• It is inexpensive.
• There are no harsh chemicals to irritate the skin.
• It is fragrance-free.
• You can neutralize odors, rather than cover them up.
• Kill fleas naturally.

Dry Shampoo

While modern humans bathe daily, your dog needs a bath at least once every three months, according to the ASPCA. You may want to give it a wet bath as often as monthly. In between, frequent brushing and a dry bath with baking soda will help control odors and refresh its coat.

This dry bath technique shouldn't be stressful for your pet. It will feel like you are petting your dog and giving it lots of love. Baking soda absorbs odors in your refrigerator and will help take away that doggie smell, too. You'll need a cup of baking soda for a large dog or half a cup for a smaller dog.

• Sprinkle baking soda onto your dog's coat. You will want to avoid getting baking soda on its face, but be sure to get the base of the ears.
• Rub it in with your hands, down through the fur to the skin. Massage it in.
• Leave the baking soda in place for a few minutes, so it has time to absorb the oil and odors.
• Follow up with a good brushing. It'll leave your dog's coat shiny, clean and odor-free.
• You don't need to rinse, but you don't have to worry if your dog rushes out into the rain or plays in a puddle, either.

Why does this work? Baking soda neutralizes odors, while its gritty texture grabs and removes stuck-on dirt and oils.

Wet Bathing

You can mix baking soda with water to create a wet shampoo for bathing your dog, or to use as a rinse that will remove more of the human or commercial dog shampoo you use.

To substitute baking soda for dog shampoo, mix one tablespoon of baking soda with 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Avoid using this shampoo on your dog's face. But soak it into the fur on her body, massage it in and let it sit for a minute. You may want to use a rubber brush to help release dead skin and hair. Then rinse out with water.

For a baking soda rinse, mix two tablespoons of baking soda in a gallon of warm water. This rinse is good to use after using human shampoo or dog shampoo on your pet. Some people suggest following up with a rinse of diluted apple cider vinegar—one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per cup of warm water. The vinegar is acidic while baking soda is a base, which restores the pH balance of the skin. Vinegar also is another flea deterrent.