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Entry 917Filed under Breeding

How to Clean and Store a Kiddie Pool After Dogs Use It

Drain the pool after your dog swims, remove debris, wash with soapy water, rinse, and dry completely before storage. Here’s how to respond to feces or vomit contamination safely.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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After your dog uses a small plastic or inflatable kiddie pool, drain it, remove visible debris, wash the surface with soapy water, rinse it, and let it air-dry completely before storing. CDC recommends emptying small pools at least daily; for a pool used by a dog, draining it after each swim is a practical way to avoid leaving used water standing.

Routine cleaning after your dog swims

  1. Drain the pool. Do not leave the water for later reuse. CDC says small inflatable or plastic pools should be emptied at least daily to help prevent the spread of germs. CDC’s kiddie-pool guidance gives this minimum for small pools.
  2. Remove hair and debris. Pick out fur, leaves, dirt, and other visible material before washing.
  3. Wash and scrub the surface. Use soapy water and a sponge or soft brush, provided the pool maker allows scrubbing. CDC’s general guidance for hard pet items recommends washing with soapy water and scrubbing; applying it to a dog-used pool is general pet-item advice, not a dog-specific pool protocol. Check the pool’s care instructions for material-specific limits.
  4. Rinse with fresh water. Rinse away loosened dirt and soap.
  5. Air-dry fully before storage. Let the pool dry completely, including folds and seams, before folding or putting it away. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for folding and storage; CDC does not specify a storage method.

A soft-bristle brush is optional. Choose one compatible with the pool material and use it only if the manufacturer permits scrubbing.

Do not add pool chemicals to the water

Do not add chlorine or bromine directly to the water in a small plastic or inflatable kiddie pool. CDC says splashing and spilling make the disinfectant dose difficult to maintain, and these pools lack filters to remove debris that can use up disinfectant. Larger pools are a different category and need filtration and disinfection according to their manufacturer’s instructions.

When feces or vomit gets into the pool

Stop using the pool and keep people and pets out. CDC’s contamination instructions are for small pools contaminated by a child’s feces or vomit, not a separately validated dog-specific protocol. They offer a cautious framework; also follow the pool maker’s care instructions and the disinfectant label.

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  1. Put on disposable gloves and remove the contamination safely.
  2. Drain the pool, then wash the surface with soapy water and rinse it.
  3. Let the surface dry, then disinfect the dry surface using the household-bleach dilution and label contact time specified in CDC’s pool-contamination guidance. Do not guess a concentration or contact time.
  4. Rinse again if directed by the product label, then let the pool dry completely before storing or using it.

For diarrhea contamination, CDC’s small-pool guidance adds a step: after the pool is completely dry, leave it in the sun for at least four hours. Keep pets away while cleaning and until the surface is fully dry. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners; mixing bleach with products such as ammonia can create dangerous toxic gases.

Cleaning is not the same as disinfecting

CDC defines cleaning as physically removing dirt and germs with soap or detergent; disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. For pet items, cleaning is usually enough, while disinfection may be appropriate in some situations. Follow the disinfectant label and keep your dog away until the item is fully dry. CDC also says there is not enough evidence to establish vinegar as an effective substitute for cleaning or disinfection on pet items. See CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting pet supplies.

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Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool Collapsible Dog Pet Pool Bathing Tub Kiddie Pool Doggie Wading Pool for Puppy Small Medium Large Dogs Cats and Kids 32" Blue
  • Portable and Foldable Dog Pool: easy to store and bring with you and your dog everywhere. It can be used as dog pool kiddie pool kids pool wading pool pet dog bath tub outdoor dog water toys etc.
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Dog Pool Foldable pet Pool Dog Swimming Pool pet Swimming Pool PVC Non-Slip for All Kinds of Pets (32x8in)
  • 1. Please choose the right size for your pet
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Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool Collapsible Dog Pet Pool Bathing Tub Kiddie Pool Doggie Wading Pool for Puppy Small Medium Large Dogs Cats and Kids 63" Blue
  • Portable and Foldable Dog Pool: easy to store and bring with you and your dog everywhere. It can be used as dog pool kiddie pool kids pool wading pool pet dog bath tub outdoor dog water toys etc.
  • Simple to Set Up and Drain: No need of inflation, quick setup. With bottom/side drain, easy to drain and refresh water. Perfect plasticpool for backyard outside.
  • Slip Resistant & Durable & Paws Friendly: made of extra-tough embossed vinyl plastic. Thick and non slip bottom to prevent kids and pets from slipping. No slips and falls.
  • Extra Hose Connector Included: Do not want the yard/grass get flooded? Simply connect a garden hose and easy to drain.
  • Upgraded Heavy Duty Vinyl: Super durable 3 layers laminated vinyl with polyester mesh. Puncture Resistant and prevent collapse outward. Environmentally friendly material: meet the EN71, ASTM, CPSIA safety standards
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Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool Collapsible Dog Pet Pool Bathing Tub Kiddie Pool Doggie Wading Pool for Puppy Small Medium Large Dogs Cats and Kids 48" Blue
  • Portable and Foldable Dog Pool: easy to store and bring with you and your dog everywhere. It can be used as dog pool kiddie pool kids pool wading pool pet dog bath tub outdoor dog water toys etc.
  • Simple to Set Up and Drain: No need of inflation, quick setup. With bottom/side drain, easy to drain and refresh water. Perfect plasticpool for backyard outside.
  • Slip Resistant & Durable & Paws Friendly: made of extra-tough embossed vinyl plastic. Thick and non slip bottom to prevent kids and pets from slipping. No slips and falls.
  • Extra Hose Connector Included: Do not want the yard/grass get flooded? Simply connect a garden hose and easy to drain.
  • Upgraded Heavy Duty Vinyl: Super durable 3 layers laminated vinyl with polyester mesh. Puncture Resistant and prevent collapse outward. Environmentally friendly material: meet the EN71, ASTM, CPSIA safety standards

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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