How to Clean Pet Food and Water Bowls and the Feeding Area

Pet bowls get a quick rinse and a refill in most homes, and the mat under them gets wiped when someone notices. But food bowls hold leftover food and saliva, water bowls grow a slimy film, and the floor around them collects splashes, kibble dust and drips. This guide covers how and how often to wash food and water bowls, scoops and the feeding area, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s safe handling tips for pet food.

What the FDA advises

The FDA’s tips for handling pet food and treats include:

Wash pet food bowls and scooping and measuring utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
Do not use your pet’s food bowl as a scoop. Use a clean scoop, spoon or cup that is used only for pet food.
Wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling pet food and treats.
Refrigerate or throw out leftover canned and pouched pet food promptly, and keep refrigerated pet food tightly covered.

Few owners follow this. In a 2022 study from North Carolina State University published in PLOS ONE, only 4.7% of surveyed dog owners were aware of the FDA’s pet food handling and dish hygiene guidelines. The same study found that households that followed the hygiene instructions for a week had significantly lower bacterial counts on their dogs’ food bowls than households that did not, and that washing with hot water lowered counts compared with cold or lukewarm water.

How to wash a food bowl

Scrape out leftover food into the trash, not the sink drain.
Wash with dish soap and hot water, using a brush or sponge kept for pet dishes only. Get into the inside edge and the rim, where wet food and saliva build up.
Rinse well so no soap is left behind.
Dry thoroughly with a clean towel or let it air dry on a rack before refilling.

Dishwasher: stainless steel and most glazed ceramic bowls can go in the dishwasher if the maker says so. In the PLOS ONE study, one of the protocols tested was a certified dishwasher wash and dry cycle. Check the label before you put a plastic bowl in, and use the hot or sanitize setting.

Water bowls

A water bowl looks clean because it holds only water, but the inside quickly picks up a slippery film from saliva and food bits your pet carries in on its mouth.

Empty and refill it with fresh water every day, instead of topping it up.
Wash it with soap and hot water on the same routine as the food bowl, and whenever you feel the slimy film on the inside.
Pet water fountains: follow the maker’s instructions for taking it apart, cleaning the pump and changing the filter. Hair and film collect in the pump and the small parts.

For step by step fountain cleaning, see how to clean a pet water fountain.

For small pet water bottles and hay racks, see how to clean a hamster, guinea pig or rabbit cage.

Scoops, cans and storage

Keep a dedicated scoop for dry food, and wash it with soap and hot water, as the FDA advises for scooping and measuring utensils.
Cover opened cans and pouches tightly in the fridge.
Wash the dry food storage container between bags, since crumbs and oil build up at the bottom. Dry it fully before refilling.

For bird dishes and cages, see how to clean a bird cage, perches and dishes.

For water bowls kept outside, and a dog paddling pool, see how to clean a dog paddling pool and outdoor water bowls.

If your pet eats from an automatic feeder, see how to clean an automatic pet feeder for the hopper, dispenser and base.

Bowl materials

Stainless steel is the easiest to keep clean: smooth, hard to damage and usually dishwasher-safe.
Ceramic cleans well while the glaze is intact. Replace a ceramic bowl that is chipped or cracked, since food and water get into the damage.
Plastic scratches over time, and grime collects in the scratches. Replace plastic bowls that are scratched or chewed.

Cleaning the feeding area

Mat: use a washable, waterproof mat with a raised edge under the bowls. Wipe it daily and wash it weekly with soap and hot water, or in the washing machine if its label allows.
Floor: pick up the bowls and mat once a week and clean the floor underneath, which often stays damp from water splashes. Use a cleaner suitable for that floor and let it dry before putting the mat back. Wood and laminate in particular should not stay wet; see our guides to hardwood floors and laminate and vinyl plank.
Wall and baseboard: messy eaters splash food on the wall behind the bowls. Wipe it with a damp cloth before it dries on.
Kibble dust and crumbs: vacuum around and under the feeding station so they do not attract pests.
Keep pet feeding separate from human food prep where you can. Wash pet dishes in a way that does not leave pet food residue on your kitchen counters, and wipe the sink down afterwards.

Treat-dispensing and rubber toys need the same regular washing; see how to clean pet toys.

A simple routine

After every meal: wash the food bowl and scoop with soap and hot water, and wash your hands.
Every day: empty, rinse and refill the water bowl; wipe the mat.
Every week: wash the water bowl, the mat and the floor under the feeding station.
Between bags: wash and dry the food storage container.

Use a slow feeder or lick mat? The grooves need extra care. See how to clean lick mats, slow feeders and puzzle feeders.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

For bigger messes elsewhere in the house, like vomit after a meal eaten too fast, our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a UV black light in one pouch. See also how to clean pet vomit from carpet. Keep cleaning products away from the bowls, and do not use them on surfaces your pet eats or drinks from.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I wash my dog’s or cat’s food bowl?

The FDA advises washing pet food bowls with soap and hot water after each use.

How often should I clean the water bowl?

Empty and refill it with fresh water daily, and wash it with soap and hot water regularly, and any time it feels slimy inside.

Can I wash pet bowls in the dishwasher with my own dishes?

Many people do, and a hot dishwasher cycle is one of the methods tested in the PLOS ONE study. If you prefer to keep them separate, run them on their own or wash them by hand with a brush used only for pet dishes. Scrape off food first either way.

What is the slime in my pet’s water bowl?

It is a film that forms from saliva, food bits and bacteria in standing water. Scrub it off with soap and hot water; rinsing alone does not remove it.

Sources

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Tips for safe handling of pet food and treats
Luisana E, et al. Survey evaluation of dog owners’ feeding practices and dog bowls’ hygiene assessment in domestic settings. PLOS ONE, 2022.

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow the care instructions for your bowls, fountain and mat. If you have questions about your pet’s food or health, ask your veterinarian.