How to Clean a Dog Crate or Pet Carrier

A crate or carrier is a small space your pet spends hours in, so hair, drool, spilled water and the odd accident build up fast. A dirty crate smells, and a pet that has had an accident in it is more likely to have another if the smell stays. This guide covers routine cleaning and accident cleanup for wire crates, plastic crates and carriers, and soft-sided carriers.

It follows the care instructions of the pet product maker PetSafe for its soft carrier, and Humane World for Animals on pet stains and odors. Check the label or manual for your own crate, bedding and carrier first: some parts are machine washable and some are not.

How often to clean

• Every few days: shake out or vacuum the bedding, and wipe the tray or floor.
• Every week or two: wash the bedding and wipe down the whole crate or carrier.
• Right away: after any accident, vomit or spilled food.
• Before and after travel: carriers and travel crates pick up dirt and smells on the road.

Wire crates

1. Take your pet out and remove everything: bedding, toys, bowls and the plastic floor pan or tray.
2. Vacuum the hair from the bars, corners and the base. A brush attachment works well on wire.
3. Wash the floor pan with warm water and mild dish soap, or follow the crate maker’s instructions. Rinse it well and dry it.
4. Wipe the wire with a cloth and warm soapy water, paying attention to the lower bars where drool and urine splash. Rinse with a clean damp cloth.
5. Dry everything fully before putting it back together, so the metal does not rust and the pan does not trap moisture.

Plastic crates and hard carriers

1. Empty it and shake out loose hair, then vacuum the corners and the vent holes.
2. Wash the inside and outside with warm water and mild soap and a soft brush or sponge. Many hard crates come apart into a top and bottom half, which makes this easier; check the manual.
3. Clean the door and latch, where drool and dried food collect.
4. Rinse and dry thoroughly, with the door open, before your pet goes back in.

Soft-sided carriers

Soft carriers are the hardest to clean because the fabric holds hair and smells and some cannot go in a washing machine. As an example of maker instructions, PetSafe’s care steps for its Happy Ride backpack carrier are:

• Regular cleaning: wipe the carrier down with mild soap and a damp cloth.
• Bigger messes: remove the floor pad and either wipe it with a damp cloth or machine wash it and hang it to dry. PetSafe says not to machine dry it.
• The liner: unfasten it, pull it out to shake out any solid material, then wipe the liner and the inside of the carrier with mild soap and a damp cloth.

Other soft carriers vary, so look for a care label. Use a lint roller or a damp rubber glove to get hair out of the mesh panels and seams before you wipe. Let the carrier air dry fully, open, before storing it.

Crate bedding and covers

• Get the hair off before washing by shaking it out outdoors or using a lint roller, so it does not end up in your washing machine. See pet hair and odor in the washing machine and dryer.
• Wash as the label says, and dry it completely. Foam pads usually have a removable cover; the foam itself often should not be machine washed. Our dog bed cleaning guide covers covers, inserts and drying.
• Keep a spare set, so the crate is never bare while the bedding dries.

Accidents in the crate

1. Take out the bedding and anything else that got wet or soiled.
2. Remove solids and blot urine with paper towels.
3. Wash the tray or floor with warm soapy water and rinse.
4. Treat the odor with an enzymatic cleaner that is labeled safe for the material. Humane World for Animals recommends enzymatic cleaners for pet urine and waste, because they break down pet waste odors. Let it work for the time on the label, then rinse if the label says so and dry.
5. Check the floor under the crate. Urine often runs out of a wire crate’s pan or through a carrier’s base. A UV black light helps find it; see how to find pet urine with a black light.

Repeated accidents in the crate can have a cause worth asking your veterinarian or a trainer about, such as a crate that is too large, too long a stay, or a health issue. For puppies, our new puppy or kitten cleanup checklist covers the first weeks.

For exercise pens and the puppy pad corner, see how to clean a dog playpen and the puppy pad area.

For a hamster, guinea pig or rabbit cage, see how to clean a hamster, guinea pig or rabbit cage.

What not to use

• Ammonia and vinegar as an odor fix. Humane World for Animals advises avoiding them for pet urine, because strong chemical smells may encourage a pet to mark the same spot again.
• Strong scented cleaners and air fresheners. Your pet spends hours with its nose a few inches from the crate floor. Mild soap and an unscented or lightly scented enzyme product are better.
• Harsh chemicals and mixed products. Follow each product label, never mix bleach with ammonia or acids, and rinse well so no residue is left where your pet lies.

For an outdoor dog house or a concrete kennel run, see how to clean an outdoor dog house and kennel run.

Cleaning a crate after a dog with parvo? Normal cleaners are not enough. See how to disinfect your home after parvo.

Dog coughing after daycare or boarding? See how to clean your home after kennel cough for crates, bowls and toys.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a UV black light in one pouch, so a crate accident can be handled straight away, at home or on a trip. Check the label for which materials each product suits.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the urine smell out of a dog crate?

Wash the tray and the crate with warm soapy water, then treat them with an enzymatic cleaner labeled safe for the material, as Humane World for Animals recommends for pet urine. Wash or replace the bedding, and check the floor under the crate too.

Can I put a soft pet carrier in the washing machine?

Only if its care label says so. Many soft carriers are wipe-clean only, with a washable pad. PetSafe, for example, advises wiping its backpack carrier with mild soap and a damp cloth, and machine washing only the floor pad, then hanging it to dry.

How often should I wash crate bedding?

Every week or two for most pets, and right away after an accident. Shake or vacuum it every few days in between.

How do I get dog hair out of a wire crate?

Vacuum the bars and base with a brush attachment, then wipe the wire with a damp cloth. Remove and wash the floor pan, where most of the hair collects.

Sources

• PetSafe: How to clean your Happy Ride backpack pet carrier
• Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow the care label or manual for your crate, carrier and bedding, and the product label, and test cleaners on a hidden area first.