How to Clean a Pet Door or Cat Flap

A pet door gets more traffic than any other door in the house. Muddy paws, wet fur and shedding hair all brush past the flap, so it turns cloudy and grimy, hair packs into the frame, and grit builds up on the magnets until the flap no longer closes properly. A door that does not seal lets in drafts, rain and bugs. The good news is that a pet door needs only mild soap, a cloth and a few minutes. This guide covers the flap, the frame, the magnets and seals, locking latches and electronic doors.

It follows the care pages published by two pet door makers, PetSafe and Hale Pet Door. Always check the manual for your own model first, as care advice differs between doors.

How often to clean a pet door

Check it once a month. PetSafe says to examine your pet door once a month to make sure it continues to work properly.
Clean it when it looks dirty. Hale Pet Door says how often depends on how much the door is used and the weather, and that doors exposed to snow, rain or mud need cleaning more often. Its rule of thumb is that if it looks visibly dirty, it is time to clean it.
Light cleaning often saves you a heavy scrub later, as Hale also points out.

What you need

Warm water and a mild dish soap
A soft cloth or sponge, plus a dry cloth or paper towels
A small soft-bristled brush, such as an old toothbrush
Optional: a can of compressed air and cotton swabs

How to clean the flap

Take the flap out if your door allows it. Hale suggests removing the flaps if possible for a more thorough clean. Check your manual for how.
Wash it with mild soap and water. PetSafe says to clean the pet door using a sponge or rag with mild soap and water. Use gentle strokes on both sides.
Work on stuck mud and slobber with a soft cloth soaked in warm, soapy water. Let it sit on dried spots for a minute so they soften, rather than scrubbing hard.
Rinse with clear water and dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel, as Hale advises.
Put it back and check that it swings freely and closes flat.

Cleaners to avoid on the flap

Most flaps are made of vinyl, which harsh products can damage. PetSafe says to avoid harsh cleaners and chemicals like bleach, which can degrade the vinyl flap. Hale says to never use an ammonia-based cleaner on your pet door, and to avoid abrasive materials. Skip scouring pads too, as they scratch and cloud clear flaps.

Protecting the flap

Hale says a vinyl protectant or a car wax can be applied to its flaps to help them last longer and make future cleaning easier. Check that your maker approves this for your flap before you try it, and let it dry fully before your pet uses the door.

The frame and tunnel

Wipe the frame inside and out. For its SmartDoor, PetSafe says to use a damp (not wet) cloth on the interior and exterior frames.
Brush out hair from the corners and edges of the frame with a soft brush or a vacuum crevice tool.
Vacuum a carpeted tunnel. Hale says the carpet in its wall tunnels can be cleaned with any vacuum with a hose, and that a carpet spot cleaner should work on stains.
Glass panel doors: Hale says the tempered glass in its glass and window models can be cleaned with any standard glass cleaning product. For nose prints around the door, see how to clean pet nose prints and drool off glass.

Magnets, seals and weather stripping

This is the part people miss, and it is the reason many flaps stop closing properly.

Clear the magnets. PetSafe says to make sure no dirt or debris is blocking the magnetic piece at the bottom of the flap or in the frame, as this may stop the flap sealing properly. Wipe them with a damp rag and clear any debris.
Clean the weather stripping. PetSafe says to clear dirt from the weather stripping and the fins at the sides of the flap with compressed air, a soft-bristled brush or a damp cloth.
Check the seal. PetSafe says there should be no gaps on the sides between the flap and the frame, or between the magnets.
Adjust if needed. Hale says the magnets and weather stripping on its doors can be adjusted or replaced. Follow your own manual.

Locks and latches

Hair and grit collect in the locking parts. PetSafe says to make sure there is no dirt or debris in the locking mechanisms, and to clean them out with a small brush and compressed air if necessary. On its microchip cat door, it says to check for cat hair or debris in the latches.

Microchip and electronic doors

Unlock the door first and follow the manual for your model.
Keep liquids out of the electronics. PetSafe says not to use liquid or spray cleaners on the buttons in the battery compartment of its SmartDoor, as these could let moisture in. It suggests compressed air, a soft-bristled brush or an alcohol wipe for the latches and buttons.
Clean the sensors gently. PetSafe says to clean the SmartDoor motion sensors with a damp cotton swab. On its microchip cat door, it says dirt on the motion sensor inside the tunnel may cause performance issues, and to wipe it with a damp cloth as needed.

When to replace the flap

PetSafe says to inspect the flap for damage, and to replace it if it is torn or no longer seals on the sides because it has warped. A flap that stays cloudy or cracked after cleaning is also worth replacing. Most makers sell replacement flaps for their doors.

A simple routine

When it looks dirty: wipe the flap and frame with mild soap and water, rinse and dry.
Every month: check the door works, clear the magnets, seals and latches, and look for damage.
Before winter: check the seal for gaps so the door keeps out drafts and rain.

Around the pet door

The floor on the inside of a pet door takes the worst of the mud. A washable mat on both sides catches a lot of it. For paw prints, see how to clean muddy paw prints, and for the hair that builds up near the door, how to clean a pet hair vacuum and its filters.

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, for the accidents and muddy messes on carpets and floors near the door. For the flap itself, use mild soap and water as above.

Frequently asked questions

What can I clean a pet door flap with?

Mild soap and warm water with a soft cloth or sponge, then a rinse and a dry. PetSafe says to avoid harsh cleaners and bleach, and Hale says never to use an ammonia-based cleaner.

Why won’t my pet door flap close properly?

Often because hair or dirt is blocking the magnets or the weather stripping. PetSafe says to clear any debris from the magnetic piece and the frame. If the flap is torn or warped, it needs replacing.

How often should I clean a dog door?

Whenever it looks dirty, which may be weekly in muddy weather. PetSafe says to check the door once a month.

Can I clean a microchip cat flap with spray cleaner?

Keep sprays away from the electronics. PetSafe suggests a damp cloth for the frame and a damp cotton swab or cloth for the sensors. Check your own model’s manual.

Sources

PetSafe: How to clean and maintain the 4-Way Locking Big Cat Flap, Extreme Weather Sliding Glass Pet Door, Microchip Cat Door and SmartDoor Connected Pet Door
Hale Pet Door: Pet door maintenance and Clean your pet door flaps

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow the manual for your own pet door, especially for electronic and microchip models.