The 4-leggers in my household are not entirely pro-bath. Our terrier mix loves life after a bath; she runs madly about the house with pure joy. During the bath, however, she looks like we’re torturing her. We’re just grateful she stands still for it because her “little brother” is a corgi-mix built for escape. He is slippery and wily when wet and groans out his woes the entire bath time. And then there is the big queen-to-rule-them-all kitty who needs regular brushing and occasional “spot cleaning” assistance with her thick double coat because one cat tongue is simply not enough to manage it all. This crew loves to sleep on the foot of our bed, so whatever dirt and smells they’ve tucked away throughout the day end up on my handmade quilts. Simple answer: regular baths, right? The double-conundrum is that good pet shampoo is ridiculously expensive, and I am also on a quest to stop buying plastic packaging (apparently, there is a rule somewhere that dog shampoo must be sold only in plastic bottles that I cannot recycle here in Oregon). Fortunately, it’s easy and inexpensive to make good homemade dog shampoo with gentle, sustainable ingredients I always have on hand. Part of the joy of making homemade animal shampoo is that I can customize the recipe. I always add aloe vera gel to this shampoo as a skin-soothing component that brings hydration and shine to a healthy coat (please see pro tip about aloe vera and dogs). I also like to add lavender for the dogs because it’s calming and relaxing for them and also helps soothe itchy skin. However, cats can be extra sensitive to some herbs, and I like to be more cautious with Queen Kitty, who is getting up there in years, so I use a tea-free version for her highness’s spot cleaning. You can make this recipe with a tea base if you’ve got the time (as well as lavender, calendula and chamomile make good skin-loving options), or just whip it up with plain water when you’re in a pinch. A quick note about water hardness: I use one tablespoon of castile soap in this recipe to get a good lather here in Eugene, where the water is moderately soft. In the mountains where I grew up, the water was moderately hard, and everything required more soap. Where my sister lives, the water is very soft, and she uses half as much soap to achieve the same end. Adjust the amount of soap in this recipe according to the hardness of water in your area. Makes about 2 cups tea. Ingredients Directions Ingredients Directions Pro Tips You may also enjoy:Optional Lavender Tea Base for Dog Shampoo
DIY Organic Dog Shampoo
This amount makes enough to thoroughly wash both of my 30 lb. dogs, so would be good for one large dog. Adjust amount according to size and number of 4-leggers.How to Use Homemade Dog Shampoo
Want a softening coat conditioner for your pup?Try this Leave-In Conditioner Recipe for Dogs!
Topics: Recipes, Green Living, Pet Care
Written by Heidi on August 2, 2021
Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.