VIDEO: Save Money – Make Safe, Quality Dog Shampoo

Although there are plenty of safe, dog-friendly commercial shampoos available for our four-legged little companions, there are still some dog owners who prefer making their own. Preparing your own doggie shampoo is quite easy, and the homemade version often costs much less than the commercial products you see in the marketplace. Plus, in addition to taking a more active role in the care of your dog, there’s the added peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what you’re putting on your dog’s skin.

We’ve compiled 6 easy, do-it-yourself homemade doggie shampoos that can be made from items many of us already have in the pantry!

Easy Homemade Recipes

Formula 1 – Try adding one cup of an all-natural dish detergent and one cup of white vinegar to a quart of water. Store the solution in a thoroughly rinsed old shampoo bottle.

Formula 2 – Wash a plastic bottle thoroughly with hot water and soap. Rinse it properly and then mix two cups of distilled water, one-half cup of 100 % vegetable liquid glycerine, two teaspoons of mild liquid castile soap, one cup of apple cider vinegar, and two tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Shake well until the mixture is well-blended. This homemade shampoo will keep up for a month if stored up in a cool place.

Formula 3 – For puppies with sensitive, itchy skin, try making a shampoo by initially grinding a cup of fast cooking oatmeal (preferably organic as it has no chemical additives) to a powder using a coffee grinder. Add a cup of water to the powdered oatmeal and mix well. Apply the mixture into your pup’s fur and skin. Massage well for about 20 minutes prior to rinsing. Make sure that all oatmeal residues are removed.

Formula 4 – If you need a moisturizing shampoo for your pooch that has itchy skin, try the recipe that combines a cup of  a natural dish detergent with lemon scent, one-third cup of glycerine, a cup of white vinegar, and a quart of water. Shake well before using. Make sure that your pup is always given a thorough rinse.

Formula 5 – Combine a cup of all-natural dish soap with a cup of distilled water. If you can’t find a natural dish detergent, use Dove or Ivory as an alternative. Make sure that you avoid dish soaps that have dyes or perfumes in them. Gently stir the mixture to avoid creating a lather, and then add a cup of apple cider vinegar to it. Continue gradually adding water until the mixture reaches the shampoo consistency that you want to work with. Add one-third cup of pure vegetable glycerine. Mix well and pour into a thoroughly rinsed recycled shampoo bottle.

Formula 6 – Because frequent bathing of dogs can result to skin irritation, the use of dry (or non-rinse) shampoo can be an excellent alternative. Do this by mixing a cup of oatmeal with a cup of baking soda or corn starch in a food processor or blender. Mix well until it reaches the consistency of a fine powder. Sprinkle onto your pooch and with your hands rub the dry shampoo thoroughly onto his coat and skin. Brush well to remove any residue. Store the unused mixture in a cool, dry location.

Have you ever made your own doggie shampoo? If you’ve got a great recipe that you swear by, please share it with our readers in a comment below!

Here’s an Oatmeal Shampoo demonstration by Robert Rivera: