How to Make Homemade Dog Shampoo Using Just 3 Ingredients

While a specially-formulated dog shampoo designed for a pup's skin is the cleaning option vets recommend, knowing how to mix up your own quick, non-toxic cleaner can help you get out of unexpectedly dirty or stinky situations.

This shampoo recipe, developed by Chloe Mackintosh of Boxwood Avenue, uses three simple ingredients: baking soda, castile soap, and water. "Living on a ranch gives my dog the opportunity to get into a lot of things that don't exactly make him smell like roses!" she says. "As I've worked on making more of my own homemade green cleaning products, I wanted to come up with a great all-natural recipe for my pup."

Castile soap, which comes in unscented versions or with added essential oils, is available at many grocery stores. One caveat to scents: Avoid using tea tree oil or tea tree scented products, as it is toxic to pets.

Since the soap is primarily oil-based, make sure you rinse the shampoo thoroughly so your pet doesn't stay greasy, says Christine Cain, BS, DVM, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. If you notice your pet's coat becoming dry and frizzy, or their skin becoming dry or irritated, this can be a sign that the recipe is too alkinalizing for your dog's skin; switch to a pre-formulated shampoo designed for dogs.

While washing your dog with any shampoo, avoid getting the lather into their eyes, noses, ears, or mouths, says Dr. Cain. "Distractions, such as a Licky Mat with a tasty treat like peanut butter or spray cheese, may help keep dogs distracted and keep them from licking the shampoo," she says. "Cotton balls can be placed at the opening of the ear canal during the bath—just be sure to remove them following the bath."

Though this recipe makes about a quart of shampoo—enough for two to four washes, depending on the size and hair type of your dog—Dr. Cain points out that bulk quantities of homemade shampoo are more likely than their commercial counterparts to grow bacteria while in storage. If you opt for homemade shampoo, plan to make a new batch for each wash.