We’ve all been told about the items in our household that regularly need to be cleaned – such as our phones, water bottles, or pajamas – because they get surprisingly dirty. However, if you’re the owner of a dog, you may be surprised to learn that one of the dirtiest items in your home is your dog’s leash!
However, Reader’s Digest has revealed that dog leashes actually get dirty quite fast. And we can see why most of us have probably never washed it more than a handful of times. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep it regularly sanitized.
Dog leashes can become easily dirtied because we handle them so often and on such a consistent basis – daily for most. The constant touching means that the microbes and oils from your hands get transferred to the material where they end up building up on the handle over time.
Additionally, it’s a safe bet that the leash also gets regularly covered by your dog’s germs, fur, and saliva – not to mention all the mud and dirt and grime that comes from being out in the real world. That all adds up to a plethora of grossness that you bring into your home on a daily basis.
Solution
Of course, there is a simple solution: clean the leash. And here is how. For most leashes, you can regularly clean them once a month, unless they get visibly spattered with dog hair or mud. Since most leashes are made out of nylon or rope, it’s a simple fix by just letting them soak in some hot, soapy water for 10 minutes. Then you can just rinse and hang it out to dry. If you have tough stains or caked-on gunk, you can easily use a soft nylon brush as needed. There are some leashes that can even be put into the wash cycle so long as you’re careful about it. But if you notice that your leash starts getting really dirty really often, then you definitely might want to think about investing in a spare or two so you can rotate while washing.
