We love going natural as much as possible for daily dog food & basic grooming. So when it came to a dog shampoo, we naturally incline towards Soapnuts.
Soapnuts are plant based natural cleaners which even humans use for mopping homes, washing hair, doing laundry especially silks. The uses are basically unlimited cleaning purposes! It is anti microbial and mild at the same time.
Benefits of using soap nut shampoo on dogs:
- Hypoallergenic and can be used on sensitive skin
- Natural, multi purpose & biodegradable
- A powerful cleanser with no harsh chemicals
- Does not strip the skin & coat off, of it’s natural balance
- Acts also as a homemade flea shampoo for dogs
Any DIY recipes that says use mild soap, use the below soap nut recipe.
The Recipe: Natural Dog Shampoo using Soap Nuts
For dog baths we use our own soapnuts & shikakkai, local to India. This recipe applies for a medium dog weighing unto 15kgs with a double coat. Adjust the same based on your dog’s size & coat thickness.
- Drinking water 1.5 litres
- Soap nuts : 5 in number, add 3-4 more if you get the small nuts
- Shikakkai : 2 in number, add 1 or 2 more if you get broken shikakkai
Shikakkai is a natural conditioner and a must for dogs with dry skin.
Boil the water with the soap nuts & shikakkai. Once it comes to a boil, simmer it for 30 minutes. When the water is cool mash the soap nuts with your hand and remove the seeds.
The solution does not spoil for up to a month with the weather in Bangalore, India. You can choose to store this in the refrigerator.
Pro Tip:
Leaving the mash in the solution is perfectly fine. Or you could even pulp it in the blender and add back into the shampoo to add volume & foam to the solution.
Direction for use as natural dog shampoo
- Lightly dampen the dog’s coat with water.
- Massage the shampoo in gently on their coat in small portions.
- Leave the solution on for about 5-10 minutes. You can also simply continue massaging and playing with your dog at this time.
- And rinse. Natural dog shampoos wash off faster than they are to apply!
Pro Tip:
- If you have oiled your dog, you may consider repeating the process. While repeating, make it a quick wash depending on the oil left.
- If you have applied a pack with aloe vera & water, there is no reason to repeat the process.
Neem shampoo for dogs
Turn this into a more powerful homemade flea shampoo for dogs, by adding in fresh & crushed neem leaves into the recipe.
Add around 10-15 leaves to the above DIY dog shampoo recipe. Use this natural dog wash the same way as mentioned above.
Pro Tip:
- With fresh neem leaves or any other fresh natural ingredients like hibiscus, aloe vera etc. Be mindful to use up this natural dog wash ASAP. If refrigerated, it’s good to go for maximum 5 days.
Direction for use as natural dog wash in spray bottle
Bottle this up in a spray bottle for the paws. This solution being mild can be used for wiping clean their paws or any other body parts, especially as between the bath refreshers.
Read more on grooming for dogs with allergies naturally, follow link!