It can be stressful to find yourself with a dirty dog and no dog shampoo. Luckily, there are a few alternatives to dog shampoo you can use to clean that pooch of yours so he’s as fresh as a daisy once again!
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Some of these shampoo alternatives are simple, while others take a bit of preparation to make. You might not even have to fill the tub with water at all, as some of these shampoo substitutes are simply applied to your dog’s fur without needing any water.
The 6 Alternative Options To Dog Shampoo
1. Baby Shampoo
Supplies: Baby shampoo
Difficulty level: Easy
Effectiveness: Good
If you have some baby shampoo on hand, you can use it to bathe your dog. Baby shampoo is gentler than adult shampoo because it contains fewer ingredients and perfumes. However, it’s still intended for human skin, which is different from dog skin.
Baby shampoo is safe to use for a one-time bath when you’re out of dog shampoo and need to get your dog cleaned up fast. Just don’t get into the habit of using it all the time because it’s made for humans and not canines! Overusing any human shampoo on a dog, including one made for babies, can easily dry out the animal’s skin.
To use baby shampoo, simply dampen your dog’s fur, then apply the shampoo and lather it up. Then just rinse away the soap bubbles with clear warm water, and you’re good to go! This method may not work great if your dog is extremely dirty or muddy as baby shampoo is not very powerful.
Pros
Simple
Very budget-friendly
Limited ingredients
Cons
Can dry out a dog’s skin if overused
Not as effective on very dirty dogs
A great dry shampoo will make keeping your pet clean and happy a breeze. We love Hepper’s Cucumber & Aloe Dry Shampoo because it will freshen up your pet’s skin and coat while reducing irritation. This no-rinse, pH-balanced formula is easy to use and has a soothing cucumber and aloe scent.
Simple
Very budget-friendly
Limited ingredients
- Simple
- Very budget-friendly
- Limited ingredients
Can dry out a dog’s skin if overused
Not as effective on very dirty dogs
- Can dry out a dog’s skin if overused
- Not as effective on very dirty dogs
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool company!
2. Homemade Shampoo
Supplies: Dish soap, apple cider vinegar, water
Difficulty level: Easy
Effectiveness: Great
You can whip up a quick batch of homemade shampoo you can use for bathing your dog. All you need is some dish soap, apple cider vinegar, and water. To make homemade shampoo, mix 1 quart of water with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of dish soap. Then lather the soap up on your dog’s fur, let it soak for a few minutes, and rinse it off. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar you can just use Dawn dish soap.
It will take a few minutes to rinse all the dish soap off your dog’s fur, especially if he has a long, thick coat. However, once you finish, your dog’s coat should be very clean as this simple shampoo works great! Your dog may smell a bit like dish soap and vinegar when you’re done, but at least he’ll be clean!
Pros
Uses common household items
Effective on dogs with long coats
Inexpensive
Cons
Can leave dog smelling like dish soap and vinegar
3. Baking Soda
Supplies: Baking soda
Difficulty level: Moderate
Effectiveness: Fair to good
Baking soda is a natural cleanser and deodorizer that you probably have on hand. You can use baking soda as a dry dog shampoo, and it doesn’t take any mixing at all! If you decide to use baking soda to clean your dog, do it outdoors because it can be messy.
Uses common household items
Effective on dogs with long coats
Inexpensive
- Uses common household items
- Effective on dogs with long coats
- Inexpensive
Can leave dog smelling like dish soap and vinegar
- Can leave dog smelling like dish soap and vinegar
Start by brushing your dog to remove loose hair and dirt. Then rub the baking soda into your dog’s fur while massaging it into his skin. Leave the baking soda on your dog’s fur for a few minutes, then brush it out. This method works best on a dog that’s not overly dirty. It simply won’t cut through heavy dirt and grime so don’t use this method if your dog is filthy.
Pros
Inexpensive
No mixing required
Cons
Messy
Not effective on very dirty dogs
4. Cornstarch
Supplies: Cornstarch
Difficulty level: Moderate
Effectiveness: Fair to good
If you find yourself in a real pickle and your dog isn’t overly dirty, you can use cornstarch as a dry dog shampoo. This is another job that should be done outdoors if possible because it can be messy like the baking soda method above.
Inexpensive
No mixing required
- Inexpensive
- No mixing required
Messy
Not effective on very dirty dogs
- Messy
- Not effective on very dirty dogs
To use this alternative to dog shampoo, shake cornstarch over your dog’s body, then work the powder into the fur. Let it sit for a few minutes, then remove the cornstarch using a grooming comb or dog brush. Cornstarch absorbs foul odors so it will freshen up your pooch if he smelled terrible before you started. Like the baking soda method, using cornstarch isn’t your best choice if your dog is terribly dirty as it simply won’t cut through heavy dirt and grime.
Pros
Inexpensive
Absorbs foul odors
No mixing required
Cons
Messy
Not super effective for very dirty dogs
5. Baby Wipes
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Supplies: Baby wipes
Difficulty level: Easy
Effectiveness: Fair
If your dog isn’t overly dirty and just needs some freshening up, you can use baby wipes to clean his fur. Baby wipes are very gentle, and they leave behind a fresh, pleasant smell. To use this method, simply rub your dog’s fur with some baby wipes, making sure to avoid the areas around his eyes.
Inexpensive
Absorbs foul odors
No mixing required
- Inexpensive
- Absorbs foul odors
- No mixing required
Messy
Not super effective for very dirty dogs
- Messy
- Not super effective for very dirty dogs
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A post shared by Sam Avon Pakistan (@samavonpakistan)
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View this post on Instagram
A downside to this method is that you may have to use many baby wipes to get your dog clean from head to tail. Plus, it will take quite a bit of time to clean your dog’s entire body, so be patient. Just be prepared to go through many wipes while getting your dog clean and smelling pretty!
Pros
Inexpensive
Gentle on dog’s skin
Easy to do
Leaves behind a fresh, clean scent
Cons
Not effective for overly dirty dogs
Time-consuming
Can sting the eyes
- Castile Soap
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Supplies: Castile bar soap
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
Effectiveness: Great
Castile soap is a skin-friendly gentle soap containing all-natural ingredients like coconut oil. This soap makes a great substitute for dog shampoo if you’re in a pinch. Maybe you have a bar or two of this popular soap tucked away in your bathroom cabinet. If so, great!
Inexpensive
Gentle on dog’s skin
Easy to do
Leaves behind a fresh, clean scent
- Inexpensive
- Gentle on dog’s skin
- Easy to do
- Leaves behind a fresh, clean scent
Not effective for overly dirty dogs
Time-consuming
Can sting the eyes
- Not effective for overly dirty dogs
- Time-consuming
- Can sting the eyes
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Supplies: Castile bar soap
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
Effectiveness: Great
To use this dog shampoo alternative, you’ll need to put your dog in the tub or shower and get his fur wet. Then lather up his coat with the Castile soap, work it in well, and rinse thoroughly. The coconut oil in the soap will leave your dog’s fur silky smooth and moisturized.
This soap works great on even the dirtiest dog, but it can’t be used regularly because it’s not made for dogs. If you were to use this soap every time you bathe your dog, his skin will likely dry out and itch, so only use this method if you’re in a real bind!
Pros
Cuts through dirt and grime
Can be used on very dirty dogs
Coconut oil helps smooth and soften fur
Cons
Can’t be used regularly
Can cause skin dryness
- See Also: Can You Use Cat Shampoo on a Dog? Is It Effective for Cleaning?
Cuts through dirt and grime
Can be used on very dirty dogs
Coconut oil helps smooth and soften fur
- Cuts through dirt and grime
- Can be used on very dirty dogs
- Coconut oil helps smooth and soften fur
Can’t be used regularly
Can cause skin dryness
- Can’t be used regularly
- Can cause skin dryness
Choosing the Right Dog Shampoo
To ensure you don’t run out of dog shampoo in the future, buy yourself a couple of bottles of shampoo for your four-legged friend. To help you navigate through the myriad of dog shampoos on the market today, consider these factors when choosing one.
Your dog’s age: If your dog is a puppy, look for a shampoo designed for younger dogs. Puppy shampoo is much gentler on the skin.
Any skin conditions your dog has: A moisturizing dog shampoo is perfect if your dog has skin issues such as dryness, flakiness, or itchiness.
Whether your dog has fleas or ticks: There are special flea and tick dog shampoos on the market that fend off these tiny pests.
Odor: If your dog’s fur doesn’t smell good, look for a deodorizing dog shampoo that eliminates unpleasant odors.
Your dog’s fur type: If your dog has fur that tangles, a dog shampoo-conditioner will help you tame your dog’s mane.
See Also:
Your dog’s age: If your dog is a puppy, look for a shampoo designed for younger dogs. Puppy shampoo is much gentler on the skin.
Any skin conditions your dog has: A moisturizing dog shampoo is perfect if your dog has skin issues such as dryness, flakiness, or itchiness.
Whether your dog has fleas or ticks: There are special flea and tick dog shampoos on the market that fend off these tiny pests.
Odor: If your dog’s fur doesn’t smell good, look for a deodorizing dog shampoo that eliminates unpleasant odors.
Your dog’s fur type: If your dog has fur that tangles, a dog shampoo-conditioner will help you tame your dog’s mane.
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5 Homemade Dog Shampoos
Conclusion
Discovering you’re out of dog shampoo can be stressful, and more so if your dog is a dirty, sloppy mess. Use one of these smart alternatives to dog shampoo if you find yourself in a pickle. Just remember to buy a bottle or two of dog shampoo suitable for your pooch, so you always have something on hand to clean your dog from head to tail.
Featured Image Credit: Masarik, Shutterstock
