Twice a day, my husband or I treat our dog, Clark, to new kibble and fresh water. Clark refuels (good doggy!), and we pat ourselves on the back—good doggy parents! Or are we? See, I recently learned we might be doing something wrong with our dog bowls, making a common mistake that truly made me cringe.
Was it daring to feed our fluffy prince mere dog food when he prefers home-steamed chicken? Judging from how fast Clark wolfs down his cutlet, I bet Clark considers this our No. 1 mistake. But no, there’s another error—one tons of responsible dog parents make—and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty gross.
Lucky for you, I got to the bottom of this everyday misstep that can hurt dogs and possibly also their humans. Read on so you don’t accidentally harm a member of your pack, whether they have two legs or four.
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What mistake do most people make with their dog’s food and water bowls?
I hate to break it to you, but you’re probably not cleaning your dog bowl often enough or well enough to remove nasty bacteria. Dog bowls should be washed in hot water and dish soap after every meal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A North Carolina State University survey revealed that only half of dog owners are cleaning their bowls that often, and just 13% are washing the dog-food scoop every time. I think I last washed Clark’s food scoop … never?! Gulp.
Worse still, the North Carolina State study may be overestimating how often we wash Fido’s dinnerware: A 2023 study of dog owners in Italy found that just 37% of dog owners cleaned their bowls after each feeding; 16% got around to the task only once a week.
Why is this such a problem?
This is risky business, according to Michael Hyder, DVM, medical director at the Veterinary Emergency Group in Palo Alto, California, because dog bowls are teeming with bacteria and other germs. Just how nasty do pooch plates get? They’re one of the germiest things in our homes, according to a study by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). The NSF’s researchers swabbed potential germ zones across homes and discovered dog bowls are the fourth-filthiest in terms of bacteria, behind only the kitchen sponge, the kitchen sink and that plaque pit, the toothbrush holder.
Other research has found dog bowls can be a breeding ground for bacteria like E. coli, mold and biofilm, which can lead to illness. Certain canine diets amplify this problem. “Wet food can stick to the bowl, making it harder to clean,” says Liza Cahn, DVM, a small-animal veterinarian with Embrace Pet Insurance. “It also spoils much faster than dry food, which can lead to more bacteria growth in a shorter time period.”
As for that water bowl: You might think it only needs a quick dump-and-refill, but water bowls also harbor all kinds of nastiness. “It’s important to clean water bowls daily to remove biofilm, the slimy substance caused by bacteria and debris adhering to the edge of the bowl,” says Dr. Cahn.
What kind of sicknesses can this lead to in dogs (and humans)?
Eating and drinking out of dirty bowls can give your pooch everything from mild skin irritation or gastrointestinal upset to severe food poisoning due to E. coli or salmonella bacteria, Dr. Cahn says. Mold in a dog’s bowl can also lead to health problems in pets.
And if you accidentally transfer that bacteria to food-prep areas in your kitchen, you can get sick from bacteria and mold, adds Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert and the chief marketing officer of CottageCare, a national cleaning company.
Raw pet food is particularly dicey. “If you feed your dog a raw diet, both you and your pet are more likely to be exposed to bacterial or parasitic contamination,” says Dr. Cahn. In fact, the FDA advises against a raw-food diet because of the significant risk from harmful bacteria, including salmonella and listeria.
So how often should you clean your dog’s bowls?
Dog food bowls should be cleaned with dish soap and hot water at least once a day, and ideally after every single meal. “Think of it like cleaning your own dishes after a meal,” Dr. Hyder says. “You wouldn’t leave your plate with leftover food for hours, so the same goes for your pet’s bowl.”
Washing bowls after every meal is extra urgent if your dog eats wet food, because that type of food clings to the bowl and goes bad faster. If kibble is on the menu, though, it’s probably safe to clean them once a day, Dr. Hyder says.
What’s the best way to clean your dog’s bowls?
To keep dogs safe, you should sanitize their bowls by running them through a high-heat cycle of the dishwasher, says Dr. Cahn. A 2023 Italian study backed this up: The research, published in BMC Veterinary Research, looked into methods of washing and found that hand-washing the bowls resulted in higher levels of microbial contamination.
“I personally use stainless steel bowls and put them in the dishwasher,” says Dr. Cahn. (She keeps an extra set on hand so she always has clean bowls handy.) Ceramic and stainless steel bowls are gentler for your pet’s skin than plastic, which can cause contact irritation in some breeds, and they’re easier to clean, she adds.
But wait! You’re not done yet. You should also regularly clean the area where you put your dog’s bowls. Many people overlook the floor and mat under the bowls, but these grimy zones need a daily wipe-down too. “This is especially important when your dog is eating in the kitchen,” Schrader says.
Is it really OK to put your dog’s bowls in the dishwasher with your dishes?
If the idea of Buddy’s “moist and meaty” chow bowl comingling with your kid’s sippy cup grosses you out, you’re not alone. I personally can’t bring myself to put Clark’s bowl in with our dishes.
But here’s reassuring news: From a safety standpoint, it’s perfectly safe—as long as you use the high heat or sanitizing option. To minimize the ick factor, you might want to run a load with just the dog’s bowls and scoop.
What if you don’t want to use the dishwasher?
If your dog bowls are not dishwasher-safe or you’d just rather hand-wash them, that’s not a problem. It’s safe to hand-wash the bowls using hot water and dish soap, according to Dr. Hyder and the FDA. Here’s the best way to do it:
- Choose a pet-safe dish soap. Go with a fragrance-free or mild dish soap, and be sure to use hot water. After rinsing, fully dry the bowls to prevent mold from growing on the surface.
- Don’t share dish scrubbers. “Wash your dog bowls with a designated sponge or scrub that is never used for human dishes,” Schrader says. This prevents accidentally contaminating your stuff with canine germs.
- Sanitize dog bowls weekly. Even if you hand-wash the pet bowls, disinfect them once a week—either by running them through the dishwasher or by “soaking them for two minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon unscented bleach per gallon of water, and rinsing thoroughly,” Schrader advises. The CDC also recommends disinfecting dog bowls in a diluted bleach solution.
How else can you keep your dog’s food and water safe?
Here are other must-knows to keep your pet safe … and your kitchen sanitary.
- Wash your hands before and after feedings and bowl cleanings. Scrub your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after touching your dog’s bowl, the FDA advises. This will prevent accidentally spreading germs to their bowl, as well as help keep you and your family safe from bacteria and mold from your dog’s bowl.
- Don’t use the bowl to scoop out food. To avoid contamination of your pet’s food supply, always use a separate scoop—and clean it daily.
- Stop topping off. Ever just add more kibble to the half-eaten bowl? Yeah, me too, but turns out it’s not a great idea. A better bet: Dump your pup’s old food in a dog-proof trash container, clean the bowls and refill.
I can’t emphasize dog-proof trash enough: When Clark was 4 months old, he swiped a chicken thigh bone out of our garbage and gulped it down whole. He needed emergency surgery. It was a scary (and pricey) way to discover that to a dog, the kitchen trash is a giant snack pantry, located right at their height. After that close call, our trash is now more secure than the vault at Fort Knox.
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Sources:
- Michael Hyder, DVM, medical director at Veterinary Emergency Group in Palo Alto, California; email interview, Aug. 11, 2025
- Scott Schrader, chief marketing officer of CottageCare; email interview, Aug. 11, 2025
- Liza Cahn, DVM, small-animal veterinarian with Embrace Pet Insurance; email interview, Aug. 9, 2025
- FDA: “Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats”
- CDC: “About Cleaning and Disinfecting Pet Supplies”
- National Sanitation Foundation: “Clean the Germiest Home Items”
- BMC Veterinary Research: “Pet feeding habits and the microbiological contamination of dog food bowls: effect of feed type, cleaning method and bowl material”
- PLOS One: “Survey evaluation of dog owners’ feeding practices and dog bowls’ hygiene assessment in domestic settings”
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