Is your dog anything like my dirty, messy bulldog? Then, you’ve probably needed to clean their paws off every time they come inside!
These DIY Dog Paw Wipes and Spray are the perfect chemist solution. They clean, disinfect, soothe, and are really just a few pennies per batch. This little mixture was created because Ruger always gets so dirty when he goes in the backyard (I think he does it on purpose lol). But he has very sensitive skin, so I have to be careful what I use on him.
I combined some of my favorite chemist ingredients so it would be a fast solution too. No need for much scrubbing! Just wipe off!
You can also put this solution in a spray bottle to just spray your dogs paws. Even if they don’t have any actual dirt, it is still a great disinfectant.
Pin This Picture for DIY Dog Paw Wipes and Spray
Ingredients:
3 Cups Water (distilled or bottled is best if your tap water is hard)
1 Tbsp Dawn® Dishwashing Liquid (or another good quality mild dish soap)
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
2 Tbsp Hydrogen Peroxide (3% First Aide)
For the Wipes:
Paper Towel Roll Cut in Half
Container with Lid to Fit the Paper Towels
For the Spray:
Just a Spray Bottle
Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, add in 3 cups of water.
2. Add in the dish soap, coconut oil, and peroxide. Whisk until well combined.
3. For the wipes, stick your half paper towel roll into a jar or container. Pull out the center card board part.
4. Pour the mixture into the container, soaking all the part of the paper towels.
5. Pull wipes up from the center. It should work like store bought wipes (see picture below)
Another method for the wipes: You can buy think paper napkins and put them in a shallow container and just take a napkin off the top. Similar to how diaper wipes are packaged.
For the Spray: Simply put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray your dogs paws on the bottom and top to disinfectant. Wipe off it desired.
Chemist Tips on Why This Solution Works:
This solution removes dirt, disinfects, and soothes all at the same time, so it is the perfect combination for a dogs paw. With the addition of hydrogen peroxide, it can also whiten white fur that is dirty. Ruger has mainly white hair, the peroxide cleans and whitens it so well!
Hydrogen Peroxide is one of my favorite chemicals in the home. It is natural, safe and has so many important benefits like anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and a very effective oxidizer (stain removal!).
I have had two different veterinarians tell us about using Dawn® dish washing liquid as a dog shampoo. When you dilute it really well with water, it is great for dogs with sensitive skin. You’ve probably seen commercials about how it is used on ducks with oil on their feathers. It is gentle and effective, so it is perfect on dirt. If you don’t have access to this brand, try another good quality dish soap that is also mild.
Dish soaps are great surfactants, so they will repel dirt and grease.
Lastly, the coconut oil plays a roll in soothing and moisturizing. Coconut oil is natural and good for dogs internally, but also great externally since it’s gentle and soothes their skin. Ruger has really sensitive skin, and is constantly getting little rashes or dry spots that get irritated. Since using this solution on his paws, he doesn’t have anymore irritation from being outside.
See our little video below:
If you use store-bought wipes for your dogs, you may be surprised the ingredients they contain. I noticed numerous brands contain various alcohols in the solution. Alcohols are great for disinfecting and cleaning, but they can really dry out a dogs skin. Ruger did not do well with store-bought!
[Tweet “#DIY dog paw wipes. Only a few cheap, safe ingredients! @chemistrycachet”]
FAQS
Does your dog lick his paws after application?
Mine does not. In fact, this is the only type of wipes I use that don’t make him lick his paws.
Is Dawn safe for dogs though?
Yes, we do not use ANYTHING on our animals unless approved by our licensed vet. Our local veterinarian recommended DILUTED dawn dish soap for Ruger’s sensitive skin since all other soaps irritate him. Even natural ones. Dawn removes allergens and dirt more efficiently than other soaps. No, it is not toxic to dogs according to our licensed vet. You can read various articles on how it is used to clean animals safely.
Do the towels get soggy?
I use bounty paper towels. They do not get soggy, but make sure to use a thick high quality paper towel to avoid that.
How long does this solution last?
I have had to last 6 months or so. I recommend using it within that time to make sure it stays fresh.
Is the coconut oil necessary?
I think so because it is the part that moisturizes the pad. Without it, you will have a solution that just cleans well. The coconut oil helps with dry pads especially in the winter.
Can I use other soap?
You can swap out some of your dogs usual shampoo if you have that on hand. I have found it doesn’t remove dirt quit as well, but will still clean the paws.
Can you use this all the time?
I do for Ruger. I keep a bottle next to the door and wipe his paws when they are dirty. Again, this is the ONLY solution I have used on Ruger that doesn’t irritate his sensitive bulldog skin. Please remember all dogs are different, so always test things first.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a trained veterinarian, these are my chemist opinions along with suggestions from our personal veterinarian. Please consult with your pets vet if they have sensitivities or are being treated with any topical medication!
Follow on Facebook | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Hometalk
Linking with Met Monday and these link parties!
Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Wow! This is so great! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy making it and using it 🙂
What a great idea! We love making our own cleaning sprays. Definitely cheaper, and safer, than buying the store bought chemicals. I love how your dog just doesn’t care. My dog would be hiding under the couch, he hates when I touch his paws!
It is so much cheaper and safer! I love keeping homemade solutions at home 🙂 Ruger usually hates when I wipe his paws…he normally runs away lol. I have to work super fast with him when he isn’t asleep. That is why I love using these, they work fast! I think Ruger hates his paws touched because they are always irritated or itchy, he has so many allergy problems!
Poor guy, I don’t blame him!
How clever of you – inexpensive, “wholesome”, gentle, effective! Does Ruger lick his paws after you’ve cleaned them. Was wondering a bit about the Dawn, even in the small amount in the formula. This would be good for humans, too. Will keep in mind when we get our next dog(s). Like your video – the music reminds me a bit of the “Bewitched” series theme song. Enjoy!
Thanks Laurie! I love Sinatra for videos, adds a good vibe 🙂 Ruger sometimes licks his paws, but usually just runs away afterwards lol It is so soft on my hands too! And it doesn’t try out my hands like some alcohol based wipes, so it is nice to use!
Can you use this as a refresher type spray all over?
With the small amount of soap, I wouldn’t use it all over. You can eliminate the soap and it might work better for that
Wow, this is cool. I’m sharing with my dog owner friends 🙂
Thank you! Hope they enjoy it 🙂
Do I have to buy liquid coconut oil or can I melt the solid coconut oil.
My coconut oil is liquid because it is always so warm in Texas. You can just soften it or melt a little just so it will mix up well 🙂
Hi, once mixed with the coconut oil stay mixed or solidly? I am in a norther climate.
It might form some solid bubbles, but a good shake of the mixture will brake it apart.
So good to know because Bulldogs require so much maintenance which can be expensive and we have to be careful about the ingredients! Glad you did all the research to make sure it’s safe for them and I love that coconut oil is one of the ingredients since we personally use it often for cooking etc…
Bulldogs do have so much maintenance! We’ve tried so many different things on Ruger and he always gets that itchy red skin. These really clean and soothe his paws, so I use them almost everyday!
Oh I need to make these for my wrinkly babies! I have to wipe their feet off after coming inside because of grass allergies. Thanks for sharing!
These really help with grass allergies! Ruger has the worst problems with that, so cleaning his feet when he comes in has helped!
Love this! My dog LOVES walking through the mud and it’s such a pain to get his paws clean when I bring him in. <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Isn’t that the worst! It is so hard to get the mud off sometimes too. These have helped us a lot!
LOVE this! Roxy’s paws need all the help they can get lol 🙂
Green Fashionista
Right?? She will likes these 🙂
What an awesome thing this is! I love the video, music and the dog too. Love mom
Thanks Mom! You know Ruger needs seriously help with his muddy paws lol
Totally awesome! Love all if your tips!
Thanks Michele! I am so happy you enjoy them 🙂
i always fight my dogs to the tub! This sounds much easier! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned! Have a great week!
Kim
Haha yes this is much easier! They sure make things difficult when it comes to cleaning 🙂
What container did you use for the paper towel roll ?
I use different ones depending on what container is empty. This one is an old sanitation wipe container with the lid (like clorox wipes, cleaned out). I’ve also use baby wipe containers that work well 🙂
Is it safe for the dog to lick his paws afterwards?? I just made the spray & sprayed it on and the first thing he tried to do was lick it off. Any ideas?
Yes, that is totally fine! My bulldog does the same thing, especially if I really had to clean them. The best thing about this stuff is it is very diluted, but also all safe ingredients. It won’t harm them if they try to lick it off 🙂 This is really just to clean them instantly, if they lick off anything it will still have done it’s job too! Hope this helps! And hope they worked for you!
That was a great post. Can I use liquid castile soap in place of Dawn. I learnt castile soap are great for sensitive skin too.
Thanks Laura! You can definitely use castile soap in place. It doesn’t remove the grim as well, but good for everyday use!
Any thoughts on if this could used for cats as well? We have an old boy, and I need something to help with the hair around his bum and litter between his toes as he’s not quite agile enough to clean his back end anymore.
My mom used this occasionally on her cat for their paws, I am not sure around other areas. It should be fine since it is safe for dogs too. 🙂
I have an American bulldog! I know you said you aren’t a vet but my girl has a yeast infection on paws the vet said they sell wipes but I was wondering if you thought this like work? She said I could use bedadine(sp?) But with white dogs that’s a no go
This can definitely help prevent it, but it won’t necessarily treat it once it is there (depending on how bad it is). You can try it out and see how it works. You might try adding more peroxide too. My bulldog gets yeast infections in between his toes sometimes, the only thing that helps is antibiotics from the vet. I don’t have to do anything topical, he just takes a round of antibiotics. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Just mixed a batch today. Used the first wipe on our Bulldog. She is prone to hot spots and infections in her folds. Thanks for the recipe!
I hope your bulldog enjoys them! Mine sure loves them 🙂
I’m so excited to try this. I just discovered your site. Do you think I could add some essential oils, like tea tree and lavender?
So glad you found our website too! You can try something mild like lavender. My bulldog hates all types of scents, so I have never been able to use anything for him. Tea tree oil might be too strong, but lavender is worth a try 🙂
Here in England the Alabama Foot Rot seems to be taking a hold. I am looking for a disinfectant that I can use on my Labradoodle’s paws after a forest walk in order to kill the bacteria and avoid the horrors that I keep hearing about. Will this be strong enough to kill such bacteria and could I keep it in a container in the back of the car and dip her paws after a walk?
This will definitely help, especially after taking a walk. I am not sure how effective it will be for that particular type of issue since I don’t have experience with it. It has helped keep our local fungus away from my dogs paws
T
Thank you for your reply. Hydrogen Peroxide is now on my shopping list as anything I can do to protect my little girl is a bonus. Such a great website, having only just registered I am amazed by how much information is available. I have also added the organic tea and coffee to said shopping list, who would’ve thought…..
I hope you enjoy using it! So glad you found our website 🙂
can this be used on the back of a dog? my girl doesn’t necessarily mess with her paws but her back is always super itchy and dry. she has year round allergies.
Yes, you can use it on other parts. This is more so for cleaning, but it can help remove pollens that she may get from going outside. My bulldog also has skin allergies, so I always try to brush him off or wash him after being outside. Especially if he has been in the grass which seems to be the worst for him.
Thanks so much for this recipe Alexis, I’m definitely going to make a batch up.
I hope you like using it!
Is it safe to use antibacterial Dawn? Should it be the concentrated form of Dawn or regular? Does it matter which scent is used? Thank you!!
I wouldn’t use antibacterial since it can impact normal bacteria overtime that your dog needs. I always use concentrated blue dawn for my solutions, but for this you can use regular too 🙂 I don’t use a scented one
Is this safe to use as a cleaning wipe at the end of the day? I’d like something that gets dirt and allergens off my two doggos before we go to bed.
Yes it is safe to use like that 🙂 If your dog has sensitive skin, always ask your vet first just in case though.
My morkie chews her feet constantly so I hope this will help!
It will definitely help keep them clean and get rid of any allergens!
Hi! Can I use vinegar or baking soda instead of hydrogen peroxide? 🙂
I wouldn’t use vinegar, it can burn their paws. You can use baking soda, but The peroxide will mix better 🙂 it will also whiten better. If you need to substitute, baking soda will be better than vinegar
Do you have a recipe for dog shampoo… My dog is constantly scratching
I don’t have anything homemade, but I do use an organic oatmeal shampoo for my bulldog who has itchy, dry skin. I buy it at my local grocery store.
This is SUCH a great recipe thank you! My little poodle Fifi will love them 🙂
Hope you enjoy it!
I use sensitive baby wipes to wipe my dog’s paws and his butt also after he poos. Do you think your solution will be ok for his hiney? thanks for sharing.
It should be fine. I use this for my dog around that area too. I would test a small area around there first just to be safe
What kind of coconut oil do you use? How to you keep it from solidifying?
I always use unrefined coconut oil, you can use any type. It shouldn’t solidify when mixed with the other ingredients. Make sure to heat it up to mix with the solution when you are making it.
Which kind of coconut oil do you recommend?
Hi there! I use the coconut oil shown in this post, or a unrefined organic (which has no scent).
I plan to make a batch of wipes but I’m concerned the hydrogen peroxide will discolor the floor/furniture, if it’s on their paws. Normally hydrogen peroxide bleaches stuff has anyone had a issue with this?
Hydrogen peroxide is oxygenated bleach, not chlorine bleach. It can whiten things with stains, but only in concentrated doses. The amount of peroxide in this mixture is negligible when it comes to surfaces
When I got our bulldog as 6 week old puppies they were infested with fleas. Not being able to put anything on them because of their age, I bathed them in sink with Dawn it got all fleas. I filled sink with soapy water first then put a few drops on my hands and worked it in their coats. No more fleas. But I rinsed and towel dried very well. I used lukewarm water just like my children used when they were newborns. Never had another problem.
Dawn works so good for fleas!
Hello Alexis,
Since moving up North to Michigan, Snowmelt is used everywhere to get rid of the ice. I fear that this product is harmful to pets if they were to ingest it. Do you have any information or tips on this product, and would these wipes remove all of the Snowmelt? Our Boston Terrier Gus, is always licking his ?’s due to allergies. Love all of your articles! Take care and will be down soon. Hoping we can all get together for dinner!
Take care,
Bill ?
Hey Bill! I looked up Snowmelt products and saw most say they are kid and pet friendly. They contain salts and calcium magnesium acetate. I would definitely rinse his paws after he has been outside. A little water with a drop of dawn will remove all residue. You can also use this wipes, these will clean and keep residue off. Please let us know when you are in town, we would love to get together!
Thanks so much for this recipe- I’ve made it many times and it’s been great. However, I noticed for the first time today that the paw wipes at the bottom of the container are getting moldy, and there are some spots of mold on the sides of the container as well. It’s a container that used to hold store-bought paw wipes, and I’ve been reusing it for a long time. Do you think this problem would be solved by just starting over with a new container? Has anyone else had this problem?
Yes, I would get a new container. The only issue with homemade products is they don’t contain preservatives which means mold and mildew can form overtime. Depending on climate and moisture in the air, the mold is hard to get rid of once it starts to form. It is best to start over with a fresh container to avoid the mold. Let me know if you have any other questions!
does it have to be 3% peroixide?
Yes, anything higher is too strong
Hello! I’m so tired of seeing my dog itch and the vets can not figure it out. I enjoyed reading this! He has super sensitive skin. Can I use this to wipe all parts of him? I like to fully wipe him down after our walks. Also would cut up t-shirts work instead of paper towls? It’s nice that the t-shirts can be washed and reused.
You can use anything you want, paper towels or Tshirts are fine. I would mainly use this on paws due to the hydrogen peroxide. If you want to make something to use all over the body, I would eliminate the peroxide for that portion. It won’t harm them, but that ingredient is just for bacteria and whitening from dirt.
Hi! So happy to find this. We’re a family full of skin allergies and need to wipe our pups paws when we come in from the city streets. I’m allergic to blue dye (in Dawn) but I think their dye-free soap will be just fine. My husband is severely allergic to coconut oil… do you have a recommendation for a hydrating agent to substitute? I know, we’re high maintenance! Thanks for sharing your research and tips 🙂
You can use avocado oil or olive oil. My dog doesn’t respond to those oils as well, and they don’t seem to hydrate his paws as well either, but it is a possible substitute 🙂
I love the idea of this spray, especially for pre-vaccinated puppy. He always wants to lick his paws afterwards though, is it safe/okay to let him? Thank you!
I would make sure his pays are dry before he starts to lick them. Once it is dry, it should be fine
Thank you! I’ve been using this on my pitbull’s paws and it’s amazing! We’ve had so many issues with her paws – blisters, infections, incessantly licking – and we haven’t had one problem since we’ve started using this. The inflammation is way down and her hair has grown back. I use it everyday as a spray, get it between her toes and give her paw a massage before wiping out really well.
That is great to hear! SO glad it works well for your pup 🙂
Would it be ok to use it for the hair around the mouth? I have an Irish Wolfhound mix that has issues with drippy beard which results likely in bacteria/fungus because it is often damp..
I have used it around my dogs mouth and face area without issues, but please double check with your vet just to be safe!
Just mixed up my second batch–thanks! I am a first-time dog owner and one thing that has been really hard for me to adjust to is dirty paws in my house. I’m always thinking about all the stuff he tracks in so I’ve wanted a good way to clean him up at the door–something both economical and green. (I use cut-up T shirts instead of paper towels. I keep them in a pretty container near the front door.) I do have a question though, about the hydrogen peroxide. I thought it breaks down rapidly once you decant it. Does mixing it with these ingredients prevent that? Is that why it’s good for 6 months? Thanks!
It does breakdown overtime, but keeping it in a darker container will help. Each time the container is opened, it will break down as it is exposed to sunlight. I keep it in a darker container away from the sunlight for storage and it will keep longer.
Good to know! Thank you for responding.
Hello everyone ! I have 2 dogs and both have severe allergies , we have took them to a vet and have done all that very exspensive allergy tests and are both on the allergy shots plus medication , in my opion only, I would like for who ever may read this that they will please think twice before spending the 1000’s of dollars like we have spent on trying to help my dogs , my point is the tests showed my dogs were allergic to almost everything , so I have been searching for so long on how other people have dealt with there pets with allergies and when I read this sight and the ingredients that went in this remedy it got me excited , I want to make this ASAP but all I have is a big tub of hard coconut oil , so my question is do I melt this then add it ? And will the coconut oil stay in liquid form or will it harden up again as it sits in this solution ? Should I just go buy the liquid form of coconut oil ?
Coconut oil is liquid under warmer temps, and hardens in cooler temps. All of it is the same, it just depends on your climate and time of year if it is liquid or a solid. Measure out the amount for the recipe and just warm in microwave under it is liquid. Add into the solution. Give a good shake before each spray. If solution thickens in spray bottle, just set it in the sun or around the oven to warm it up. A little heat is all it takes to turn to liquid
Thank you very much Alexis for answering me back, I do prefer to get information from people that actually know what a dog owner goes thru when there pets have allergies ,
Nicole Fabbro
Hello! I’m tired of using disposable wipes bc they’re so expensive and I hate creating waste. I made this and tried it out on my black Aussiedoodle…it got off a lot of dirt that was still on her paws so thank you! My question/concern however is you mentioned it whitens your white dog’s hair. If my dog is black, will her fur get discolored from the hydrogen peroxide? Thank you!!
Hi, no it can’t discolor fur. It only whitened my dogs white hair because it got so clean 🙂
We love this for our environmentally allergic Beagle! He paws and belly get terrible hot spots. We use the spray & wipes every time he comes in from outside. He likes the taste of the coconut oil, but we really discourage him from licking it off. So far he’s had significantly fewer hot spots. Thank you so much!!!
That’s great! I am so happy it helped
I am so happy to have come across this recipe and I cannot wait to try. I do have 2 questions and I hope you don’t mind 🙂
1. Is it ok to add a drop or 2 of essential oil just to add some fragrance?
2. Is it safe to use on other body parts like the bum (after poopie time) and the belly?
Thank you so much <3
You can use it anywhere on the body 🙂 I wouldn’t add essential oils though, my vet told me most aren’t good for dogs and can cause irritation. So, we just keep it like this
Hi Alexis! Thank you so much for this information. Do you recommend castile soap as an alternative to Dawn? I use castile soap clean my floors and it seems to be pet friendly.
You can if you want! It doesn’t mix quiet as well in this type of recipe, but it should still get the paws clean
Have you used this on your pups face wrinkles? I’m looking for a homemade wipe for my frenchies face wrinkles/under eyes but he’s black and I’m nervous the peroxide will bleach his face.
Yes, I use this all over this face too. There isn’t enough peroxide to “bleach” anything, it just cleans the fur off
Hi Alexis,
I came across this page searching for an alternative to purchasing disposable wipes. Think this can work with thin, cheap reusable washclothes, that I can wash in the washing machine? Or, do you suggest I alter the recipe to keep it effective?
Thanks again!
You can try reusable, but I don’t like to do reusable due to the coconut oil. I try to avoid washing oils in the washing machine. But you can try hand washing them too.
You mention that the hydrogen peroxide whitens, do you think it will bleach my dog’s black coat over time? It’s such a small amount and diluted plus in a clear jar it could become denatured, so I’m thinking it win be okay but wanted to know your experience.
It just whitens due to how well it removes dirt and cleans, so it will whiten white fur. It probably won’t impact dark fur at all, you would have to use a very high powered peroxide percentage and it would have to stay on the fur for several hours to change any color (like when you get your hair colored or highlighted at a salon 🙂 )
Hi everyone!
Since we got our baby Odin (from 8 weeks until now) last year, I have been using this solution for his paws. I’m always scared of him licking his paws, so I have search homemade solution and I found this one. I’m very glad and thankful that we tried and have been using this ever since he was a baby. I have been using a dry cotton wipes from amazon along this solution every after a walk or play from the yard and long walks around the neighborhood. He never goes inside my house if his paws are not clean with this solution and he never licked his paws ever. Again, this solution is highly recommended for anyone with pets and if they’re sensitive with other store bought paw cleanser.
Thanks for sharing your success with this recipe! I am so glad you enjoy using it 🙂