While many puppy pens and dog gates are made of either metal, plastic or wood, they can often be cleaned similarly. Before you begin, keep in mind that cleaners with ammonia can irritate your pet’s eyes, nose, and throat. Weak bleach solutions can clean a plastic dog pen but will likely corrode metal and stain wood puppy pens. Baking soda can make a great natural cleaning agent, and vinegar is commonly used as a pet-safe disinfectant—if the smell of vinegar bothers your pup, you can add lavender oil to help mask the scent.
You can start by rinsing off your North States pet gate or indoor dog pen. If you don’t have yard space to rinse it off outside, you can do so in a shower. Next, be sure to thoroughly scrub and clean the pen with your cleaning agent and disinfectant. Give it another rinse to make sure all of the cleaners are gone, and give it a thorough drying with a towel or cloth. It’s recommended that you perform dog pen cleanings like this at least once a week to ensure that yours is free of harmful bacteria.