Home Current Sweepstakes Pet Dish Cleaning Challenge Equals Happy Cat!

Pet Dish Cleaning Challenge Equals Happy Cat!

By
Jennifer

Our pets are our family. They make us happy, love us when we are sad, play with us, babysit our kids (ha!) and are man’s best friend. We should make sure their water and food dishes are as clean as the ones we eat off right? Well at least clean them weekly if not more. I know I do not clean mine out as often as I should because…

  • a) I just forget
  • b) They don’t remind me
  • c) It is just gross.

Do you know what kind of gook can build up in a water dish? Go ahead leave one out for a week, then feel how slimy it is. GROSS! Don’t your pets deserve better? I think so, which is why I bought my silly cat, Cali, a water fountain. When you have a water fountain the water is always moving and doesn’t get as yucky. However, it contains a lot of funky bends and twists needing to be cleaned. I also live in Florida with a higher humidity which equals a higher chance of mold and mildew. Then if you add a dirty dog who was just eating who knows what into the mix, you get what is pictured above. After one week – ew! (We now clean it every other day). Scotch-Brite enlisted me to find a cleaning challenge in my home.

I needed a solution that would make my job of cleaning this water fountain a bit easier. I do not want to scratch the stainless steel, but I also need a durable sponge that can cut through mildew, mold, grime, and slime without too much elbow grease. The Scotch-Brite Printed Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges are safe for non-stick cookware, and will clean your sink, countertop and tile without scratching it.

You get a colorful sponge with a fun phrase on it. I love how Scotch-Brite tries to make cleaning a little more fun! In a few short minutes, I had the whole fountain sparkling clean without a single scratch.

“Now it is time to tackle the dishes!!,”  Cali so politely pointed out! To win a Scotch-Brite Printed Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge cleaning prize pack answer the following prompt, “How do you tackle slimy, hard-to-reach messes at home?” The best reader’s tips may be used on the Scotch-Brite website and/or social media channels.

248 COMMENTS

  5. I mix salt in with the soap for extra scrubbing. In glassware I mix salt & Ice & soap like for he coffee pot!

  8. If an old sock gets a hole in it, I snip a section out to mark it as cleaning cloth, then use it inside out for scrubbing all kinds of things.

  12. I use the magic eraser on my walls to get them bright again. and use vinegar to wash my windows

  22. I rinse dried on cat food off dishes and then throw the dishes in the dishwasher everytime I run the dishwasher

  23. i mix vinager and dish soap to clean most things around the house….i have little ones and dont want to use chemicals

  24. I don’t know if I have any special tips…however, I do usually soak things with stuck on food for a good 20 minutes.

  25. Whenever I enter a room I try to pick up or clean three things, it is a easy thing to do that makes a big difference for me.

  32. I find this scrubber is the only one I have found to use and not scratch the top middle of my toaster. You know the part between the slots where always write on the metal. It gets hot and messy between those letter and drives me nuts, all the rest sparkles but it . So a gentle scrubbing with this product and wala it is gone !

  33. I use a cup of water and lemon to clean my microwave it really works, just put the water with lemon in and heat it up and leave it in there for awhile.

  36. Use vinegar to clean out your washer and coffee pot! Just run it through an empty washer or empty coffee pot to remove the gunk and get it smelling fresh again! It really helps remove the mildew smells from your washer..

    babydjs_mom@yahoo.com

  37. go through one room each day and toss what you don’t need or use. when it is time to clean, there isn’t much clutter and makes the job easier.

  38. Rinse out those hard to scrub pots and pans shortly after using them or at least fill them with some hot water to soak. It makes cleaning them later a bit easier.

  39. My cleaning tip is when you are cooking a meal, clean up as you go so you don’t have a huge mess to clean after dinner when you’re tired.

  41. on greasy grimy dirt I like to add some dawn dish detergent to hot water to help cut the grease

  48. My best tip is using a small amount of of lemon oil on glass shower doors to make the water roll off and keep them looking nice.

  50. I let vinegar and baking soda set on tough messes for awhile, then a good scrubber and elbow grease!

  52. elbow grease. I don’t use a lot of cleaning products due to allergies, so I use hot water, sponges, cleaning wipes and just get to it 🙂

  53. When cleaning kitchen and bath surfaces, I like to wash with really hot water and soap then when it dries use a clorox or lysol wipe to disenfect further

  54. I like to clean during commercials while I am watching TV. You’d be surprised how much you can get done considering how often and how long the commercials are these days!!

  57. I found this wonderful cleaning solution at Bed Bath and Beyond called “Perfect Kitchen” It is an all purpose cleaner. You can use it on stainless,granite,cooktop stoves, counters, sink, etc! No streaking,no smearing, dries fast, cleans great. Use with a soft sponge for full coverage.

  58. I use old dryer sheets to clean all kinds of things that need a little scrubbing. My sink, the counter, it gets things clean and they smell nice after.

  60. Teach the kids the right way to do things when they are young- it takes more time but is worth it in the long run.

  61. I pull things out if I can to clean then use cleaning device s that fit tough spots if at all possible

  67. My best tip is to use/purchase stainless steel. It takes minimum soaking time to clean burnt on food.

  73. While I like using natural cleaning products, sometimes I think it makes sense to use some hard cleaning products to get away the real bad grime in bathrooms and in kitchens.

  75. I ball up aluminum foil to clean the grates on the grill. You can do it while the grill is hot and not have to worry about it melting to it.

  77. I use dental floss to get that gunk which forms around all of the faucets. It works like a charm!

  79. My cleaning tip is to get the other family members to help! It makes life so much easier. I also spray down the bathroom, let it sit for a few moments and then come back to scrub the shower. It saves time.

  83. Always make sure to rinse off food BEFORE you put the dishes in the sink. And..it’s ok to soak a casserole dish overnight.

  89. I spray the toilet bowl with lime away and also clorox and let it sit for a while before washing it.

  90. Always have Dawn and Scotch-Brite sponges. I replace my sponge the 1st of month. Old one becomes floor and scrubber sponge and old scrubber sponge goes lol

  92. I like to clean my sink before and after dishes so that it shines. I also like to soak any hard stains for at least an hour before attempting to clean them.

  95. Mix baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice into a thin paste. Use to clean stove tops, counter, floors, etc.

  97. To clean the microwave, I heat up some lemon water in it and then clean it, it works like a charm. Thanks

  98. dryer sheets! use them on sinks use them on baseboards everything to make it shiny and keep dust off also!

  99. To clean out dust bunnies from under the refrigerator remove the grill and run a yardstick covered with a pair of old pantyhose underneath.

  100. To clean out around the sink drain I make a paste of baking soda and water and let it sit for a while. Then scrub and wash it down with a cup of vinegar. This sanitizes the outside and even the inside of the drain pipe.

  101. My tip is a squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid on stove around burners and using a scotch brite scour pad to clean the top of my stove.

  102. Put some vinegar, water and essential oil (like pine or lemon) in a spray bottle and use it for everything. It works great.

  103. I found that wiping down showers daily with a scrubber sponge is so much easier than trying to scrub away all the soap scum after a week of build up.

  111. Begin every cleaning session by purging the clutter. No one can tell your counters are clean if they can’t see them! I also end my cleaning my lighting scented candles.

  117. I often spray febreeze or a scented spray on my vacuum filter before sweeping. It keeps the vacuum smelling fresh and also puts a nice smell in the air.

  120. My tip is to use Skin So Soft Bath Oil to kill spiders.Yes it’s true,I’ve been doing it for over 10 yrs. I put it a spray bottle and spray the slider,front door and all my windows. It’s keeps them out and if one makes it in I just spray it and it dies. Thank you 🙂

  123. I keep a running list of chores in a to-do list app. They are all set to repeat on certain frequencies. This way I never forget to do anything.

  126. I am currently house training a puppy luckily he has picked his favorite spot to go thank goodness it is on the hard floor and not the carpet. When we are not quick enough to get him outside and even though I have puppy pads down he does not have good aim. I use orange pine-sol to scrub the spot and follow it with the steam mop.

  130. baking soda mixed to make a paste with water takes off grease from inside deep fryers when your cleaning them out and helps other grease on kitchen stove and counters too

  132. I clean a bit in the morning before everyone gets up and in the evening for a bit after everyone goes to bed just easier that way

  133. My tip is to try to tackle a few rooms at a time. I know for me trying to clean house with a toddler, and a year old is an ALL DAY project if I try to clean the whole house..

  134. Always use rubber gloves – some of the cleaners can do a number on your skin.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  136. Clean house regularly, and it won’t get so bad that it’s a huge chore. Also, clean from the top floor down.

  137. Choose a small area, get that totally cleaned, move on to the next area, etc. Don’t try and do the whole house at once

  139. I always keep a sponge with a soap handle in the shower filled with a vinegar and dawn mixture so that we can always keep the shower clean, it is really easy to just wipe things down while you are rinsing off and it keeps hard water and soap stains from building up.

  140. Never mix bleach and comet together makes a deadly gas..

    Spray glass shower door with vinegar cleans the glass with no streaking

  145. always clean up drips and splatters right away so they dont get stuck on and hard to come off later

  146. To clean my coffee pot, I put in crushed ice and salt. Swish for a few minutes then drain. Clean pot!

  147. I microwave a bowl of water for a few minutes then let it sit inside the microwave for several minutes longer. After that all the stuck on food wipes off effortlessly.

  149. I use cotton swabs, toothbrushes & vinegar for hard to reach places. The vinegar cuts just about anything you’ll run into & the cotton swabs & toothbrushes fit nicely into hard to reach places.

  152. i hate to clean so i do it during commercials of my fav shows so i hurry up and get stuff done fast.

  153. Every Saturday I start in one end of the house and work through each room until I reach the back of the house picking up and keeping things tidy that way it don’t get out of hand and is almost always presentable.

  157. I don’t have many tips myself, but i love to use orange cleaner from, the dollar store.

  160. I dust my blinds with old dryer sheets … I find the dust doesn’t stick to them as easy after that

  164. My cleaning challenge is similar to yours. We have one dog who likes to stay outside in his large pen most of the time, and his food dish gets greasy from his food and then dirty from his play. And in the summer his water pan grows algae in one day after its cleaning. I use a Scotch-Brite scrubber to clean them quickly each day.

  165. I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my bathroom and kitchen counters-no odor mild disinfectant and cheap!

  167. To clean your microwave take a bowl of water and microwave it for 5 minutes – the steam allows you to easily wipe down your microwave without scrubbing
    annabella @ centurytel dot net

  168. I always rinse off dishes before they go into the dishwasher – just to insure they get cleaned well

  170. It’s always a hassle to try to get the wax off of fruits and veggies, so I put white vinegar in a spray bottle and use that to get off all the junk. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar you can add some natural essential oil to it – I use lavender and sometime frankincense.

  171. I have a daily list of things I want to accomplish that way I am not overwhelmed with alot of household chores on one day.

  172. with an attempt at frugality, i bought a home waxing kit to do my legs at home and hoped to save a
    little money in the mean time. We all know what they say about good intentions.
    After waxing, I was cleaning up and managed to to drop the heating unit with a 3/4 full can of
    wax (melted) all over the hardwood floors in living room.
    I had the presence of mind to put down wax paper to keep the cats out of it.
    The only thing I had as a wax remover–goo gone–best product ever and scotch bright pads.
    Got the wax up with no sticky residue and left my floors shiney and unscratched.

  178. Let all the dishes (and especially pots and pans) soak in hot, soapy water before you wash them.

  181. I have Clorox or Lysol wipes in the bathroom and kitchen so I do a quick wipe fast and easy.

  185. If you have burnt food on the bottom of a pan, make a paste of baking soda & a little water, let it soak overnight & it will wipe right out.

  188. My tip is to clean a little every day so it doesn’t build up. Pick one room at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

  195. Use bleach in the shower to get rid of mildew stains. Also put some in toilet from time to time

  200. I use a mixture of vinegar & baking soda to clean without toxic chemicals & without scratching surfaces. I use toothbrushes in tighter spots.

  202. I use bleach in my white sink -it cleans it all and makes it white again. Clean it up as it happens – that makes it easier to clean up.

  207. 1c bleach,1/2 c vinegar,1/4 c baking soda,16 c water, Its great for walls and even floors(not hardwood). No scubbing needed

  209. Magic erasers on grout! Scotch-Brite actually makes a grout cleaning tool that’s like a magic eraser, and it’s amazing.

  213. I have a glass stove top that it is hard to keep clean, I use baking soda and water in order to keep it clean

  218. toothbrushes. they can get in spots hands can’t easily reach. btw we have 7 pomeranians. we use an almost one gallon water bowl. one or two small drops of listerine keeps the grungies away but in a gallon of water doesn’t hurt my babies.

  220. For most messes I just use Lysol wipes, but those hard to reach messes I end up taking everything apart and cleaning things just with plain soap and hot water.

  222. i always have areas by the stove and sink that have gunk. so, i just sit on the floor so i can actually see it and go to town haha

  232. My tip is to make a list for the week of those cleaning jobs that aren’t part of your daily cleaning routine- one a day- such as cleaning out a drawer or organizing a cabinet. If you stick to it, you won’t get overwhelmed with tons of extra chores at once.

  236. my tough spot is a 50 year old rusty tub…i use a lot of vinegar to try and clean…often to no avail

  241. I put a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water and microwave for a few minutes. Then, I can just wipe clean the inside of the microwave. Much less scrubbing that way!
    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

  243. My challenge is my bathroom. How only one man can do so much in a bathroom ??? It’s like warzone when he finally comes out

  244. My cleaning challenge is the tray under the toaster oven. I don’t use it often but my son does and I don’t notice how bad it is until I want to cook in it.

  245. All those gawd awful hard to reach messes usually end up tackled by my husband lol 😀

  247. My cleaning challenge tip: soak pots and pans immediately after you turn the stove off. They will be easy to clean by the time you’re finished eating the meal. Thanks for the giveaway!

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