Don’t throw away your dog’s stinky collar until you try this DIY Dog Collar Odor Remover and Freshener Recipe that uses 3 products you probably have on hand.

If you have a dog, you may be familiar with the dreaded “sour smelling collar” that makes your sweet furry friend, well, stinky:-)  This is common for dogs who swim and play outside. The smell seems to stem from a combination of heat, swimming,  “air drying,” and bacteria.

The first time Cam got a stinky collar, I threw it away and bought a new one. There were a few headaches that went along with that decision.

First, I had to remove all of his tags and reattach them to a new collar (which is no easy feat if you have manicured nails). Second, a new collar for a large dog runs about $25. Third, I buy matching collars and leashes and it is much more economical to clean things rather than throw away.

So after the first “ditch the collar” episode, I came up with this DIY 3-ingredient collar soak solution.  I’ve used it myriad times~with great results. And since the solution uses products that I keep on hand for laundry, I can do this any time without a trip to the store.

I share my savvy solution below, and I truly think it will work on any collar~no matter how stinky! I’ve also used this solution for Cam’s leash (which is the same fabric as his collar), and it worked great.

Neck washing: Before placing the clean & fresh smelling collar back on your dog, he or she will need a good neck washing. My friend Cindy is a pro at this. She takes her doodle Winston to Petco and does the $10 “bathe your own dog.” It is a quick, easy, economical way to clean a stinky neck without getting a full groom unless the dog is due for one.

Products I Use: I share some of the products we use for Cam below, including his houndstooth blue collar:-)

So there you have it~my easy solution to the sour smelling dog collar!  If you try this on your dog’s stinky collar, please let me know if it works for you! I’d also love any other solutions to the problem that are equally effective! As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Be blessed, and stay savvy!!!

DIY Dog Collar Odor Remover and Freshener Recipe

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Ingredients

• 1 TB laundry detergent (scented or unscented)
• 1 TB liquid bleach
• 1 TB laundry scent beads (I use Downy Unstoppables)

Instructions

1. Place 1 TB EACH of detergent, bleach & scent beads into container.
2. Add 6-8 cups warm water. Stir to mix ingredients well.
3. Submerge collar in solution.
4. Allow collar to soak at least 5 hours, preferably overnight.
5. Rinse collar completely with running water (hose, shower, dishwasher rinse cycle).
6. Place collar in sunlight to completely dry.