Cleaning & Disinfection: the full procedure
Clean every surface first, then disinfect with a product proven effective against parvovirus, observing the full label contact time before an animal returns.
- Applies to: Kennel & sanitation staff.
- Frequency: Between every animal & on a daily/closing schedule.
- Scope: Defines the operational two-step clean-then-disinfect routine for kennels, runs, floors, bowls, and laundry. Disinfectant selection, dilution, and contact time defer to the facility veterinarian and the product label.
What you need
- Approved disinfectant (per vet/label)
- Measuring container & timer
- Scrub brushes & mop
- Gloves / PPE
- Color-coded laundry bins
The procedure, step by step
- Remove & dispose — Pick up all feces, urine, vomit, food, and soiled bedding daily and between animals — disinfectants do not work over organic matter.
- Clean first — Scrub kennels, runs, floors, and bowls with detergent and rinse so visible soil is gone before any disinfectant is applied.
- Mix to label spec — Dilute the approved disinfectant to the exact concentration on the label — never eyeball it; the vet/label sets the ratio.
- Apply & time the contact — Saturate the surface and start a timer; leave it wet for the full label contact time (parvo-effective products commonly require a 10-minute wet contact time per label).
- Rinse, dry & reset — Rinse if the label requires, dry the area, and return clean bowls and laundered bedding before the next animal enters.
- Run laundry hot — Wash all bedding and towels separately from other items on a hot cycle and fully dry before reuse.
- Handle suspected-illness areas separately — If an animal showed illness, flag the space, use dedicated tools, and follow the vet-directed deep-clean protocol before reuse.
- Log it — Record what was cleaned, the product used, and the time so the daily and between-animal cycles are verifiable.
Quality check before you finish
- No visible feces, urine, food, or hair before disinfectant goes down.
- Disinfectant mixed to the exact label dilution.
- Full label contact time timed, not estimated.
- Bowls and bedding cleaned/laundered between animals.
- Tools color-coded so isolation-area tools never touch general areas.
- Daily and between-animal cleaning logged with product and time.
- Disinfectant choice confirmed parvo-effective by the vet/label.
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Pet Boarding & Daycare business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- AAHA — Infection Control Guidelines (aaha.org)
- Koret Shelter Medicine Program (UC Davis) — Parvo Disinfection (sheltermedicine.com)
- CAPC — Parasite Control in Shared-Space Facilities (capcvet.org)
About Free Kennel Cleaning & Disinfection SOP (Printable)
Free printable cleaning & disinfection SOP: clean then disinfect kennels, runs, bowls & laundry against parvo with the proper label contact time.
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
Why clean before disinfecting instead of just spraying disinfectant?
Most disinfectants are inactivated by feces, urine, and other organic matter, so a surface must be physically cleaned first or the disinfectant won’t reliably kill parvovirus — confirm products with your veterinarian and the label.
How long should disinfectant stay on the surface?
Always follow the product label’s stated contact time; many parvo-effective products require the surface to stay visibly wet for about 10 minutes. The label and your facility veterinarian set the requirement, not staff judgment.
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