Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Washing litter trays

53 replies

BunBunBunnyBun · 08/04/2026 18:25

Where do you all wash out your litter trays? I don’t like the idea of using the bath seems gross to me (sorry for anyone that does)

OP posts:
WednesdaysChild73 · 08/04/2026 18:33

I use liners in my mine then yes shock horror I give them a rinse the bath with some disinfectant

shellyleppard · 08/04/2026 18:36

I put them outside with boiling water and bleach, leave for an hour then dry naturally

Kepler22B · 08/04/2026 18:37

I have a stainless steel tray - so much easier to wash and dry. Much much much better than the plastic one we had before.

Just need to wipe down with a cloth as doesn’t need soaking or scrubbing.

neverwakeasleepingbaby · 08/04/2026 18:42

In the bath. And then thoroughly rinse out the tub afterwards

dementedpixie · 08/04/2026 18:43

I use to spray it with litter tray cleaning spray and then dry with kitchen roll

ShawnsLeftEyebrow · 08/04/2026 18:46

I'm here to wait for the first claim of "in the dishwasher"

LappingLouisa · 08/04/2026 18:50

Out on the balcony - use the watering can, fill with hot water and washing up liquid, give a good scrub and then pour down the drain.

LappingLouisa · 08/04/2026 18:50

ShawnsLeftEyebrow · 08/04/2026 18:46

I'm here to wait for the first claim of "in the dishwasher"

And why not! 😆

maximist · 08/04/2026 18:52

Put newspaper in the bottom, then a liner, then more newspaper, then litter on top. The tray is very unlikely to need cleaning at all unless you have a very messy cat….

rainbowsparkle28 · 08/04/2026 18:56

Erm, obviously empty litter (wrap around large bin bag and tip) spray with anti-bac, wipe thoroughly with kitchen roll a good few times of spray and wipe repeat to make sure properly clean and that’s that 🤷‍♀️😂 Never would have occurred to me to do any other way! I always do the actual litter tray change outside either my own front door or patio. I do use the wood type litter though so the actual tray itself doesn’t particularly get that dirty as wee absorbs into the litter and poo is solid enough goes with the litter when emptying. And because use a bag wrapped slid around the tray the litter is contained when emptying.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/04/2026 18:56

I wouldn't fit the boys tray in the dishwasher ( it's a recycled underbed tray so it's massive ) . I haven't thought about this , honest !

We put ours outside , hose down, some washing up liquid , scrub, rinse .

Twelvetimes · 08/04/2026 19:00

In the kitchen sink, hot water and washing up liquid. Dry with kitchen roll.

I've had cats for decades and it has never occurred to me to wash the trays in the bath - not that there's anything wrong with it, it just never crossed my mind.

mondaytosunday · 08/04/2026 19:02

Liner and rinse them outside using hose. My cats go outside though I only used a litter box when they were kittens

SherbetDipDap · 08/04/2026 19:02

Bath, then bleach the bath. It actually means the bath gets a good clean weekly!

Fatiguedwithlife · 08/04/2026 19:04

Outside with hosepipe and a scrubbing brush for dog poo on shoes and litter tray only!

BunBunBunnyBun · 08/04/2026 19:29

We don’t use liners as the cats just shred them so thats different, I would wash them in the bath then if it wasn’t directly touching the tray. Currently using a kettle and washing them outside but it’s long!

OP posts:
Favouritefruits · 08/04/2026 19:32

I’m awful for the planet I know but I use a puppy pad in the bottom then a liner on top because sometimes they scratch a hole in the liner! I clean it weekly in the garden with an anti bacterial spray and a quick wipe, although I’m not sure it needs it as nothing touches the bases!

Reinventedblanket · 08/04/2026 20:05

I do wash mine in the bath. Just seems the easiest as I like to give them a proper scrub and a soak and the litter trays are already upstairs. I do wash the bath afterwards obviously but can see it wouldn't appeal to everyone!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 08/04/2026 21:48

In the utility room sink - I use washing up liquid, then bleach, then a good rinse. The sink gets cleaned and bleached afterwards. Our cat digs like a maniac so no newspaper or liners here.

Puppylucky · 12/04/2026 20:10

I use my beloved steam cleaner - it's a steel litter tray so not much residue anyway- with a final rinse in the kitchen sink

IamChipmunk · 12/04/2026 20:49

Utility room sink. I wash it out with hot water and a good glug of Zoflora then dry off and refill with litter.

PedanticPrincess · 15/04/2026 22:01

Outside with the hose

Wynter25 · 15/04/2026 22:05

I just use antibacterial wipes

Fgfgfg · 15/04/2026 22:10

Mop bucket. I take off the part that you wring the mop out in which leaves me with a square plastic bucket. Fill it with hot water and flash. Use an old sponge to scrub and then dry with kitchen towel.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/04/2026 14:07

Bath