How to Clean a Diggs Revol Dog Crate
The Diggs Revol combines coated wire mesh, a rigid frame, removable tray, doors, latches and folding joints. Diggs recommends a pet-safe disinfectant or a one-to-one white-vinegar-and-water solution for crate cleaning, but the dog must be removed and every surface dried before use. The removable tray can be treated more freely than hinges and concealed mechanisms, and dried debris should come off before spray creates muddy runoff. This guide covers routine Revol cleaning, including an accident, without folding a wet crate, flooding its joints or leaving an acidic residue where paws and noses rest. Structural damage, sharp coating loss or an unreliable latch requires service or replacement rather than cosmetic cleaning.
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Primary reference: Diggs official dog-crate cleaning guide. Always check the manual for your exact model.
Quick reference
- Solution
- Pet-safe disinfectant or a one-to-one white-vinegar-and-water mixture.
- Tray
- Remove and wash both sides separately from the frame.
- Frame
- Wipe mesh and rails; avoid flooding hinges and folding joints.
- Avoid
- Cleaner mixtures, abrasives, folding while wet and unapproved lubricant.
- Final check
- Dry fully, seat the tray and test every door and latch by hand.
What you will need
- Diggs manual for the exact Revol size
- Disposable gloves and waste bags
- Vacuum or soft brush
- Pet-safe disinfectant or equal parts white vinegar and water
- Warm water, soft cloths and non-abrasive sponge
- Small soft brush for mesh intersections
- Dry towels and a ventilated pet-free area
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Move the dog and remove accessories
Place the dog in a separate secure space and remove bedding, bowls, divider and toys. Launder each accessory according to its own label rather than spraying it with the crate. Keep the crate fully open and locked in its normal position while you inspect it. Do not begin with the Revol folded, because cleaner and debris can become trapped in stacked panels and joints.
Step 2: Inspect the frame, mesh and latches
Check the wire coating, plastic frame, door alignment, handles, folding points and latches under good light. Look for sharp edges, cracks, bent wire or a closure that does not hold. Cleaning cannot correct structural damage. Photograph any concern and contact Diggs before the crate is used again, especially if chewing or an impact has exposed metal or altered a door.
Step 3: Remove the tray and dry debris
Slide out the tray using its intended release and discard solid waste. Vacuum or brush hair, food and litter from the tray channel, mesh intersections and lower frame. Use controlled suction near small hardware. Dry debris removal prevents grit from scratching surfaces and keeps hair from being pushed into the folding mechanisms when a liquid solution is applied.
Step 4: Wash the removable tray separately
Clean both sides of the tray with a pet-safe disinfectant used exactly to its label or with the one-to-one white-vinegar-and-water solution Diggs recommends. Give a disinfectant its required wet contact time without letting it dry prematurely. Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge, rinse when the product label requires it and keep the tray away from grass or surfaces that food will touch.
Step 5: Wipe the mesh and rigid frame
Apply the chosen pet-safe solution to a cloth instead of flooding the crate. Wipe rails, mesh, corners and doors, using a small soft brush at intersections. Work top to bottom and catch runoff. Avoid abrasive pads, bleach mixtures, steam and strong solvent. If using vinegar solution, never combine it with bleach or another cleaner, and provide ventilation.
Step 6: Clean around latches and folding joints carefully
Use a damp cloth or brush to lift visible soil from latches, hinges and joints without pouring liquid inside them. Operate each latch by hand to expose accessible edges, but do not fold the crate during washing. Diggs does not call for household oil as part of cleaning; lubricant can collect grit or leave residue a pet could lick. Persistent mechanical resistance deserves support.
Step 7: Remove residue and dry completely
Follow the disinfectant label for rinsing, or wipe vinegar-treated surfaces with clean water if odor or residue remains. Towel the frame and tray, then air-dry them separately in a ventilated pet-free area. Pay attention to lower rails, tray channels and hinge recesses. Do not close the crate, return bedding or allow the dog inside while any surface is wet or smells strongly of cleaner.
Step 8: Reassemble and perform a latch check
Return the dry tray and approved divider, making sure each is fully seated. Open and close every door and latch several times, then pull firmly by hand to confirm it holds. Inspect the floor for a raised edge or trapped cloth. Add only clean, dry bedding and bowls. For an accident, clean promptly so liquid does not travel beneath the tray and linger in the base.
Specific cleaning questions
Open a question for a concise answer about stains, odors, safety, frequency, and troubleshooting.