How to Clean a LickiMat: Classic and TUFF

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Identify the model before choosing the dishwasher

Check whether you have a flexible Classic mat or a rigid-backed TUFF model. LickiMat’s official cleaning instructions recommend hand washing Classic because dishwasher exposure can distort its shape; TUFF is designed for dishwasher cleaning. The brand’s FAQ also distinguishes other products, so do not assign a method purely by color or texture. If you cannot identify an older mat, hand washing avoids guessing about dishwasher compatibility. Remove the mat from your pet before starting.

Step 2: Remove leftover food and examine the surface

Scrape away loose food gently without cutting into the grooves, then rinse off what releases easily. Look at the whole feeding face, outer edge and underside for tears, chewed sections or missing material. A mat that is damaged is a replacement decision, not simply a candidate for stronger cleaning. Identify whether the remaining soil is soft food, dried paste or a greasy smear. That helps you spend effort on the dirty areas instead of bending and scrubbing a clean section just because it is easy to reach.

Step 3: Soften dried food with a short warm soak

For Classic hand washing, LickiMat recommends warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and roughly 15 minutes of soaking. Let the water reach the pattern instead of stacking mats tightly face to face. This is a food-softening step, not a sanitizing claim. There is no need to leave the mat soaking overnight or to add a strongly scented household cleaner. Keep the basin away from the pet during cleaning, and drain the food-filled water before the final rinsing stage.

Step 4: Brush into the pattern from several directions

Use a clean medium-soft dish brush, working across the texture in different directions so the bristles reach between ridges, crosses or small raised shapes. LickiMat favors a brush over a cloth or scouring pad because flat wiping can bridge across recesses. Work in sections and look closely at the valleys rather than relying on how shiny the top feels. Avoid metal scrapers, needles or sharp tools that can gouge the feeding surface. If a hard patch persists, soften it again instead of increasing scraping force.

Step 5: Wash edges and the underside, then rinse fully

Turn the mat over and clean its back, rim and any accessible recesses. On a model with feet or other molded features, work around those attachment areas without trying to dismantle the product. Rinse both sides with fresh water until loosened food, suds and slippery detergent residue are gone. Change the angle under the water to flush the grooves. A lingering food film needs more cleaning; a lingering soap film needs more rinsing. Neither is resolved by covering the surface with a new layer of food.

Step 6: Use the dishwasher only for the identified compatible product

A verified TUFF mat can follow its dishwasher instructions instead of the full hand-wash route, but first remove substantial leftovers and position it so water can reach the feeding surface. Do not wedge it against another item that shields its grooves. For Classic, keep the hand-wash route rather than treating a short or cooler dishwasher cycle as permission. At the end of any machine wash, inspect the pattern for trapped debris and the mat for distortion. Dishwasher compatibility by itself does not establish that a particular cycle sanitized the item.

Step 7: Dry flat, inspect again and store ready for feeding

Shake off excess water and place the mat flat with its feeding side facing up, as the brand directs. Allow recessed areas to dry before stacking or storing it flat. Recheck for residue in good light; brown food shadows and damaged material can otherwise be mistaken for the normal design. Clean after use rather than putting a food-covered mat back into storage. If the mat cannot be cleaned, has persistent deterioration or has been chewed, replace it rather than turning repeated soaking into a repair attempt.