Best Dog Paw Washer (and How to Clean Your Dog’s Paws Safely)

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A paw washer is a cup with soft bristles inside. You add water, put your dog’s paw in, twist or plunge, and then towel the paw dry. It is a quick way to deal with mud, sand and winter road salt at the door, without a full bath. This guide covers why paw cleaning matters, how to do it well, what to look for in a paw washer cup, and the two washers in our catalog.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Apartment Therapy, whose writer tried the MudBuster with her own dog (November 2020), TTPM, whose editors tried it with their dogs (February 2022), Top Dog Tips, whose writer used the Paw Plunger after winter walks (first published 2018, updated December 2023), and KDKA (CBS Pittsburgh), which tried the Paw Plunger on two dogs in 2009. None of these reviews says whether the unit came from the maker. Paw care advice comes from the American Kennel Club, VCA Animal Hospitals, the ASPCA and the RSPCA. Product facts come from the makers’ own pages, checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test these paw washers ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Why clean your dog’s paws after a walk

Mud on the floor is the obvious reason, but winter is when it matters most for your dog. VCA Animal Hospitals explains that rock salt and other salt-based deicers are toxic if licked off the paws once your dog is inside, and are very drying to the paw pads and the skin between the toes. Its advice: after a winter walk, wash or wipe your dog’s paws with warm water, a cloth or grooming wipes to remove any chemicals, so your dog does not lick the residue off and get sick.

The RSPCA gives the same advice: after a walk, dry your dog off and thoroughly wipe down their paws and tummy to remove grit, antifreeze and rock salt, which are poisonous to dogs. The ASPCA adds that you should wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach after each walk to remove ice, salt and chemicals, and check for cracks in the paw pads or redness between the toes.

Summer brings its own paw risks, though they are not something a paw washer fixes. The AKC quotes its chief veterinarian, Dr. Jerry Klein, that hot pavement can cause blisters and burn a dog’s paw pads, and his test: if the pavement is too hot for your hand after ten seconds, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. See our guide to keeping a dog cool in summer for more.

How to clean your dog’s paws well

The AKC lists several ways to clean paws: dog wipes for quick jobs, a warm, soapy washcloth for serious messes, a bath or a rinse in the tub, or a portable paw cleaner made just for the task. Whichever you use, these steps follow its advice and the makers’ instructions:

• Use a little water at the right temperature. Dexas says to add a little water to the MudBuster (Dexas). Paw Plunger suggests filling to the top of the first row of bristles, with cool water when it is hot and warm water when it is cold (Paw Plunger).
• One paw at a time. Twist the MudBuster back and forth, or move the Paw Plunger gently up and down, then lift the paw out.
• Check between the toes. The AKC warns that salt and dirt can build up between the toes, around and between the pads and under the nails, leading to irritation. It suggests gently parting the toes as you clean to check for debris.
• Dry thoroughly. The AKC stresses drying paws thoroughly, and both hands-on reviews of the MudBuster note you still need a towel. A dry paw is also less likely to slip on a hard floor. Our guide on how to dry a wet dog covers towels and dryers.
• Melt ice balls, do not pull them. The AKC advises soaking a towel in warm water and gently massaging an icy pad to loosen ice balls, rather than pulling them out. Paw Plunger says warm water in its cup melts winter ice balls stuck in the pads (Paw Plunger).
• Empty and rinse the cup. Paw Plunger advises against storing water in it, since stagnant water may let bacteria build up; fill and empty it with each use.

When to see your vet

Cleaning paws is a good time to look for problems. The AKC notes that cold air outside and dry air at home can crack paws, and that icy conditions can cause cuts and scrapes your vet can help treat. VCA Animal Hospitals says that if your dog licks at their pads or limps, a pad may be torn, punctured or burned, and that pad injuries need prompt attention because they heal slowly. If you see a cut, a crack, swelling or redness, or your dog is sore, see your vet rather than relying on washing.

Help your dog accept it

Not every dog likes having its paws handled. In TTPM‘s test, two dogs accepted the MudBuster without fuss and one needed more convincing. Top Dog Tips suggests gradual training for a dog that may warm up to a paw washer, but warns it will not work for a dog that growls or snaps when its paws are touched. In KDKA‘s test, a young Newfoundland disliked the Paw Plunger while an older, calmer Golden Retriever did not mind. Start slowly, keep sessions short, and stop if your dog is stressed. If your dog is very sensitive about its feet, ask your vet or a qualified trainer for help.

What to look for in a paw washer

The right size

The paw has to fit comfortably with room for the bristles to work. Dexas sizes the MudBuster by paw width: small for paws up to 2 inches wide, medium for 2.5 to 3.5 inches and large above 3.5 inches (Dexas). Paw Plunger sizes by weight: petite up to 15 pounds, medium from about 15 to 75 pounds and large over 75 pounds (Paw Plunger). Top Dog Tips lists different weight ranges for the Paw Plunger, so go by the maker’s current chart. In KDKA’s test, a Newfoundland used the medium Paw Plunger when the large would have suited his paws better.

Bristle type

The MudBuster uses soft silicone bristles (Dexas); the Paw Plunger uses soft nylon bristles (Paw Plunger). Top Dog Tips found the Paw Plunger’s bristles soft enough not to hurt and durable enough to clean.

Action: twist or plunge

You twist the MudBuster and plunge the Paw Plunger up and down. Top Dog Tips notes that a manual washer like the Paw Plunger makes little noise compared with washers that have motorized rotating bristles, which may matter for a nervous dog.

Spills and a lid

The Paw Plunger has a rubber top that fits snugly around the paw to limit splashing, and a lid that is spill proof and leak proof but not water tight (Paw Plunger). Top Dog Tips liked its wide rim and no-spill opening best of the washers its writer had used. Dexas sells a separate MudBuster with Lid.

Easy cleaning

Both come apart. TTPM found the MudBuster separates into a cap, a silicone bristle insert and the cup. Paw Plunger’s top unscrews so the bristles can be removed and rinsed under warm water (Paw Plunger).

The paw washers we list

Dexas MudBuster: twist-action, sized by paw width

The Dexas MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Washer is a tumbler with soft silicone bristles inside. Add a little water, insert the paw, twist, dab dry and repeat. It comes in small, medium and large, from 4.3 to 8.85 inches tall (Dexas).

Apartment Therapy‘s writer tried it after winter walks in New York City and could not believe how dirty the water got from a quick dip. Her older dog did not run off the way she does when booties come out, and she went on to use it year round. TTPM‘s editors found it cleaned their dogs’ paws well and noticed far less mud in the house, but say to keep a towel handy.

Paw Plunger: plunge-action, with a lid

The Paw Plunger Dog Paw Cleaner has soft nylon bristles, a snug rubber top and a lid, in petite, medium and large sizes. Its maker suggests it for small dogs and cats too in the petite size (Paw Plunger).

Top Dog Tips‘ writer used it after winter walks in Maine and liked its wide rim and no-spill opening. KDKA‘s 2009 test, of an earlier version, found it got the dirt off, but both dog owners felt a towel or a pail of water would do much the same job. Choose it if you want a lid and less splashing.

Other options, named without links

• Doggie Dipper and Dogness Automatic Dog Paw Cleaner: both appear in paw cleaner roundups from Canine Journal and Vetstreet, but we found no hands-on test by a named review site, so we do not list them.
• A bowl or bucket and a towel: one owner in KDKA’s test felt a pail of water and a towel would work as well, and the AKC lists a warm, soapy washcloth and a tub rinse as options. A paw washer mainly saves mess and time.
• Dog boots: they keep salt and cold off the paws in the first place. The RSPCA says boots protect paws against the cold ground and contact with poisons like rock salt. See our best dog boots guide.

FAQ

How do you use a dog paw washer?

Fill it with a little water, put one paw in, twist (MudBuster) or gently plunge up and down (Paw Plunger), lift the paw out and towel it dry. Repeat for each paw, then empty and rinse the cup.

Should I wash my dog’s paws after every walk?

After winter walks on salted or treated paths, yes. The ASPCA advises washing and drying your pet’s feet after each walk to remove ice, salt and chemicals, and VCA says to wash or wipe paws after winter walks so your dog does not lick off chemical residue. On a clean, dry day a quick check may be enough. The ASPCA also notes that bathing too often in cold spells can dry the skin.

Can I put soap in a paw washer?

The makers’ instructions call for water. For serious messes the AKC mentions a warm, soapy washcloth. If your dog has sensitive or dry skin, ask your vet which product to use, and rinse and dry the paws well.

Do paw washer cups really work?

In the hands-on tests we found, they removed mud and dirt: Apartment Therapy was surprised by how dirty the water got, and TTPM saw less mud in the house. KDKA found the Paw Plunger worked, but its testers felt a pail and towel was nearly as good. They work best on a dog that accepts having its paws handled.

What size paw washer does my dog need?

Go by the maker’s chart. Dexas sizes by paw width (up to 2 inches, 2.5 to 3.5 inches, above 3.5 inches) and Paw Plunger by weight (up to 15 pounds, about 15 to 75 pounds, over 75 pounds).

For more on paw care and grooming, see how to walk a dog in winter, the best dog boots and the dog and cat grooming buying guide.