These crates are very easy to clean and maintain. Craig puts a piece of outdoor turf in each crate. The turf can easily be taken out for cleaning. Whenever he washes the truck with the power washer, he pulls them out and cleans them at the same time. Then he hangs them over the bars on the swingset to dry for a few hours and they are ready to go back in the crates again. When he removes one end it is simple to dump any remaining droppings out of the open end.