Looking for a way to freshen up your dog’s toys? Whether you’re dealing with dirty, smelly toys or just want to give them a good cleaning, washing your dog’s toys is an easy task that can be done quickly at home. In this article, we’ll explore how to safely and effectively wash your dog’s toys, including tips and advice on the best methods to use. We’ll also answer some common questions about cleaning dog toys so you can be sure you’re doing it right.
So, how to wash dog toys? Read on to find out!
Why Is It Important to Wash Dog Toys?
First things first—dog toys can get dirty and smelly over time, especially if your dog likes to play with them outdoors. Washing your dog’s toys regularly will help keep them clean and fresh, which is important both for their health and your peace of mind. Chewing dirty toys can cause your dog redness and irritation around the chin region, as dirt, oils, and germs settle in their pores and hair follicles. Although irritations such as small red bumps or boils can be easily treated with CBD oils for dogs or other remedies, washing dog toys will help kill any bacteria or germs lingering on the surface and prevent them from spreading to your dog.
How to Wash Dog Toys?
There are many different methods and techniques for effectively washing your dog’s toys at home. Some of the most popular options include using hot water, vinegar, soap, and baking soda, as well as specialized cleaning products for washing and disinfecting dog toys. You may also consider using a special brush or scrubber, depending on the type of toy you’re cleaning. However, it’s important take all necessary precautions when washing your dog’s toys, as certain materials can become damaged or discolored if not cleaned properly.
1. Plush and Stuffed Toys
Stuffed toys are typically best cleaned using hot water and soap, although you can also clean them with a solution of half-water, half-vinegar, or pet-friendly detergent and baking soda. So, how to wash plush dog toys?
- Fill a sink or bathtub with warm water and add a small amount of gentle, unscented liquid soap, vinegar solution, or pet-friendly detergent into the water.
- Gently scrub your dog’s toys in the soapy water until they’re clean from dirt, debris, grime, and other contaminants.
- Rinse the toys thoroughly with clean water to remove any soap residue.
- You may also machine-wash plush and stuffed toys, although it’s not always necessary. If you do decide on washing dog toys in the washing machine, be sure to use a gentle cycle and only wash one or two toys at a time to avoid damage.
- Allow the toys to air dry completely before giving them back to your dog. You can also dry stuffed dog toys in the sun, as it’s a natural disinfectant.
Clean plush toys and stuffed toys regularly to prevent them from becoming too dirty or smelly. These types of dog toys can often be surface-washed, which means you don’t need to wash them as frequently as other types of dog toys.
2. Chew Toys
If your dog has a rubber, plastic, or nylon chew toy, you can clean them using warm water and soap. Fortunately, you can safely clean dog toys in the dishwasher if they’re made from hard plastic and rubber, but we don’t recommend washing soft plastic and rubber toys or nylon toys in the dishwasher, as they can melt. To wash chew dog toys without any risk of damaging them, follow these steps:
- Fill a sink or bathtub with warm water and add a small amount of gentle, unscented liquid soap, pet-safe detergent, vinegar, or baking soda to the solution.
- Soak the toys for a few minutes, then gently scrub them with a soft brush or sponge to remove any dirt and debris. To get to the tiniest parts, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub and clean the dog toys.
- Rub the toys lightly in the solution until they’re clean and free from dirt or saliva. After that, rinse them thoroughly to remove any soap or detergent residue.
- The last step is to completely dry the toys before giving them to your dog.
3. Rope Toys
Although rope toys are often made of cotton, the vast majority of these seemingly safe toys are constructed of synthetic materials. Cotton rope toys can usually be machine-washed on normal to warm cycles, whereas washing toys in the washer or dishwasher isn’t a safe way to clean dog toys made from synthetic materials, as they may get damaged. If you choose to hand-wash rope toys, there are a few easy steps:
- Fill a sink or bathtub with warm water and add a small amount of pet-friendly soap or detergent. You can add a small amount of vinegar and baking soda as well.
- Gently scrub the rope toy until it’s clean and free from dirt, debris, grime, and other contaminants.
- Next, rinse the toy thoroughly with clean water to remove any substance residue.
- Allow the toys to air dry completely before giving them back to your dog. You can put cotton rope toys in the dryer, but not nylon ropes, as they can easily melt.
4. Toys With Squeakers
Squeakers can be put in stuffed or chew toys, and although their material is different, you can wash them in a similar way. Let’s see how to wash soft dog toys with squeakers, as well as the hard ones:
- Before you start washing rubber toys, make sure to cover any holes to prevent cleaning solutions from getting in. In addition to that, before washing stuffed toys with squeakers, take out the squeaker, and put it back in when the toy is dry.
- If you decide to wash the toys by hand, let them soak in soapy water or a vinegar solution, rub the dirt, and rinse them thoroughly.
- You may be wondering—can you wash dog toys in the dishwasher? Well, if the manufacturer states the toy is dishwasher and machine-wash safe, toss it in the appliance and use the gentle cycle.
- For drying, you can air dry them or leave them out in the sun. We don’t recommend drying rubber or plastic toys in the dryer, while stuffed toys can safely be dried in the dryer on low settings.
| DID YOU KNOW: Having many different types of dog toys can help with the amount of exercise a puppy needs, as well as the puppy’s mental health. |
How Often to Wash Dog Toys?
The frequency with which you should wash your dog’s toys will depend on how often they’re used and how dirty they get. In general, you should be washing dog stuffed toys every one to two weeks, rubber, plastic, or nylon chew toys every two weeks, and rope toys every three weeks. However, these are just general guidelines, and you may need to wash your dog’s toys more or less often, depending on how dirty they get. Inspect your dog’s toys regularly, and give them a good cleaning whenever they start looking dirty or grimy to prevent any bacteria or germs from building up on the surface.
Cleaning your dog’s toys is an important part of keeping them healthy and happy. Although the best way to clean dog toys depends on the toy’s material, by cleaning the toys regularly, you can extend their life and keep them looking and smelling fresh.
| Stuffed or plush dog toys should generally be cleaned using hot water and detergent. However, they can also be washed in a solution of half-water and half-vinegar, or hand-washed with pet-friendly detergent and baking soda. |
| When washing chew toys, if they’re made of soft rubber, plastic, or nylon, it’s better to wash them by hand with warm water. If the toys are made from hard plastic, washing them in the dishwasher is definitely a safe way to clean dog toys. |
| Before washing rubber toys, make sure to cover any holes to prevent cleaning solutions from getting in. Additionaly, before washing stuffed toys with squeakers, take out the squeaker, and put it back in when the toy is dry. |
| No matter which method you use, after washing the dog toys, make sure they’re thoroughly dried before giving them to your dog. |
When to Replace a Dog Toy?
Eventually, even the best-made and most durable dog toys will need to be replaced. How often you need to replace your dog’s toys depends on how often they’re used, how well they’re made, and how well you’re washing dog stuffed toys or other types of dog toys.
In general, plush and stuffed toys should be replaced every three to six months, rubber, plastic, or nylon chew toys should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, and rope toys should be replaced every 12 to 18 months. However, this isn’t set in stone, and the actual time to replace them depends on how often they’re used and if the dog toys are made for aggressive chewers. Inspect your dog’s toys regularly, and replace them whenever they start to look worn or damaged to ensure your dog always has safe, clean, and high-quality toys.
| DID YOU KNOW: Losing interest in playing with their favorite dog toys can be one of the earliest signs of dog depression. |
Conclusion
There are a few key things to keep in mind when washing dog toys: use warm water, avoid using harsh detergents, and make sure the toys are completely dry before giving them back to your pup. With a little care, you can keep your dog’s toys clean and safe for them to enjoy. Whether you wash them by hand or in the washing machine, be sure to follow these simple tips to get the job done. Happy washing!
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