How to Spring Clean Your Dog’s Toys (And When It’s Time to Toss Them)
That time of year is here again! The temperatures are rising, the sun is coming out and people everywhere are once again finding their annual motivation to tackle SPRING CLEANING.
From scrubbing out refrigerators to decluttering closets, we’re focused on making our houses look and smell clean and fresh.
But what about that slobber covered basket of your pup’s favourite treasures?
Today I’m going to share everything you need to know in order to spring clean your dog’s toys!
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Every dog owner out there knows what I mean when I say that dog toys can get NASTY! I’m talking about slobbery, stinky, stained, ripped…
They take a beating, over time, are certainly worse for the wear. Am I right?
There is only one guaranteed way to avoid this problem – Refuse to allow anything but the newest toys in your home.
That being said, I’m not about to tell my Dav girl that she can’t have her favourite stuffed toy ‘Mingo’, which she’s been carrying around for years. I’m not a monster!
Furthermore, that approach would be incredibly wasteful and really hard on the bank account.
So, let’s talk about the next best thing…
How to Effectively Clean and Repair Your Dog’s Toys (As Well as When It’s Time to Let One Go)
Plastic. Rubber or Nylon Toys
Many toys designed for heavy chewers are constructed of a harder plastic or rubber material like that used in the well-known Kong toys or the West Paw Zogoflex line of toys (both of which are popular in our house).
These can pick up a lot of dirt and grime, especially if the design of the toy includes crevices where it can collect!
You’ve likely read online that all chew toys like this can simply be thrown in the dishwasher – but this isn’t true!
Much like our plastic containers, we need to take the time to read the manufacturers instructions to ensure that a toy is dishwasher safe.
Exposing some toys to the level of heat created within a dishwasher will cause them to warm or lose shape, which can reduce their structural integrity moving forward.
The result? They are easily destroyed the next time your dog has a good chew session.
Don’t worry, even if they don’t state that they are dishwasher safe, they can still be cleaned relatively easily!
Fill a bucket, sink or tub with a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts hot water and allow the toys to soak for approximately 15 minutes.
This will help to loosen deep-set dirt and grime to make them easier to clean.
After the pre-soak, simply wash your toys as you would dishes, with your favourite antibacterial dish soap. We swear by Dawn!
We also keep a toothbrush on hand to help scrub the areas that are harder to reach to make sure that we can remove as much dirt as possible.
When you’re done, rinse your toys thoroughly with clean water and allow them to air dry fully before giving them back to your pup.
Plush Toys
Soft plush toys including those with stuffing, crinkle filling and/or squeakers are incredibly popular, but they are also the first to show their age.
If left for too long between cleanings, plush dog toys can become a breeding ground for mould, bacteria and other germs.
Don’t forget – your dog is putting these in his/her mouth!
The good news is that most plush toys can be cleaned quickly and easily using your washing machine, however, you should always read the manufacturers guidelines in case it is recommended that you hand wash.
We use the ‘handwash’ setting on our washing machine to avoid the cycle being too harsh on the toys.
You can also use mesh washing bags as a way to protect toys during cleaning. If you don’t have a ‘handwash’ option, try ‘gentle’ or ‘delicates’.
Honestly, most dog toys can handle being washed on a normal wash cycle BUT if the fabric has been weakened from play (which happens over time) it may be more delicate than you realize.
Another point to consider is the water temperature.
Hot water may damage delicate parts like squeakers or crinkle filling. Instead, stick with cold or warm water (depending on your personal preferences).
When it comes time to dry your dog’s toys, you have a few options.
Most toys will be able to handle a low-heat cycle, but you need to use some common sense.
Another safe option would be to simply squeeze out any excess water and then hang the toys to dry just as you would hang dry laundry.
If you don’t have a clothesline, you can hang clothes hangers from a shower curtain bar.
Don’t forget to sew up any mendable holes before returning it to your dog!
Rope Toys
Much like plush toys, rope toys make the perfect place for bacteria, germs and mould to call home.
For this reason, it’s important to stay on top of regular maintenance.
The good news is that these toys are even easier to clean. As they are designed to be much more durable than most plush toys, rope toys can stand up to both regular washer and dryer cycles.
Another great tip to disinfect rope toys is to use the microwave as you can sponges and dishrags.
This won’t clean the grime out, but it will kill off any bacteria, yeast and mould that has collected.
Simply soak the toy in water for a minute or two and then microwave it for approximately one minute.
Don’t forget to let it cool down fully before giving it back to your pup – the toy will retain heat inside longer than it does on the surface.
NOTE: Tennis balls can be thrown in the washing machine with plush toys and rope toys!
Time to Toss? Here’s How You’ll Know
While we don’t WANT to take our pup’s favourite toys away, there will come a time that we may have to make this difficult decision… After all, as a responsible pet owner, it’s your job to keep your dog safe!
Dog toys are designed to take a beating, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t show signs of wear and tear.
Even the most durable hard rubber toys can eventually develop cracks or breaks.
There is no such thing as a truly ‘indestructible’ dog toy, just those that are designed to last longer than others. Every dog toy (including those designed for heavy chewers) should be inspected every few weeks.
If a toy can be repaired (like a plush toy with a rip that can be sewn), great.
If not, it’s time to toss it and spoil your pup with something new. Broken/ripped/overly worn toys can quickly pose a serious risk as pieces coming off these toys may create a choking hazard.
When in doubt, throw it out!
If your dog has toys that they like to keep outdoors, these will need to be inspected and cleaned more frequently.
The outdoor exposure can increase the rate of mould and mildew build up in the toy, and prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can make a toy brittle and easily broken.
If possible, bring toys inside out of the elements whenever possible.
Toys that should be tossed include:
- Those with missing parts or have parts hanging off them
- Toys with dangling or hanging parts (stuffing, eyes, etc.)
- Any toy that your dog is ‘eating’ (if it appears smaller than it once was)
- Toys that still have a foul smell or odour even after cleaning
Proper care and maintenance of your dog’s favourite toys will keep them looking and smelling clean and fresh. In fact, it can even extend a toy’s lifespan!
So, don’t forget to clean your dog’s toys as part of your spring-cleaning session. Your pup will thank you for it.
And with that, I’m off to hang dry Mingo before Dav dog notices it’s gone…
I can see those dog toys getting quite dirty. Thanks for the reminder to keep the toys clean
It’s a regular thing around here – Gotta keep the pups safe!
Plus, who wants to smell the dog toy bin when it starts to get stanky, as it will in time lol
I don’t own a pet but I have plenty of friends who do and could definitely use this information. I will be sure to forward this to them.
Thank you for sharing!
Great tips. But, I just wonder if your dog’s favorite toy has a missing part, will you still toss it? 🙂 I love dogs so much. Some of my dogs are rescued dogs. I couldn’t be happier when I see them happy and playing around. 🙂
It depends on what part is missing and if it can be repaired, as well as how much they like it… We have a decapitated monkey head that has been a go-to fav toy for Dav dog for a while now. It used to have a rope body that she ripped off but she likes it so much that I sewed the neck closed and let her keep the head lol
Having no dogs I did not know this thing, but it is interesting to know and discover for the future.
It’s one aspect of pet ownership that’s often overlooked, especially with newer pet owners!
Great post! I frequently try and clean my cat’s toys but they are sneaky wee buggers, and Sam often has them hidden beneath the sofa.
Pippen loves hiding her toys randomly around the house, so I know the feeling! Lol
These are great tips! I no longer have a dog, but I used to have a golden retriever and she was super gentle with her toys. So we never had much to maintain.
Our dogs seem to pick and choose which toys they like… Daviana has been carrying the same stuffed flamingo around for years but tore the head off her monkey in no time lol
What a really helpful post you have shared for people. Our dogs usually trash toys before we have the chance to even wash them ?? thank you for sharing these tips!
Ours are funny – they will trash some toys in no time, without hesitation, and carry others around protecting them for years lol
This is such a great post. I don’t have a dog, but we do have a cat and I should probably go through and clean all his toys and toss some old ones too. Perfect time to do all this!
Yes! We did the dogs’ toys yesterday and this morning (I have a few left to sew) and then we’re onto the cats’ toys next 🙂
This is such a helpful post! I’ll definitely see if I should be getting rid of any of my dog’s toys! Thanks for posting 🙂
We were lucky this round, didn’t have many to get rid of but I did have a fun sewing session lol
These are great tips! We normally washed plush toys in the washing machine but we havent had any in awhile because Bears so big now it’s hard to find one he doesnt break within minutes
Have you checked out the Kong Knots toys? They have a rope ‘skeleton’ with the appearance of a plush toy. Our girl LOVES them!
Love this!! Definitely going to share this with my roommate! Her and my brother in law live here for the time being and have a puppy, an Australian Shepard named Otis. And he loves to play with his toys! I could see her taking a day and washing all of them! Thank you for sharing!
It’s funny, they don’t ‘look’ that bad until you clean them… I just pulled a load out of the washer here and was surprised, yet again, but how dirty they were before lol
What a helpful post and a great reminder that I totally need to clean my dogs’ toys. Thanks for the awesome post my friend!
Thank you!
Great tips. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for reading!
Great post. Luckily my dogs only like to play with plush toys. And your post is a great reminder that I need to round up their toys and throw them in the washing machine. My dogs know to take their toys out of their toy basket, I just wish I could teach them to put them back! 🙂
I think teaching the dogs to clean up behind themselves might be on the list of things to do if we’re stuck quarantined for too long hahaha
I feel like a bad doggy momma. The best cleaning I do for dog toys is throwing htem out when they “look” gross or obviously in bad shape. I love the microwave of the rope toys. And, I will be more conscious of her toys from now on! Thank you!
For the longest time, that’s all that I did as well. We were doing the best we knew how, right?
What great tips! I’ll use them when I get myself a dog!
Thank you!
I haven’t really seen much article about taking care of animals. I am happy you found ways to help dogs through this time.
It keeps the smell out of the house too hahaha
I’ll be finding out tomorrow when I mow just what toys are left. Probably won’t be much after I run over a half dozen of them. Time for some new ones.
Hahaha we’ve had that problem around here a few too many times too – Dav tends to sneak out with tennis balls even when we try to keep them inside lol
I don’t own a dog but we have two dogs at work (in our office) and a ton of toys. When we are able to return to work I will have to go through all of the toys to examine them as you suggested. Thank you for the helpful tips!
I love that you have dogs in the office! That would make working there far more fun, wouldn’t it?
These are great tips for cleaning the toys. I have a cat and never really thought of cleaning his toys. He usually gets a pack of toy mice every few months or so, but none lasts for more than a week, as he plays with them until they are ready for the bin.
The toy mice that enter our house are similar to that, the cats wear them out faster than they would need to be cleaned. However, they do have a few jingle bell balls that we have to take the time to clean for them.
Thanks for the reminder. I need to clean all my dogs toys.
We just tackled it this past weekend… I forgot how many toys these two spoiled pups own! Lol
I’m soooo bad at throwing them out. Hugo doesn’t have that many toys that he actively plays with these days, one or two and regulars then he occasionally pulls an old favourite out of his toy box. But his favourites are all plush ones that get holes/ filthy so quickly. His number 1 favourite definitely needs throwing out but he’s way too attached to it. I even got him a new one and he doesn’t bother with it at all, bless him. I guess I can handle one not so pleasant one…x
Sophie
I am usually pretty good but Dav has this one pink flamingo (Mingo we call it) that she’s OBSESSED with – she sleeps with the thing in bed every night. I am pretty good about keeping on top of washing it (given it spends the night next to my head) but it has developed so many holes over the years that I can’t fix it anymore lol
Great tips! Thank you. I’m always looking for better ways to care for my 4 pups. 🙂
We just went through last weekend and did a mass clean up – I had forgotten that they owned some of the toys that we discovered in the process of it all! lol
Hello there! Thank you for sharing such valuable and informative content!
Glad I popped by!
Thank you!
Thanks for the tips! I think I’ll throw my dog’s toys in the wash (along with some of her towels) 🙂
We try to do it regularly, but I’m still surprised by the dirt that comes out of some of her favourite toys lol
Thank you for this informative article! I’m seriously considering rescuing a four legged friend so I’ve been doing my due diligence and researching the crap out of it. This is the first time I’ve heard mention of actually cleaning the toys, so thank you so much for bringing my attention to it.
Thank you. It’s a step that often gets overlooked – but they can get pretty gross after a while. Especially if you have a dog like ours, who likes to carry her toys outside occasionally when we aren’t looking lol