To clean and disinfect dog toys, sort them by material first. Rubber, silicone, and hard plastic toys go in hot soapy water or the top rack of the dishwasher. Plush and rope toys go in the washing machine on hot in a mesh bag with a mild, fragrance-free detergent, then air dry fully. For a disinfecting soak, use a 50/50 white vinegar and water mix for ten minutes and rinse well. Skip bleach on anything the dog puts in their mouth, and throw out toys that are torn, cracked, or won't come clean.
We wash Ai's and Dudu's toys the same way, and the state of the water after the first plush toy went through the machine convinced us to do it every week. Dog toys collect more drool, dirt, and outdoor grime than cat toys, so the schedule below is a bit stricter. Here's the method by toy type.
How often should you wash dog toys?
- Weekly for toys in daily rotation, especially chew toys and anything that goes outside.
- Every two weeks for toys that only come out for play sessions.
- Immediately after a toy has been in mud, water, another dog's mouth, or near a sick pet.
- Before reintroducing a toy that's been in storage.
Dirty toys are a real thing. Studies on household germ hotspots regularly put pet toys near the top, and a chew toy that lives on the floor is essentially a wet sponge. Weekly washing takes ten minutes and keeps the smell down too.
How do you wash plush and rope dog toys?
- Check seams and squeakers. If stuffing is coming out, fix it or toss it. A loose squeaker can come free in the wash and get lost, then turn up in the dog's mouth.
- Shake off loose dirt and hair. A quick pass with a lint roller or a fabric brush helps.
- Put them in a mesh laundry bag. This keeps limbs and tags from snagging and keeps the toys from wrapping around the agitator.
- Wash on hot with a mild, fragrance-free detergent. Heat does the disinfecting. Skip fabric softener, which leaves a coating dogs then lick.
- Air dry completely. A damp plush toy grows mildew inside within a day or two. Set toys upright in the sun or near a fan, and squeeze them to check the core is dry before giving them back. A low tumble dry works if the toy has no plastic parts.
Rope toys hold water in the fibers for a long time. Wring them well and dry them for a full day. Plush toys like the squeaky pet plush toy and the dinosaur squeaky chew pet plush toy hold up to regular machine washing; we've been through the same routine with the interactive fish shape pet plush toys our cats use. The same wash logic we use for garments in how to wash dog clothes applies here.
How do you clean rubber, silicone, and plastic dog toys?
- Scrub in hot soapy water with a bottle brush or old toothbrush, getting into any holes and grooves where food and slobber collect.
- Rinse thoroughly. Soap residue tastes bad and the dog will lick it.
- Dishwasher, top rack, if the toy is marked dishwasher safe. Most solid rubber and silicone toys are. Skip the heated dry cycle on thinner plastic.
- Dry completely before storing. Hollow toys need to be shaken out and stood upside down; water trapped inside goes stale.
Check hard toys for cracks and sharp edges while you're at it. A cracked rubber toy traps bacteria in the split and can cut the gums.
How do you disinfect dog toys without harsh chemicals?
Heat and time do most of the work. For an extra step:
- Vinegar soak. Equal parts white vinegar and warm water, ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse well. Works on hard toys and on plush before a machine wash. The smell fades as the toy dries.
- Boiling water for solid rubber and silicone toys, two to three minutes. Not for plastic that can warp or plush with glued parts.
- Sunlight. A few hours in direct sun after washing helps dry the core of plush toys and cuts down on odor.
Avoid bleach, disinfecting wipes, and household cleaners on anything the dog chews. Even a thorough rinse can leave residue in porous rubber and fabric. If a toy is contaminated enough that you feel it needs bleach, it's cheaper and safer to replace it. If your dog has been sick and you're unsure what's safe, ask your vet.
When should you throw a dog toy away?
- Stuffing or squeaker exposed and you can't stitch it closed.
- Cracks, chunks missing, or sharp edges on a rubber or plastic toy.
- Rope with long loose strands the dog can swallow.
- A smell that survives washing. Mildew inside a plush toy doesn't come out.
- Slimy or sticky after drying. Rubber that's breaking down.
Rotating toys helps here: three out, the rest away, swapped weekly. Each toy gets less wear, dries fully between uses, and you notice damage when you handle it at swap time.
FAQ
Can you put dog toys in the washing machine?
Plush and rope toys, yes, in a mesh bag on hot with mild detergent. Remove any hard plastic clips or battery parts first. Rubber and plastic toys are better washed by hand or in the dishwasher.
Is dish soap safe for dog toys?
Yes, a plain, unscented dish soap is fine as long as you rinse thoroughly. Avoid soaps with strong antibacterial additives or heavy fragrance, since the dog will taste whatever is left behind.
How do you get the smell out of dog toys?
A vinegar soak before washing, a hot wash, and a full dry in the sun handle most odors. If a plush toy still smells after that, the core is mildewed and the toy should go.
Quick recap
To clean and disinfect dog toys, machine wash plush and rope on hot in a mesh bag, hand wash or dishwasher rubber and plastic, use a vinegar soak for extra disinfecting, and dry everything fully. Wash weekly, skip bleach, and toss anything torn or cracked. Browse plush, squeaky, and chew toys in our toys collection. Orders over $75 ship free.
