I don’t know about you, but we have A LOT of dog toys. My two well-loved pooches have upwards of 50 plush squeaky toys. And the more toys we collect, the more I have to clean. While my pups aren’t big slobberers, their toys do still get dirty. Aside from any dust that may be collecting in the fabric fibers, my dogs hold the toys with their paws. The same paws that were just outside in the grass that they … okay, I think you catch my drift. Since I want my dogs to put clean toys in their mouth (as I’m sure you do too), here are some quick cleaning tips! 

Cleaning Plush Toys

When cleaning plush toys, be sure to either use a pet-safe detergent or avoid using detergent entirely. You can also wash soft toys by hand using the half-water, half-vinegar solution. Afterward, either air-dry the toys or pop them into the dryer (but don’t use dryer sheets).

To avoid the possibility of mold, make sure plush toys are completely dry before either returning them to your pet or storing them.

Cleaning Chew Toys

When cleaning chew toys, be sure to tape over any holes to prevent cleaning products from getting inside them. Note that, with certain chew toys, there may come a point when the object is simply too worn for your dog to safely use it. To prevent your dog from accidentally ingesting plastic or fabric, get rid of a toy as soon as it starts to tear or develop holes.

Consider dividing your dog’s favorite toys into two groups and washing each group on a regular basis. For example, you could wash the toys in group No. 1 on the first and third weeks of the month and toys in group No. 2 on the second and fourth weeks. This way, your dog always has a fresh, beloved toy to play with.

Cleaning dog toys is critical to your and your dog’s health. After playing the day away, just make sure you devote a little time to cleaning up your pup’s mess. You’ll both be better off.