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Should I Wash My Dog’s Toys After Buying?

Black and white border collie with a black, knobby ball in its mouth

Chew toys made of plastic, rubber, and nylon are excellent for keeping your dog occupied and their teeth clean. But to reduce the number of chemicals and bacteria in the packing, these toys must be cleaned before use. Some toys can be washed in the dishwasher. However, there are other ways too. Keep reading to know about the right way to wash your dog’s toys after buying them, and learn why it’s beneficial.

How to wash dog toys? Click here to find out.

Should You Wash Dog Toys Before Use?

You should wash dog toys before use. Even if you recently bought them, dog toys might still contain staph germs, mold, and yeast. They are among the top ten “germiest” objects since it is simple to spread bacteria and germs on them. Dogs swallow any microorganisms that their toys accumulate since they play with them with their lips.

The toys your furry friend uses could pose several health risks to them. The majority of the time, their toys contain a respiratory coronavirus or a microplasma bacterium at the time of production or packaging possibly. Your pet’s toys may also contain hazardous fecal contaminants like E. coli or Giardia, which can spread to people. Other health issues include tooth-tip fractures caused by the toys you recently bought for your pet. Due to all those reasons, you must wash dog toys before use.

How Do You Disinfect New Dog Toys?

Rope dog toy isolated against a white background.

Cleaning instructions are written on the label or box of dog toys. As much as possible, clean the toys according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the tag has been removed, look for instructions on the manufacturer’s website or adhere to toy cleaning recommendations.

If using the dishwasher or microwave is not an option, there is a secure DIY solution. Some dog toys can be cleaned in these ways. Toys should soak for 30 minutes in a solution of one part water to one part distilled white vinegar. However, cleaning a dog toy also depends on the type of toy. Various types of dog toys require different cleaning and disinfection techniques. The procedures for cleaning dog toys before usage are listed below.

Are you supposed to wash dog toys? Click here to learn more.

Hard Toys

Hard plastic red dog toy in the shape of a bone, isolated against a white background

To reduce the number of bacteria and germs in your house, these toys need to be cleaned before use. Some hard toys can be washed in the dishwasher, but only if the manufacturer’s instructions specifically say that the toy is dishwasher safe. The toy’s structure might be harmed by the dishwasher’s high temperatures, which could also cause hazardous chemical releases. After properly cleaning the toys, give them a good rinse in fresh water and set them aside to dry.

NOTE: Before putting plastic toys back in your dog’s play area after cleaning them, make sure there isn’t any water inside.

How often do dogs need new toys? Click here to find out.

Rope Toys

Pug isolated on a white background chewing a rope chew toy

Although cleaning rope dog toys might be a bit more difficult than cleaning hard plastic toys, it’s crucial to do so to destroy bacteria and keep your dog happy and healthy.

Soaking a rope toy in clean water and then putting it in a high-heat microwave to destroy any bacteria is the simplest method to clean it. Before letting your dog play with it, let it thoroughly dry after removing it from the microwave since it will be hot.

Rope toys may also be cleaned by washing them in the washing machine on a hot cycle without any detergent and letting them air dry.

Soft Toys

Brown and tan chihuahua laying in a bed, snuggling a brown teddy bear

The majority of soft dog toys can be cleaned in a washing machine, which is good news. To clean and sanitize the toys, use a dog-safe laundry detergent or a completely natural procedure with baking soda and white vinegar during the washing cycle. On a bright day, wash the soft dog toys so they may dry outside naturally.

How to Wash Dog Toys Without Detergent?

Tan teddy bear laying in a wicker clothes basket on top of clean laundry

There are various ways to wash and disinfect dog toys before use to ensure they are free of bacteria or chemicals. Therefore, don’t worry if you don’t want to use detergent because your dog is sensitive to different kinds of soaps and detergents.

Soft Toys

You may use a solution of baking soda and white vinegar in place of washing detergent entirely. Before placing the toys in the washing machine, sprinkle them with baking soda, and add vinegar (a couple of capfuls). After that, start the rinse cycle on the washing machine. Alternately, combine two parts of warm water, one-part white vinegar, and a tiny bit of lemon.

Run them through the washing machine after letting them soak in the solution for 15 to 30 minutes. Use one of the other pet-friendly detergents suggested above instead of a combination of the detergent.

After taking the stuffed animals out of the machine, carefully wring them out to get rid of any extra water. You may put them in the dryer on the lowest heat setting or the air-dry option to dry them (do not use heat if they have any plastic).

Before placing the toys back into your dog’s play bin, make sure they are thoroughly dry. This is crucial to prevent mold growth on them. Remember that swallowing toy stuffing might result in intestinal obstructions. As a result, constantly check these toys before and after washing, especially if you used a washing machine. The stitching can occasionally get loose after they’ve been washed.

Hard Toys

Knotted rubber dog ball isolated on a white background

There are choices if you don’t have a dishwasher or are worried it may ruin your pet’s toys. Clean your pet’s toys in the sink, and use hot water and a scrub brush. Soak the toys in a 95 percent warm water to 5 percent vinegar solution for 30 minutes. After the soak, scrub, thoroughly rinse, and air dry. Before giving the toy to your pet, make sure it has been thoroughly cleaned and d

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