The Importance of Cleaning Dog Toys

from Kendle Frank

Keep your dog’s playtime fun and safe by learning why you should clean your pet’s toys. Discover ways to prevent the spread of bacteria and how to clean your dog’s hard toys, bowls, classic rubber KONG toys, enrichment items, and plush toys.

Keeping Play Fun and Germ-Free

Dogs Need to Play® to ensure their health, happiness, and wellbeing. However, to keep their playtime fun and safe, it’s important to regularly clean their favorite toys to prevent the potential spread of illness to you and your furry friends alike.

Dogs often take their favorite toys everywhere with them—indoors, outdoors, to dog parks, on walks, and any other adventure they may embark upon. After being played with, your pup’s prized possessions become coated with a thick layer of slobber, dirt, dust, and whatever else they may have been dragged through… and that’s just on the surface!

Without proper and regular sanitation, pet toys become harbingers of harmful bacteria, fungi, and mold. According to experts from Whole Dog Journal, common contaminants found in dog toys and bowls include pathogens, yeast, mold, and more. Toys that can be stuffed are also at risk of spreading food-borne illnesses if they are not cleaned after every use.

The best way to protect yourself, your pets, and other household members—and keep playtime fun—is by establishing a consistent cleaning routine that halts the growth and spread of pesky germs. Not only does implementing this regular practice prevent a build-up of grime and dangerous pathogens, but it also prolongs the life of the toys, saving you money in the long run.

How to clean hard toys and bones

Have you ever noticed a slimy film on your pet’s hard toys? That layer, known as biofilm, is a collection of strong proteins from your dog’s slobber that can contain thousands of bacteria. By using a dish soap that cuts down on grease when cleaning hard toys, bones, and dog bowls, you can break down biofilm and sanitize the toy.

After using dish soap, let the toys soak in a few inches of hot, soapy water for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing thoroughly. You can also clean hard toys and bones in the dishwasher on the top rack. Make sure to skip the heat cycle, as some toys can become damaged with hot temperature settings.

How to clean plush dog toys

Soft, plush pet toys may be some of your dog’s favorites, but they are also more likely to accumulate allergens from the outdoors, such as dirt, dust, pollen, and pet dander that may cause irritation in human and animal family members.

To prolong the life of your softer toys and prevent the manifestation of germs and bacteria from exposure to outdoor elements, we recommend reserving them for indoor play. Tough plush toys made from thicker, woven materials that are easier to wipe are more suitable for indoor and outdoor use. We suggest spot cleaning all plush toys as needed using a pet-safe stain and odor remover for long-lasting play.

How to clean KONGs and enrichment toys

KONG Classic toys, puzzle feeders, and other enrichment toys are a great way to stimulate your dog and encourage play, but even the most talented pups can leave a bit of food behind. You can clean rubber KONG toys and other stuffable toys as you would hard toys and bowls. Rubber KONG toys can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher without the heated drying cycle*. To remove any stubborn food residue, use our specially shaped KONG® Cleaning Brush.

It’s recommended to wash toys that contain food after every use to prevent bacteria and food-borne illnesses from developing. The next time you’re looking for an easy-to-make, easy-to-eat, and easy-to-clean treat to stuff your pup’s favorite enrichment toy with, try this refreshing Cube Chiller KONG Cuisine recipe!

Plus, check out these easy-to-clean KONG toys:

KONG® Goodie Bone®