As pet parents, we want the best for our furry friends. We take them to their routine check-ups, we get them vaccinated, we take them on daily walks, and we try to feed them the most nutritious food they can get. However, one thing we often forget about is their toys.
Did you know that unwashed pet toys rank in the top 10 germiest items in a household? Imagine how many germs there are on your dog’s favorite plush toy, bone, or rope! To help prevent your dog from any illnesses, it’s important to have a toy cleaning routine set in place. To help you out, we’ve created a list telling you exactly when to clean your pet’s toys!
For a daily chew or food toy, you want to clean them weekly. You should clean them weekly because these are very saliva-heavy toys. Cleaning them this often prevents mold or bacteria from growing.
If your pet prefers a rope or fabric toy, you should wash these every one to two weeks. The fibers on these kinds of toys trap saliva and dirt. You’ll want to hand wash these with mild soap. Be sure that these fully dry before handing them back to your pet.
Let’s say your pet has a favorite plush toy. These should be washed monthly. You’ll want to use a pet-safe or fragrance-free detergent and pop them in the washing machine. Use a gentle cycle to protect the toy, and either air dry or tumble dry on low.
Finally, if your pet loves their hard rubber or plastic toys, these should be washed bi-weekly or monthly if use is more limited. To wash these toys, you can soak them in hot soapy water. You’re also free to run them through a top rack dishwasher cycle, without utilizing heat dry.
We hope this information was helpful for you! Remember to create and stick to a toy cleaning routine. This can really help protect your furry friend from any illnesses!