How to wash dog toys?

Keeping dog toys clean is one of the simplest, most effective steps you can take to protect your pet’s mouth, your household, and the people who live there. In my experience as a veterinarian working with busy dog owners, toys that look “fine” on the surface often carry saliva, food residue, and dirt that may suggest a higher risk of bacterial growth or unpleasant odors if left alone.

Protect your dog’s health — why cleaning toys matters

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, senior dogs often have weakened immune defenses and dental issues, and homes with several dogs increase the chance of sharing pathogens. I typically see more infections or flare-ups in multi-dog households where toys are passed around without routine cleaning.

Regular washing helps household hygiene beyond removing visible dirt. Clean toys cut down on lingering odors and visible slobber, which makes playtime more pleasant and reduces the need for deep-cleaning carpets and furniture. Less grime also means fewer allergens in the home air, which may be important for family members with sensitivities.

Cleaning toys also reduces the chance that bacteria, viruses, or parasites will move between animals — and between pets and people. Toys can act as fomites, carrying organisms from an infected pet to otherwise healthy animals or to human hands that handle the toys, so a simple cleaning routine can lower that risk.

How often to wash dog toys — and the safest methods

For a straightforward, low-effort routine: soft fabric toys usually need the most frequent attention, rubber and hard plastic toys are easier to disinfect, and rope toys often hold debris and should be replaced more frequently. Below is a practical guide you can follow depending on how toys are used.

• Daily: Food-filled toys (puzzle feeders, Kongs used with food), toys used by puppies or dogs with known infections.
• Weekly: Frequently mouthed chew toys, rubber and hard plastic play toys if used indoors.
• Monthly or as needed: Plush toys not heavily mouthed (wash more often if they smell or are visibly dirty); rope toys should be inspected and often retired rather than kept long-term.

Quick cleaning methods: rinse and scrub rubber/plastic toys with hot soapy water or run them through the top rack of the dishwasher if they’re labeled dishwasher-safe. For fabric toys, use a gentle machine wash in a mesh bag on a warm cycle and air-dry fully. When a toy shows structural damage (deep cracks, exposed stuffing, loose parts) it’s usually safer to discard it than to keep trying to clean it.

Where germs hide: common ways toys become contaminated

Toys get covered in saliva, food residue, and environmental dirt — an ideal mix for bacteria to multiply. Saliva may provide moisture and nutrients, while sticky food crumbs can trap microbes in nooks and crevices. Over time, these organisms may form a slimy film that is harder to remove than surface dirt.

Porous materials, such as softer plastics, rope, and fabric, are more likely to harbor organisms inside fibers or microcracks where routine rinsing won’t reach. That internal refuge can allow bacteria to persist and possibly form biofilms, which are communities of microbes that are more resistant to simple cleaning.

Toys can carry a range of organisms that may be passed on during play. Dogs may pick up oral bacteria that can worsen dental disease, or organisms that may be spread in group play settings. While serious disease transmission from toys to people is uncommon, items handled frequently and then touched by people create an opportunity for transfer of pathogens, especially in households with very young, elderly, or immunocompromised members.

Timing matters: routine schedules and when to clean immediately

Wash toys after any known illness or parasite exposure in any pet. If a dog has vomited, had diarrhea, or been treated for a skin or oral infection, assume their toys were exposed and clean or quarantine them. I usually recommend cleaning all communal toys after an illness has been identified in the home.

Also wash toys when you notice visible dirt, a foul smell, or sticky residue. Outdoor use, muddy paws, or play with other animals increases contamination risk and makes immediate cleaning more important. If toys are shared in doggy daycare or group play, clean or rotate them more often.

Red flags to watch for — signs a toy needs immediate attention

Inspect toys regularly. Signs that a toy should be removed and not reused include mold, crumbling or flaking material, sharp or jagged edges, loose pieces that could be swallowed, and exposed stuffing. Any of these changes increase the risk of injury or ingestion hazards and should prompt disposal.

Watch your dog after play. If vomiting, diarrhea, oral sores, excessive drooling, bleeding, or marked lethargy appear after chewing on toys, clean or discard the toy and contact your veterinarian. These symptoms may suggest ingestion of toxic material, a bacterial or parasitic infection, or a physical injury from a damaged toy.

If a person in the household develops unusual skin irritation, a persistent rash near where toys are handled, or a skin infection that seems linked to pet play, stop use of those toys and seek medical or veterinary advice. While uncommon, transmission of certain organisms to people is possible, especially if hygiene is lax.

A dependable cleaning checklist: what to do, step by step

Follow a consistent, simple routine so cleaning becomes part of the normal rhythm of household chores rather than a daunting task. Adjust steps for toy materials and how soiled they are.

1. Sort toys by material and contamination level: separate plush/fabric, rubber/plastic, rope, and electronic or squeaky items. Keep heavily soiled or food-stuffed toys apart from lightly mouthed ones.
2. Pre-rinse or soak to remove loose debris: use hot water and a non-toxic dish soap to loosen grime; for puzzle feeders, use a bottle brush to reach crevices. For very dirty toys, a 10–20 minute soak in hot, soapy water helps.
3. Choose a cleaning method appropriate for the material:
   • Rubber and hard plastic: dishwasher-safe items can go on the top rack using a normal cycle, or scrub and rinse by hand. Small, solid rubber toys may tolerate boiling for a few minutes to disinfect.
   • Fabric and plush: machine wash on warm with a pet-safe detergent inside a mesh bag; air-dry fully or tumble-dry on low if allowed by the label.
   • Rope toys: these are hard to sanitize fully—wash in the machine if fabric-wrapped, but consider retiring frequently used rope chews.
4. Disinfect when needed: for situations after illness or heavy contamination, a diluted household bleach solution is commonly used (many veterinary sources reference roughly 1 part household bleach to 32 parts water for toys—follow product instructions and rinse thoroughly). Accelerated hydrogen peroxide or other veterinary-approved disinfectants may be used per the manufacturer’s directions; always rinse well afterward to remove residues that could irritate a dog’s mouth.
5. Dry and inspect: allow toys to air-dry completely in a clean area; moisture left inside toys can encourage microbial growth. Inspect for damage, smell, or remaining debris. Replace any toy with structural failure or lingering odors after cleaning.
6. Store clean toys separately: keep cleaned toys in a closed bin or on a shelf to avoid recontamination from floors, muddy shoes, or yard debris.

Teach cleaner play: training tips to reduce toy contamination

Reducing the total number of toys in rotation makes cleaning manageable. I recommend a simple rotation: keep a few toys in active use while quarantining the rest in a closed bin. Swap them weekly so each toy has time to be cleaned and dry between uses.

Teach reliable fetch and drop cues to limit continuous chewing on a single toy. If a dog learns to drop a toy on cue, you can remove it for cleaning without a struggle. This behavior also reduces the chance that toys will be abandoned outdoors or shared with other dogs unsupervised.

Designate indoor versus outdoor toys. Outdoor toys can be allowed to get dirtier but should be cleaned before being brought inside; indoor-only toys should remain cleaner and be inspected more often. Establish a simple inspection schedule — for example, a quick check after each play session and a more thorough clean weekly — and stick to replacement rules like retiring rope toys every 1–3 months depending on wear.

Safe cleaning supplies and tools vets recommend

Use a mild, fragrance-free dish soap for routine cleaning; harsh fragrances and additives can irritate dog mouths. For disinfection, choose products labeled as pet-safe or follow diluted household bleach instructions and rinse thoroughly. Avoid cleaners that contain citrus-derived compounds or essential oils that are known to be toxic to dogs.

A dishwasher and a washing machine are time-savers. Use a mesh laundry bag for small fabric toys so nothing gets lost. Keep a set of brushes: a stiff nylon brush for hard toys and narrow bottle brushes for small openings or puzzle feeders. Gloves are useful when handling contaminated items, and keeping dedicated buckets and cloths for pet cleaning reduces cross-contamination with kitchen or household cleaning supplies.

High-heat drying in a machine dryer (when the toy’s label allows) or direct sun exposure can help reduce moisture and odors; however, sun exposure alone won’t fully disinfect. For small rubber toys, boiling for a few minutes can be effective — but always let toys cool and inspect for warping before returning them to your dog.

References and expert resources

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): “Guidance on cleaning and disinfection in veterinary facilities” (AVMA.org guidance documents on cleaning protocols and household pet advice).
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Healthy Pets, Healthy People” and “People and Pets” pages on zoonotic disease prevention and environmental hygiene.
• Merck Veterinary Manual: “Zoonotic Infections” and general sections on environmental control and infection prevention in small animal practice.
• Greene CE. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th Edition — chapter discussions on environmental transmission and sanitation in canine patients.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): “Basic pet care” guidance including cleaning and toy safety recommendations.