How to wash dog toys? Every pet owner knows how important it is to keep their four-legged friends happy and healthy. One way to do that is by keeping their toys clean and free of bacteria, so that your pup can continue to enjoy them for a long time. Here are the steps you need to follow when cleaning your dog’s toys.
How to wash dog toys?
Before you deep clean any of your pup’s toys, it’s important that you spot clean them first. Spot cleaning is when you use a damp cloth or towel with a mild detergent in order to quickly remove dirt, debris, or other small amounts of organic matter from the toy itself. This ensures no stains or residue will remain after it’s been cleaned properly.
Use Hot Water and Detergent
Once you’ve spot cleaned the toy(s), it’s time to give them a thorough wash with hot water and detergent. If they’re made of rubber or some other material that won’t be damaged by harsh chemicals, use anti-bacterial soap or disinfectant solution instead of detergent. Be sure not to use any products that contain bleach as this could potentially damage your pup’s toys permanently.
Sanitize Dog Toys With Vinegar Solution
After washing the toy(s) in hot water and detergent (as described above), sanitizing them with vinegar also helps eliminate bacteria and germs that may remain on the surface or inside of the toy(s). To do this, mix white vinegar with warm water in a one-to-one ratio then soak your pup’s toys for about 20 minutes before rinsing them off completely with cold water.
Air Dry Dog Toys Before Use
Once all of the water has drained off, hang the items up out where they will receive airflow and allow them to dry before giving it back to your dog. Air drying helps ensure there are no excess moisture remaining on the toy before it goes back into use which will help prevent mould growth over time.
Sort Your Toys
The first step in washing your pup’s toys is sorting the different types of toys into separate piles. Soft toys should go in one pile, while hard plastic toys should go in another. This will make the next steps easier.
Pre-Clean Lighter Toys
If you have any soft or lightly soiled items, like plush toys or rope chew toys, you can pre-clean them by soaking them in a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap for 10-20 minutes before they go into the washer. Make sure that all of the soap residue is rinsed off before placing them in the washing machine with other laundry items.
Wash Plush Toys Separately
Plush toys should be washed separately from heavier items since they tend to take longer to dry out fully after being washed. To get rid of odours, add an enzyme cleaner such as Biokleen Odor Eliminator to the load prior to washing. Set the washer to a gentle cycle with cold water – never hot!
Hand Wash Hard Plastic Toys
Hard plastic items like balls and flying discs should be hand washed with warm water, mild dish soap and a scrub brush or sponge — no bleach! Wash one side at a time, making sure all residue has been removed before moving on to the next side if needed rinse completely then let dry fully in direct sunlight before returning throwable objects back into playtime duty!
Separate Toys Based on Material Type
It is essential to separate the dog toys based on their material type before you start cleaning them. Depending on the material, some will require more delicate care than others during the washing process. For example, plush or fabric materials need cold water and gentle soap whereas plastic materials are better suited for hot water and regular laundry detergent.
Pre-Wash the Toys in a Basin or Bowl of Water
For soft-bodied rubber toys, use a bowl to pre-wash the toy by filling it with warm water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent solution. Submerge each toy one at a time into the mixture, using your hands to scrub away any visible dirt and microbes off the surface of each toy. Make sure that you cover all accessible crevices and corners where mold may hide within its material fibers. Once done, empty out the bowl/ basin contents as well as rinse each toy under running tap water.
