How to clean dog toys (and how often)

Toys collect saliva, food residue and floor dirt. A weekly clean prevents most of the smell and bacteria problems people put up with unnecessarily.

By material

• Rubber and silicone — top-rack dishwasher, or warm soapy water. Weekly.
• Hard plastic puzzles — top-rack dishwasher; dry fully before refilling. After every food use.
• Cotton rope — machine wash in a laundry bag, air dry fully. Damp rope grows mildew. Every two weeks.
• Plush — machine wash cold in a laundry bag, air dry. Heat warps squeakers. Monthly.
• Wood — wipe with a damp cloth and dry at once. Never soak. After every use.

Skip the harsh cleaners

Bleach, strong detergents and scented soaps leave residue your dog will lick. Plain dish soap and hot water handle almost everything. For a deeper clean on rubber, soak in a half-and-half white vinegar and water solution for thirty minutes, then rinse well.

Clean is not the same as safe

Cleaning does not repair a damaged toy. Use the weekly wash as your inspection point — check for cracks, exposed stuffing and unravelling rope while you are handling everything anyway.