Pomsky Dog Toys: How to Clean Your Dog’s Toys

Pomsky dogs love playing with a variety of toys to keep them engaged and prevent them from getting bored. Whether your pomsky dog likes playing with rubber toys, nylon bones, or plush toys, these each need to be cleaned. Find out why dog toys need to be cleaned, how often to clean your dog’s toys and the best cleaning solutions to use to keep your pomsky dog’s toys fresh and clean.

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Why Do You Need to Clean Dog Toys?

Prevent Bacteria

Whether your pomsky prefers rubber toys, plush toys, or nylon bones, these each need to be cleaned regularly to prevent harmful bacteria from growing and getting your pomsky dog sick. Some toys will have obvious signs that they need to be cleaned such as the fur on a plush toy getting crusty and firm, or a rubber toy having slimy slobber on it, while other toys won’t show as obvious signs of needing to be cleaned. Toys that are not cleaned regularly can increase your dog’s risk of getting infections, becoming ill, or your dog having skin or gastrointestinal issues.

Makes Toys Last Longer

Cleaning and rotating your dog’s toys will make their toys last longer and save you money.

When Should You Clean Your Dog’s Toys?

Dog toys that were brought to a doggie play date, dog daycare or used outside should be cleaned that same day before giving it back to your dog. Rotate your dog’s toys to keep your pomsky engaged while they are waiting for their toys to be cleaned. Dog toys will vary in how often they need to be cleaned based on the toy type and how they are used.

Cleaning Guidelines Based on Toy Types

Lick Mats – These should be cleaned after each use if you are using refrigerated items on the mat such as yogurt and cheese, or every 3-4 days if using crumbled treats or peanut butter on the lick mat.
Rubber Toys – Clean rubber toys once a week, or more frequently if you stuff these toys with treats or if there seems to be a lot of saliva on the toy.
Plush or Stuffed Toys – Plush toys can be cleaned once every 1-2 weeks based on their appearance and smell.
Nylon Bones – These can be washed with soap and water on a weekly basis to prevent bacteria or mold from growing. You can also remove sharp edges and fur stuck on the edges of Benebones and Nylabones by sanding them down with heavy grit sandpaper or a wood file.

How to Clean Rubber, Nylon and Plastic Dog Toys

Hard rubber, nylon and plastic toys can easily be cleaned with a mild dish soap and scrub brush. Make sure to rinse the toy thoroughly to remove all soap residue. If you are looking for a more natural solution, use 5% white vinegar and warm water to clean your dog’s toys. Let the toys soak in the vinegar and water solution for 10 minutes, then scrub with a dedicated dog cleaning brush such as this Kong Cleaning Brush. Make sure you rinse toys thoroughly to remove the smell of the cleaning solution.

How to Clean Plush Soft Dog Toys

Plush dog toys can be washed in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with a gentle laundry detergent free of dyes and fragrances. You can also try using ¼ cup of white vinegar in a gentle washing machine cycle or just wash a toy by hand in the sink and let it air dry. Washing some plush toy toys might ruin the squeaker or misshape the toy, so be mindful of how fragile the dog toys are. Some toys can be dried in the dryer on a gently cycle with low heat, but you can avoid damaging or melting toys by letting them air dry.

When To Throw Toys Away

It is important to know when it is time to throw toys away. Hard plastic, nylon and rubber toys should be thrown away when pieces are breaking off, if they are cracked or too worn to be sufficiently cleaned. Be cautious about toys falling apart and throw toys away before they can break into smaller pieces that could be a choking hazard or lead to intestinal blockages for your dog. Plush toys should be thrown if they smell, have torn pieces, or have stuffing coming out of them.

Summary

Keep your pomsky dog’s toys clean to prevent bacteria build up and make toys last longer. You can ensure your pomsky has other toys to keep them entertained by rotating dog toys while you wash the other toys. Remember that toys should be thrown away when they start falling apart.