How Often Should You Wash Your Dog’s Toys and Bedding?

When it comes to cleaning, some habits may be well-established. It’s not uncommon for some people to run their dishwasher every night or wash their sheets every weekend. 

However, when it comes to cleaning routines for our pet’s belongings, cleaning schedules may not be so clear. In fact, it can be easy to overlook these tasks altogether. Providing your dog with a clean and healthy space promotes a long and happy life with your family.

If you are wondering where to start with these cleaning tasks, read on to see which pet objects need to be cleaned and how frequently they need to be tended to.

Dog Beds

How Often Do They Need to be Washed?

When determining how often your dog’s bed needs to be washed, you will need to consider a number of factors, including how much time they spend outside, how much they shed, if they have allergies, or if anyone else in your family has allergies.

The general rule of thumb is to wash your dog’s bed every one to two weeks. However, some dogs may need their bed to be washed more frequently than that, particularly if they spend a lot of time outdoors or if they tend to shed a lot. Ultimately, it is up to you to use your best judgment with this, but it is important to note that the longer you go without cleaning their bed, the harder it will be to get it fully clean and sanitary.

How Do I Wash a Dog Bed Properly?

Washing a dog bed doesn’t have to be difficult, which is good news to owners who may need to do it frequently. You can use your own washing machine, provided it will fit. You may also have the option to remove the stuffing from the dog bed and just wash the outer case. It is important to note, too, that unscented detergents are best for your pet and the least likely to cause any irritation to them.

Before putting the bed in the washing machine, you may want to try to vacuum as much loose hair and dirt from the bed as possible, which lessens the chance they will cause any issues with your machine. Having less hair on the bed will also allow it to be cleaned as effectively as possible.

When using your washing machine, you should wash on the warmest setting available to sanitize as much as possible. Avoid using scented fabric softeners. It is also probably a good idea to plan on air-drying the beds, as placing them in a dryer can cause the material to clump and become misshapen. Allow the bed to dry completely before returning to your pet.

Dog Toys

How Often Do They Need to Be Washed?

Dog toys can need to be washed at varied times, depending on factors such as the type of toy or where the toy is played with most frequently. If a toy is played with outside and covered with dirt and grime, you may want to wash it right away, and after each play session. If the toy stays in the house and is not visibly dirty, you may want to just wash it weekly. This can be very important during spring time when you need to worry more about the health hazards for your dog.

How Do I Clean Dog Toys?

There are many different kinds of dog toys, and they can all be cleaned in different ways. If you need to clean plush toys, as long as there aren’t any holes, they can be washed in the washing machine on the highest heat setting, using a minimal amount of detergent.

Rubber toys, such as KONGS, squeaky toys, or Frisbees,  can be cleaned using your dishwasher, in most cases. Just place the toys on the top rack of your dishwasher and add a few tablespoons of vinegar to get them squeaky clean. However, you can also hand wash these toys with some warm, soapy water, as long as they are rinsed well.

Bones, however, should never be washed with any type of cleaning agent. If your dog has a bone that needs to be cleaned, just wipe it down with a warm, clean towel and allow it to dry in the sun.

Dog Bowls

Dog bowls, though easily cleaned, can often be overlooked when tidying your house. It is important to wash your dog’s food and water bowls regularly, as they can harbor dangerous bacteria that can make you and your pet sick.

It may sound like a chore, but ideally, your dog’s food bowls should be cleaned daily. You can either hand-wash these with warm, soapy water or run them through the dishwasher. It is important to ensure that all food bits are removed during the cleaning, as they can grow bacteria even after running through a cycle in the dishwasher.

At the very least, your dog’s water bowls should be cleaned every couple of days. It is also important to remember that utensils used to prepare your dog’s food should be washed daily, and scoops for kibble should be washed weekly. 

It is especially important to follow regular cleaning and sanitizing protocols if you feed your dog a raw food diet, as it is much more likely to carry bacteria than kibble. No matter what you feed your dog, it is a good idea to wash your hands after handling any food or their food and water bowls to keep the spread of bacteria to a minimum.

Contact Greenlin Pet Resorts for Your Boarding Needs

We know you love and care for your pets, and want to give them the best care when they are home with you. However, we know that you may not always be able to be home with them. If you need boarding options, whether longer-term pet boarding for when you take trips or dog daycare just for the day, trust that your pet will be in good hands at Greenlin Pet Resorts. 

At all five of our conveniently-located resorts, your pet will be treated to a safe and clean environment. If your dog is boarding with us, they will receive fresh bedding daily. Additionally, we have state-of-the-art air purification systems, we practice daily sanitation of our facilities, and all of our cleaning products are certified pet-safe. 

Contact us today to schedule a time to tour one of our facilities. Our friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced staff would love to meet with you and answer any questions that you may have. We would love to get to start making memories with your family today!