To wash dog toys, identify the exact toy and follow its maker's cleaning and drying instructions. Sort the basket before starting: a rubber toy may allow a dishwasher, while a similar-looking chew may prohibit it. Check for damage, remove only parts designed to come out, and keep toys out of play until cleaning, drying, and the final condition check are complete.
The examples below help you check a method—not identify an unknown toy by appearance. You do not need to buy a new cleaning kit or replace a toy just because its label is missing.
Sort the basket before anything gets wet
- Confirmed method: you have the correct label, product page, or manual. Group toys only when their permitted washing and drying methods match.
- Ask the maker first: the label is missing, the model is uncertain, or the instructions do not cover a squeaker, coating, or powered part. Set that toy aside while you check; do not guess from another brand.
- Damaged—keep out of play: inspect for opened seams, loose parts, exposed stuffing, or excessive wear. Washing cannot repair damage. Follow the maker's retirement or replacement guidance before returning it.
For a food-filled toy, check inside openings as well as the outside. For a battery-powered toy, turning it off does not make it waterproof. Separate removable fabric bodies from devices that permit surface cleaning only.
Five maker examples: similar toys, different rules
Use the linked instructions for the named item, and check your own version's label. These are care examples, not a product ranking or a claim that every toy from a brand has the same construction.
KONG rubber toys
- Permitted method
- KONG describes warm water and dish soap, with brushing to reach food inside. Its rubber toys can also go on the dishwasher's top rack, without the drying cycle.
- Before returning to play
- Remove trapped food and rinse thoroughly; allow the toy to dry.
- Do not carry this rule across
- The dishwasher permission is for KONG rubber toys—not KONG plush, powered toys, or all rubber toys. Avoid adding a heat-dry cycle.
Read KONG's rubber-toy cleaning instructions.
Nylabone nonedible chew toys
- Permitted method
- Nylabone specifies brushing with warm water and a mild, nontoxic detergent, followed by a thorough rinse.
- Before returning to play
- Check wear against the maker's replacement guidance.
- Do not carry this rule across
- These chews should not go in a dishwasher, washing machine, oven, microwave, or boiling water. Edible chews are not reusable toys to put through this routine.
Read Nylabone's cleaning and replacement FAQ.
goDog Chew Guard plush toys
- Permitted method
- goDog recommends spot cleaning to protect the squeaker; its FAQ also allows a cold, gentle machine wash followed by air drying.
- Before returning to play
- Check that the toy is dry and its seams and parts remain intact.
- Do not carry this rule across
- A squeaker does not always have to be removed before washing. goDog cautions against opening seams to replace squeakers; do not cut a sewn toy open to follow a generic tutorial. Washing does not guarantee the squeaker will keep working.
Read goDog's plush-toy care FAQ.
Snuggle Puppy with removable heartbeat and heat pack
- Permitted method
- The maker allows a gentle machine wash with mild detergent for the fabric toy, then air drying.
- Preparation matters
- Remove the heartbeat and heat pack first, and keep them out of reach. Skip fabric softener, which the maker says can impair the closure.
- Do not carry this rule across
- This is permission for the fabric body after removal of the specified parts—not permission to wash the heartbeat, heat pack, or a sealed electronic toy.
Read Snuggle Puppy's washing instructions.
PetSafe automatic ball launcher
- Permitted method
- PetSafe describes using a damp cloth on the exterior, hopper, and launch pocket.
- Preparation matters
- Follow the exact device instructions. Treat the launcher and its balls as separate items with separate care requirements.
- Do not carry this rule across
- Do not spray or submerge the launcher, or apply sprays or harsh chemicals. This is not a bucket-washing or internal-servicing tutorial.
Read PetSafe's launcher-cleaning instructions.
Clean, dry, and check before returning toys
- Follow the confirmed route. For a hand-washable toy, use the cleaner and method its maker permits; reach food or grime in accessible crevices and rinse as directed. For a machine- or dishwasher-safe toy, use the permitted cycle, temperature, placement, and preparation. Surface-only devices stay out of the wash.
- Keep drying instructions separate. Machine washable does not mean tumble-dry safe. Do not transfer one toy's air-dry or heat setting to the whole basket. Check seams, pockets, and hollow areas—not just the easiest surface to touch.
- Finish the condition check. Confirm drying is complete, inspect for loose or damaged parts, and reassemble only as the maker directs. If a question remains, leave that toy out of play and note what needs checking.
If another person will finish the job, leave the batch note below beside the drying area. “Washed” and “ready to use” are different statuses. Once a suitable toy is ready, choose an activity from our dog enrichment ideas. Cleaning the resting area too? Our dog-bed washing guide separates cover, liner, and filling; it does not mean the bed and toys belong in the same load.
Copy a six-field toy-cleaning batch note
Copy this into your own notes once per toy, or for a group with the same confirmed instructions. No purchase, account, or email is required; there is nothing to submit here. Write “unknown—check first” instead of filling a gap by guesswork.
Toy and exact model: ____
Chosen method and instruction source: ____
Authorized removed parts, kept out of reach: ____
Unresolved issue or question: ____
Drying status and next check: ____
Final condition and return-to-play check, by whom and when: ____
Questions about washing dog toys
Can I put toys with squeakers in the washing machine?
Only if the exact toy's instructions allow it. goDog's example above permits a cold, gentle wash, while recommending spot cleaning to protect the squeaker. Another toy may need a different method. Remove a component only when it was designed to be removed and the maker directs you to do so; do not cut seams or improvise a repair.
How should I wash rope toys?
Check the rope toy's own instructions, including any rubber, plush, or other attached parts. “Rope” alone does not establish a washing method. Keep frayed or damaged toys out of play while checking replacement guidance. Do not use a boiling or microwave shortcut borrowed from a different product.
What if I cannot identify the brand or find the care label?
Check the order record or packaging for a model name, then look for the maker's instructions. If still uncertain, ask the seller or manufacturer with a description or photo. Keep it in the “check first” group rather than assuming it is machine washable. A missing label alone is not a reason to purchase a replacement.
How often should dog toys be cleaned?
The CDC's pet-supply guidance gives monthly cleaning as an example for pet toys, with more frequent cleaning when needed. That is not permission to leave food residue or visible dirt until a calendar date. Match the routine to use, the toy's instructions, and the household situation.
Does washing disinfect a toy? Can I use vinegar?
Cleaning removes dirt and germs; disinfection is a separate process. A clean smell or appearance does not prove disinfection. CDC notes that vinegar lacks sufficient evidence for cleaning and disinfecting pet supplies. Do not substitute a homemade recipe or apply a generic high-heat method to a toy that prohibits heat. Follow compatible product and disinfectant labels; for illness or a vulnerable household member, ask a veterinarian or healthcare professional about the specific situation.
When is replacing a toy the better choice? Follow its maker's condition and replacement criteria when it is damaged or cannot be maintained as instructed. Cleaning is not a repair. The purpose of this guide is to help you care for what you own—not to turn every wash into a shopping trip.
Editorial note: BoxToHeart compiled this guide from the linked manufacturer and CDC guidance, checked September 15, 2026. No toys were physically wash-tested for this article, and it has not been individually reviewed by a veterinarian. The cover illustration was generated with AI; it is not a photograph of a BoxToHeart product or evidence of a wash test. The batch note is an editorial aid, not a manufacturer's compatibility certification.