How often to wash your favorite cat or dog toys?

Specialized toys for pets help to occupy a puppy or kitten during the absence of the owner, as well as contribute to the physical and mental development of the animal. Vinyl and rubber balls, latex bones, ropes with plastic inserts and other attributes of “fun” require careful care, so everyone who loves their pet and appreciates its health must know how to wash the dog’s toys and whether to disinfect them.

Toys made of plastic and rubber

It’s easiest to take care of hard plastic toys. The ball or plastic animal is washed with hot water and wiped dry with a clean towel. You can carry out such cleaning at least every day - quickly, efficiently, safely. The main thing is not to use chemicals: enough hot water and laundry soap.

Products made of nylon and rubber have a porous surface. Dirt, dust and harmful microbes, along with the animal’s saliva, penetrate deeply into the porous material, so it’s much more difficult to clean such surfaces. Rubber toys are washed every two weeks with hot water and soap. If the household has a dishwasher, you can use it. Of course, before loading the dog accessories, it is necessary to free the machine from the dishes.

After the items for playing the pet are thoroughly washed, they can be wiped with alcohol or vodka, dried and returned to the dog.

Experienced pet breeders divide the existing game equipment into two parts - one is washed and hidden for a while, the other is given for the game.

Rope toys

Toys woven from high-strength synthetic material with a special viscous material are very popular today. Due to this structure, the product does not crack when compressed by the jaws, allowing the teeth to penetrate the mating loops. You can play with such items at home or on the street - for example, in tug and apportion. They are great for puppies whose teeth change.

Soft tissue is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so rope toys must be washed and disinfected at least once every two weeks. An effective and easy way to clean is to wet the product and hold it in the microwave for a minute. You can also wash the rope in the dishwasher at a water temperature of + 90 ° C.

Stuffed stuffed toys

A soft toy stuffed with synthetic filler should be cleaned once every two weeks. This will help get rid of dirt, harmful bacteria and dust mites.

The cleaning procedure can be carried out in the following ways:

• Machine wash. Wash better at low speeds and temperature indicated by the manufacturer on the product label. In the machine you can even put a toy with the so-called squeaker. As soon as the water inside the product has completely evaporated, the squeaking element will again begin to make sounds. Do not use bleaches or conditioners, as aggressive chemicals can cause allergies in the pet.
• Freezing. You can get rid of germs, fungi and ticks in a soft filler by freezing. For this, the product is placed in a plastic bag and kept in the freezer for at least half a day.
• Soda processing. In this cleaning method, soda acts as the main disinfectant. Half a glass of soda is poured into a bag with a toy and shaken for 2-3 minutes, after which the remaining powder is removed with a brush or brush.

Even the highest quality toys deteriorate and deform over time.Cracks and tears appear in the fabric, from which the filler begins to fall out. During the game, the dog may accidentally swallow the worn parts of the product, so old copies should be changed in a timely manner.

Toy with a secret

Recently, toys with a secret have become especially popular with pet owners. They are vinyl or rubber balls, inside of which there is some kind of delicacy. To get fragrant pieces, the dog will have to not only use all his mental abilities, but also show skill and patience.

It is clear that such products should be cleaned after each game. Moreover, the main attention should be paid to cleaning the inside of the product, where pieces of food may linger. It is very difficult to do this. Not every design is completely disassembled, and the hole is very small.

However, a caring manufacturer thought through this moment. Along with such fun, you can purchase a special brush to clean the inner compartment. With the help of this device, it will be possible to cope with washing in the most inaccessible places, and you will no longer have to worry about the health of the pet and the cleanliness of his favorite toy.

Chewing toys

Chewing toys are needed not so much for playing as for cleansing the gums and teeth of cats and dogs, as well as relieving stress. Typically, such products are made from vinyl or hypoallergenic rubber, but there are chewing gums made from organic materials, such as rawhide or pork cartilage. Such items cannot be washed or cleaned, so it is better to replace the most contaminated ones with new ones.

Regular cleaning and disinfection of cat and dog toys will help keep the house clean and the pet’s health in good order.