DIRTY DOG TOYS

By Friday, February 12, 2016 30 No tags Permalink

If you have dogs than you have dirty dog toys! It’s just part of our world #knowhatImean

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But I had no idea how incredibly “gross” dirty dog toys actually were until the other day. #doodledirty

ONE EVENING –

Sitting on the floor hanging out with the Boys,  Jax decided to bring me his favorite little lamb.

I was just about doodle-head level when the lamb crashed into my face. #helpmeJesus

OMDOODLE –

That was the nastiest thing I’d ever smelled (up close and personal) in my entire life. #knockedmeoffmyfeet

I shut my eyes tight, made a blowfish face with my mouth and held my breath for dear life. Jax thought I was playing so he leaned in with all his weight and I rolled backwards.

This excited him even more. #gofigure

Pawhaps he thought he was supposed to pass the lamb off to me – so while I was trying not too asphyxiate – he continued to push this disgusting, foul, nauseating, repugnant dead lamb in my face. #purenasty

Safe on the couch – spitting into my sleeve, I started to think really hard about the last time I’d washed their toys.

Scary when you can’t even fake a date, let alone a season or a year.

So I gathered up stinky lamb and all the other rank smelling toys…

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…and tossed them into the washing machine…

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I told Jax they were going for a “ride” and he seemed to be okay with that explanation…

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There’s a great deal of information on the internet about cleaning dirty dog toys.

For this bunch I needed to bring out the big guns. There was too much dirt, drool, and grime for just one technique.

I GAVE THE TOYS TWO RIDES –

  • The first was in warm water with a mild non-toxic laundry detergent #notalot
  • The second was in hot water with baking soda and a little vinegar

Jax came back from time to time to check on his friends…

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I let them flop around in the dryer for only a short time and then air dry #sofreshandsoclean

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When I look at the before and after photos I feel like I should be placed in time out. I should never allow them to get that odious. I’m sure they were packed with germs too.

SO I’M TAKING A POLL –

  • How often do you wash dirty dog toys? #tellthetruth
  • What’s your technique? #dotell

ONE MORE THING –

 

Valentines-Day

Have a great weekend & come back on Monday for our February entry of…

TDS 300

 

30 Comments
  • All Things Collie
    February 12, 2016

    Honestly? I’ve never washed them, I was worried they might be ruined.

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 12, 2016

      I thought the same thing, but these were so dirty I had to take that risk. If I couldn’t clean them I was going to have to throw them out – it was that bad. You know that sour milky smell? Multiple that! #ick So far – they’ve held up to the wash. I used the delicate cycle.

  • Amanda
    February 12, 2016

    Truth time: never. I guess I’ll be joining you in time out! Piper tends to end the lives of our stuffed lovies pretty quick these days, so I am telling myself that’s a good enough excuse! Also, if a slightly dirty toy at least gives her something to chew besides dirt, grass, and sticks (which she would seem to prefer), then I consider it an improvement! I have not asked our vet but I’d also be curious to know if their saliva acts differently than ours in a way that “sterilizes” and prevents infection differently than if a human baby were to chew on a dirty toy.

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 12, 2016

      Great question for the vet Amanda – I would be curious to know the answer. These have stayed around long enough to wear the title “dirty dog toys” proudly. But in the past I’ve had some that end up in the trash way before they get dirty!

  • Claudette pope
    February 12, 2016

    Soft toys last about 20 minutes. Then they are in shreds. I only get Hard Rubber toys. I just wipe them off with a damp paper towel 🙂

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 13, 2016

      I expected the majority of them to come apart Claudette. I did use the delicate cycle both times and they remained in-tack. I was surprised. Had that little nasty lamb got messed up, I wouldn’t have shed a tear LOL #hatethatnastything 🙂

  • Emma
    February 12, 2016

    Mom washed toys once and the squeakers all died, so she is not allowed to do that anymore. Bailie is the only one who plays with the toys, so they aren’t too bad and usually they fall apart before they get real disgusting.

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 13, 2016

      After reading your comment Emma, I checked all the squeakers – still squeaking #whew These toys are mostly abused by Jaxson – but he’s a boy so you know they were flithy…

  • Dashlilly
    February 12, 2016

    Lilly carries her toys outside … and leaves them there. So when I finally go and pick up the back yard, the toys go right to the wash. The first time I did it, Lilly sniffed everything when I brought them back to their spot in the dining room. Now, I think we all three love when the toy basket is loaded up with bright clean toys!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 13, 2016

      I think I’ve been inspired to remember to do this at leasts quarterly. That lamb stunk to high doodle heaven. I’ve never smelled anything quite like it #ick

  • Two French Bulldogs
    February 12, 2016

    Momma puts every last one of our toys on the washing machine! We call it water boarding
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 13, 2016

      Water Boarding – that’s the PAWfect name for it too!

  • Monika
    February 13, 2016

    Um, wash the toys? Oh-oh…bad mommy. Yours turned out looking brand new!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 13, 2016

      Trust me Monika – if I hadn’t gotten hit in the face with that horrific smelling lamb – they would all still be dirty. LOL

  • Billie Jean
    February 13, 2016

    Tucker isn’t allowed to take his outside (we are in an apartment) but I can’t handle the smell after he’s been chewing on them so they all get washed about once every 4-6 weeks!! None have fallen apart from washing. The rubber toys (kong and Nyla bones) get washed in hot water in the sink with a small amount of antibacterial dish soap. I’m a freak I know!!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 15, 2016

      Not at all Billie Jean. Those rubber toys can carry the same degree of bacteria #Ibelieve as the plush toys. I will try your hot water suggestion with the rubber toys. I’ve heard some people place them in the dishwasher. Doodle Dad would have a fit if I tried that one! Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.

  • Earl Lover
    February 13, 2016

    Many of my dogs’ toys are permanently damp from slobber!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 15, 2016

      Oh Earllllll – throw them in the washing machine, you’ll fall in love all over again – #pawmise

  • Rebekah
    February 13, 2016

    My dogs don’t get stuffed toys (except Neeko gets supervised alone play with some rope toys) but I *try* to remember to wash their KONGS and other similar toys somewhat regularly.

    OK, I haven’t in a while…

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 15, 2016

      I got a “toy” cleaner from somewhere #productreview for the rubber toys. I’ve never used it #trueconfessions PAWhaps that will be next. The plush ones were in dire need of my immediate attention – so that was my focus.

  • DogDaz
    February 14, 2016

    It is very rare that I wash any toys. I guess I should because, you are right, they are really gross. I go through the toy box a few times a year and toss out the really grungy ones. Now you have me thinking…. Happy VDay – Your friends at DogDaz Zoo

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 15, 2016

      I used to do the same thing. But then I noticed even though Jax is really hard on his toys, some were in great shape but just grimy and nasty. Trust me, I wasn’t diligent at all – not until the lamb incident – ugh! Hope you V-Day was special just like you!

  • Kimberly Gauthier
    February 15, 2016

    I rarely wash our dogs toys. We have so many that they don’t get dirty that often. Usually anything with stuffing doesn’t last long in our house. Most likely, I need to go through their toys and throw away all of the shredded ones and replace them with new toys.

    Yep, the dogs will love a ton of new toys.

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 16, 2016

      Plush toys are really something that Jax likes. I think it’s the retriever in him, he will carry them around most of the day. He loves his hard toys (for chewing) but he slobbers on the plush ones regularly.

  • Jan K
    February 17, 2016

    Ours usually just end up in bits and pieces anyway, but occasionally I will wash them if some happen to live very long. But mostly I just try to sneak them into the trash when they’re not looking!
    I have experienced how they can smell though…it is not a good thing, not at all!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 17, 2016

      Try washing them Jan – I was surprised at how well they held up.

  • Sand Spring Chesapeakes
    February 18, 2016

    Cute! I wash my dog toys too. Hope your VD was a good one.

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 19, 2016

      The ones I selected to wash really fluffed up nicely and made them look fresh. Jax was confused – thinks he found something new in toy box so he’s been slinging them around the room ever since. VD was fine – did you do anything special?

  • Kevin
    February 21, 2016

    We have never washed any of their stuffies but boy could they use it! I was always too nervous, but I will definitely give it a try!

    • Cathy Bennett
      February 24, 2016

      I did it on a gentle cycle and kept my fingers crossed. I didn’t, however, leave them in the dryer for long, just wanted to get most of the loose water out and then I placed them on top of the machine it dry over night. Yours should do fine.