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Clean Stinky Dog Toys: What's Safe to Wash Them With

Drool, bacteria and damp bins make dog toys stink. Wash each type the safe way, dry it fully, and keep a pet-safe cleaner handy for quick refreshes.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Time
20 min plus drying
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A kitchen sink filled with soapy water holding a rope toy, a rubber ball and a plush dog toy, with a bottle brush on the counter
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. What's safe to wash dog toys with
  9. How to keep dog toys clean week to week
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

To clean stinky dog toys, scrub hard toys in warm water with dish soap, wash plush toys on a gentle cycle with fragrance-free detergent, and dry every toy completely. The smell comes from drool, bacteria and damp storage, and a soak in diluted white vinegar handles most of it. A pet-safe toy cleaner is the easier option for toys that cannot go in the washer and for a quick refresh between washes.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 20 minutes plus drying

Dish soap, vinegar and a full dry

  • Scrub rubber and nylon toys with warm water and dish soap
  • Soak rope toys in 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts warm water
  • Wash plush toys in a mesh bag on gentle
  • Rinse well and dry completely before they go back in the bin

How long it lasts: About a week or two for a toy your dog chews daily. Drool coats it again every time it goes back in the mouth.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Pet-safe dog toy cleaner (illustration)
Illustration

A pet-safe toy cleaner

The free routine works, but it takes a sink, a washer and a drying day. A cleaner made to be mouthed safely lets you wipe or spray a toy in under a minute, including toys that should not go in the washer. That makes a weekly refresh something you will actually do.

What to get: Pet-safe dog toy cleaner

How long it lasts: It keeps odor down week after week. Dogs keep drooling, so you still repeat it, but it takes seconds.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Dish soap

    A few drops of plain dish soap cleans rubber and nylon toys

    You have it

  • White vinegar

    Diluted, it cuts the sour smell on rope and plush

    You have it

  • Mesh laundry bag

    A knotted pillowcase works too. It keeps plush toys from tearing in the wash

    You have it
  • Bottle brush (illustration)
    Illustration

    Bottle brush

    Reaches the grooves and hollow centers where the grime sits

    Check price
  • Our pick
    Pet-safe toy cleaner (illustration)
    Illustration

    Pet-safe toy cleaner

    For quick refreshes and toys that cannot be machine washed

    Check price

Why it happens

1

A film of saliva and bacteria

Every chew coats the toy in drool. Bacteria feed on it and leave a slimy film that smells sour. It builds up fastest in the grooves of rubber toys and in the fibers of rope.

2

Toys stored while still damp

A wet toy tossed into a closed bin starts to grow mildew. The musty smell then spreads to every other toy in the bin.

3

Dirt, grass and old food

Toys that go outside pick up mud and yard smells. Treat-stuffing toys keep old food in the hollow center, where it spoils.

4

Porous materials that hold odor

Plush and rope soak the smell deep into their fibers. A quick wipe only covers it, so the odor comes back as soon as the toy is wet again.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Check the care tag and sort by material

    Split the toys into hard (rubber, nylon), plush and rope. Read any care tag first. Toys with batteries or electronics get wiped with a damp cloth only, never soaked.

  2. Scrub hard toys with warm soapy water

    Tool used: Bottle brush

    Use a few drops of dish soap and a brush. Push the bottle brush into hollow toys and grooves. Rinse under running water until there are no suds, because your dog will lick it.

    Bottle brush (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Bottle brush · Reaches the grooves and hollow centers where the grime sits

    Check price on Amazon

  3. Soak rope and very smelly toys in vinegar water

    Tool used: White vinegar

    Mix 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts warm water. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes, scrub, then rinse well under running water.

  4. Machine wash plush toys on gentle

    Tool used: Mesh laundry bag

    Put them in a mesh bag and wash in warm water with a small amount of fragrance-free, dye-free detergent. Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets, since dogs chew on the residue.

  5. Dry every toy all the way

    Air dry hard toys and rope in the sun or near a vent. Plush toys can go in the dryer on low heat or air dry. A toy that goes back in the bin damp will smell again within days.

  6. Refresh with a pet-safe cleaner between washes

    Tool used: Pet-safe toy cleaner

    Spray or wipe the toy, let it air dry, and put it back in rotation. This is also the easy route for toys you do not want to submerge.

    Pet-safe toy cleaner (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Pet-safe toy cleaner · For quick refreshes and toys that cannot be machine washed

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

Soap and vinegar do the job when you do it. The catch is the effort: a full wash for every toy is a chore, so many owners skip it until the smell is back. A cleaner made for dog toys makes the weekly refresh quick and takes the guesswork out of what is safe to leave on something your dog chews. And if a toy still smells after a proper wash, is cracked, chewed into pieces or has lost its stuffing, it is time to replace it. Old, damaged toys hold bacteria and can come apart in your dog's mouth.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Pet-safe dog toy cleaner (illustration)
Illustration
Pet-safe dog toy cleaner
the sour drool smell that returns a few days after washing Anyone who wants a fast weekly refresh, or owns toys that cannot go in the washer. Check price
Budget pick
Bottle brush and scrub brush set (illustration)
Illustration
Bottle brush and scrub brush set
grime packed into grooves and hollow centers that a rinse misses People who only own hard rubber toys and would rather use the dish soap they have. Check price
Best pick
Pet-safe dog toy cleaner (illustration)
Illustration

Pet-safe dog toy cleaner

Fixes: the sour drool smell that returns a few days after washing

Look for: Labeled safe for toys that go in a dog's mouth; Free of bleach and added fragrance, or clearly labeled as pet-safe; Works on rubber, nylon, plush and rope, not just one material; Rinse or air-dry directions on the label.

Who it's for
Anyone who wants a fast weekly refresh, or owns toys that cannot go in the washer.
Honest downside
You wash toys weekly already and have no smell. Soap and water is all you need.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Bottle brush and scrub brush set (illustration)
Illustration

Bottle brush and scrub brush set

Fixes: grime packed into grooves and hollow centers that a rinse misses

Look for: A narrow bristle head that fits a hollow toy; Firm nylon bristles, not metal; A handle you can grip with wet hands.

Who it's for
People who only own hard rubber toys and would rather use the dish soap they have.
Honest downside
Your dog mostly plays with plush toys. A washer and a mesh bag matter more.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on pet-toy care guidance from veterinary and pet-product sources, manufacturer care tags, and the smell and cleaning problems dog owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

What's safe to wash dog toys with

  • Safe: plain dish soap, fragrance-free and dye-free laundry detergent, diluted white vinegar, and cleaners labeled safe for pet toys.
  • Use with care: baking soda. Sprinkled dry on plush for an hour, then shaken out, it takes off some odor. Rinse it off wet toys.
  • Avoid: bleach, essential oils, scented fabric softener, dryer sheets and anything with strong perfume.

How to keep dog toys clean week to week

Keep only a few toys out at a time and rotate them. Once a week, wipe or spray the toys your dog uses most, and wash plush toys every week or two. Let each toy dry fully before it goes in the bin, and keep the bin open or ventilated. Wash outdoor toys separately so mud does not travel inside. Toss any toy that is cracked, shredded or still smells after a good wash.

What to skip

Bleach, essential oils and scented sprays

Bleach leaves residue and fumes on a toy your dog will chew. Many essential oils, including tea tree, are harmful to dogs. Perfumed sprays and fabric softener cover the smell and leave a film. If a product is not made for something that goes in a mouth, leave it off the toy.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog toy smell bad?
Drool feeds bacteria on the toy, and a damp toy in a closed bin can grow mildew. Rope and plush hold the smell in their fibers. A proper wash and a full dry fixes most of it.
Why do dog toys stink even after I wash them?
Usually the toy went back in the bin while still damp, or the core of a rope or plush toy never dried out. Dry it fully in the sun or on low heat. If the smell survives a good wash, replace the toy.
How do I keep dog toys clean between washes?
Rotate a few toys at a time, wipe or spray them weekly and let them dry before storing. Keep outdoor toys in a separate, open basket. See the weekly routine below.
Can I put dog toys in the dishwasher?
Only hard rubber or nylon toys that the maker says are dishwasher safe. Use the top rack, skip heated drying if the toy might warp, and rinse well by hand afterward to clear detergent residue.
Is vinegar safe for dog toys?
Diluted white vinegar, about 1 part to 3 parts water, is widely used for dog toys. Rinse it off well, and do not use it on a toy your dog has a reaction to.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Pet-safe dog toy cleaner (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Pet-safe dog toy cleaner

Check price