cleaning dog toys

[raingirl]

Odin has a bad case of chin zits. In the summer we had problems with him not drinking enough water until we discovered that he liked drinking out of an old margarine container. He didn't get zits from that though. Now we have just metal bowls, and wash them twice a day (with anti-bacterial soap) and he still has zits.

I have been trying to wash his face, but with all the other stuff we do to his face twice a day (several eye drops, clean wrinkles, brush his teeth) he gets stuborn after a bit and we don't want to stress him too much by forcing him to let us wash his face (we don't want him to stop letting us do other things too!)

Anyway, I think it might be his toys. I can wash the soft toys in the washing machine, but what about the hard ones, with all the crevices? We don't have a dishwasher or I would put them in there. my BF is grossed out about even considering washing them in the kitchen sink, which really leaves the bathtub (our sink in the bathroom is tiny!). I just dont think I will get them that clean though washing them by hand. Plus I want to use boiling water to soak them, and I don't think that would work in the bathtub!

Do you think if I put them in pillow cases with the soft toys that I could wash them in a washing machine too? (I know, stupid question, but I am at a loss!) The ones I'm most concerned about are the kongs, and other similar toys with crevices/grooves/holes. Other ones that are smooth on the surface I should be ok to clean myself.

[Inverness]

Even the hard toys I put in the washing machine along with the doggie beds and blankets and/or and I soak in the bathtub with hospital grade detergent I buy from the vet. But I guess you could simply use a bit of bleach.

[Prin]

I would just boil water in a bucket and let them soak for a while (if I didn't have a dishwasher). But with the crevices, I wouldn't use detergent or anything, in case it doesn't rinse 100%.

[mummummum]

I do warm/cold-water load of tennis balls, sneakers and all toys with 1/2 strength regular laundry detergent and a cap full of bleach. It's a small load but I use a the regular load setting on the washing machine. Then everything goes on a towel onto the windowsill or radiator to dry. We don't have squeaky toys anymore (Sorry "Cuz" lovers - it was me or the squeaky toys and I'm bigger) but when we did I found I had to whip them back and forth in the air to get all the water out of the hollow inside. I wonder whether you could use a little witchhazel on a pad (like a makeup remover pad) on your doggies chin ?

[jawert1]

I pull out my lobster pot and boil the dickens out of the hard toys, no detergent, no bleach, no nothing and then put my wire rack over my sink (have a double, but the oven rack will do just as nicely if you only have a single) for them to dry on

[Prin]

Originally Posted by mummummum

We don't have squeaky toys anymore (Sorry "Cuz" lovers - it was me or the squeaky toys and I'm bigger)

Why don't you just push the sqeaker into the Cuz? That way it becomes a fun rattle instead of an annoying squeaky...

[mummummum]

Originally Posted by Prin

Why don't you just push the sqeaker into the Cuz? That way it becomes a fun rattle instead of an annoying squeaky...

Prinnnnnn....do we need to have a little talk about this Cuz thing ? I've been reading the other Cuz thread and I'm starting to wonder if you bought it for the dog...?
Sorry - small threadjack moment.

I did also want to mention a kitchen gizmo I bought at Canuck Tire that is great for cleaning ...uh, crud...out of crevices. It's battery operated, slightly larger than an electric toothbrush with a head of long, stiff bristles which vibrates and rotates - it's made by Dawn (as in the detergent) and I think cost about 10 bucks.

[Sneaky]

As Mum mentioned, I do the same, Full laundry load size, half a cap
of detergent, and a cap full of bleach.
All toys, squeakers, soft toys, hard toys, balls, blankets, everything
in one load.
Then I rinse it 3 times.
I remove the plastic hard ones afterwards and dry everything else
in the dryer.

Oh I forgot to mention, on the topic of the Chin Zits - my cat had a
severe and chronic case of that, and I went to the pharmacy and
asked for a soap specifically for chronic pimples, and was given a liquid
one by the pharmacist.
I used this exclusively on his chin twice a day, and within 2 weeks
there were noticeable improvements, and within 6 weeks it was gone completely.
It hasnt come back.
It was called Tersa-Septic. I would highly suggest giving it a try.

[Prin]

Originally Posted by mummummum

Prinnnnnn....do we need to have a little talk about this Cuz thing ? I've been reading the other Cuz thread and I'm starting to wonder if you bought it for the dog...?
Sorry - small threadjack moment.

heh heh I like my doggies happy. Whatever it takes.

[raingirl]

Do the hard toys make a lot of noise in the washer and/or will they possible get stuck? What about a front loader? We have to use the laundry mat or my sister's washer if we do the machine route, but don't want to break or ruin anyones machines.

[cpietra16]

I put all my HArd toys in the dishwasher with a little bleach....they come out squeeky clean

[happycats]

Dettol works great, and you don't even have to rinse it after.

http://www.dettol.co.uk/solutionsfinder.shtml

[StaceyB]

I would just wash the hard ones in the sink or tub and use a bottle brush to scrub them. Simple, simple and you can get them at the buck store.