Chewing & Toys

How to Clean a Frozen Dog Toy (and Keep It Fresh Between Fills)

Rinse, wash, dry, check: a simple routine that keeps your dog's frozen toy clean and ready for the next fill.

By 5 min read
Small white dog with a navy Freezbone toy on a rug

A frozen dog toy that gets used every day soon collects little traces of its last few fills. A smear of yoghurt sits deep in a groove. A crumb of kibble hides in a corner. Leave them there and the toy starts to smell, and your dog's next treat is not as fresh as it should be. The good news is that a clean routine takes about two minutes once you know it.

This guide covers how to clean a Freezbone or any frozen dog toy, how to dry it properly, what to check for while you wash it, and how to keep frozen fills fresh until your dog needs them.

Rinse a frozen dog toy as soon as your dog has finished with it. Then wash it on the top rack of the dishwasher, if the maker says it is dishwasher safe, or in warm soapy water with a bottle brush. Dry it upside down, check it for cracks or missing pieces, and store fills in a lidded box in the freezer.

How often should I clean a frozen dog toy?

Clean it after every use, even if it looks empty.

Once a frozen fill has melted, the leftovers sit at room temperature mixed with your dog's saliva. That is when smells and stains begin. A quick rinse straight away does most of the work, because nothing has time to dry onto the rubber. If you cannot wash the toy straight away, drop it into a bowl of warm water so the leftovers stay soft until you can.

Can a Freezbone go in the dishwasher?

Yes. Every Freezbone dog toy in our range is described as dishwasher safe.

For two of them, the FreezJumbo and the FreezCone, the top rack is recommended. We suggest the top rack for every toy anyway, because it is further from the heating element. Empty the toy first and give it a rinse, so no lumps of food end up on your plates.

ToyDishwasherGood to know
FreezBall, FreezCup, Freezflower CupDishwasher safeDeep cavities: rinse well before loading
Freez Doughnut, FreezboxDishwasher safeThe Freezbox has a wide opening that is easy to brush
FreezSwirl, FreezWheelDishwasher safeGrooves and compartments may need a brush first
FreezJumbo, FreezConeDishwasher safeTop rack recommended

If you own toys from another brand, follow that maker's instructions. If the label does not mention a dishwasher, wash it by hand.

“These are great for our 1yo shepherd mix. He can destroy anything but not his freezbones! They wash well in the dishwasher. Just ordered more for our smaller dogs. Ty!!”
Stacy G., verified buyer

How do I wash a frozen dog toy by hand?

Use warm water, a little washing-up liquid and a bottle brush, then rinse well.

1. Rinse

  • Run warm water through the toy to flush out loose food
  • Tip it upside down and shake out any liquid

2. Soak

  • Leave it in warm soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes
  • Soaking softens dried yoghurt and sticky fills

3. Scrub

  • Push a bottle brush into the cavity and twist
  • Use a small brush, kept only for dog items, on grooves and edges

4. Rinse again

  • Rinse under clean running water until no suds remain
  • Soap left behind can put your dog off the next fill

What gets dried food out of the grooves?

Time and warm water do more than scrubbing harder.

Spiral and groove designs, like the FreezSwirl and the inside of the FreezCone, are what keep your dog busy for longer. They also catch more food. Let the toy soak first, then work the brush along the groove rather than across it. For greasy fills such as peanut butter, add an extra drop of washing-up liquid to the soak.

Skip bleach and strong household cleaners. Warm soapy water is enough for a dog toy, and harsh products can leave a smell your dog does not like. The product descriptions only cover the dishwasher and warm water, so we would not boil the toys either.

How should I dry a rubber dog toy?

Stand it upside down on a rack and let it air dry completely before you store it.

Water left in the bottom of a deep cup or under the rim of a doughnut can turn stale. Drying it upside down lets the water drain out, and air reaches every corner. On a damp day, from an Irish winter to a humid Lisbon summer, a quick wipe with a clean tea towel speeds things up.

What should I check each time I wash it?

Washing is the best moment to look for wear, because the toy is empty and clean.

  • Run your fingers around the rim and the opening, where cracks usually start.
  • Look for missing chunks or pieces your dog could pull off.
  • Squeeze the toy: it should feel the same as it did when new, not sticky or crumbly.

If you find any of these, it is time for a new toy. Our guide to choosing a natural rubber dog toy explains what to look for next time, and the Freezbone size guide helps if your dog needs a bigger or tougher model.

How do I keep frozen fills fresh in the freezer?

Treat your dog's frozen toys like any other food in the freezer: covered, labelled and used in good time.

Do

  • Freeze a fill soon after you make it
  • Store filled toys in a lidded box or a freezer bag
  • Keep them away from raw meat in the freezer
  • Write the date and the fill on the lid
  • Use fills within a few weeks

Avoid

  • Refreezing a fill that has melted
  • Leaving soaked kibble or yoghurt out on the worktop for hours
  • Freezing a fill in a toy that was not properly washed
  • Letting spills build up on the freezer shelf

Many owners prepare several toys on a Sunday evening so one is ready each day. It makes the week easier, especially if you use frozen kibble fills from your dog's daily ration. For ideas on what to put inside, browse our Freezbone recipe videos.

“I love it! So much easier to clean after Rosie is done. She gets so excited to see it come out of the freezer.”
Tonya S., verified buyer

Why does my dog's toy still smell after washing?

Usually it is food trapped somewhere you have not reached yet.

Soak the toy again for longer, then brush the grooves, the rim and the underside. A faint rubbery smell is normal for natural rubber and is nothing to worry about. If a food smell keeps coming back, or the rubber has turned sticky, replace the toy.

Rinse, wash, dry, check, store. Five small steps keep your dog's frozen toy fresh, safe and ready for the next fill, and they take less time than the treat takes your dog to finish.

Frequently asked questions

  • It is better to empty and rinse the toy first. Lumps of food can stick to other dishes or block the dishwasher filter. A quick rinse under the tap takes a few seconds and gives a cleaner result.

  • Our product descriptions only cover the dishwasher and washing with warm water, so we recommend sticking to those. A hot dishwasher cycle, or a soak and scrub in warm soapy water, is enough to clean a dog toy.

  • Soak the toy in warm water with an extra drop of washing-up liquid for 10 to 15 minutes. Then work a bottle brush into the cavity and along any grooves. Rinse well so no soap is left behind.

  • Two or three toys make life easier. One can be in your dog's paws, one in the dishwasher and one in the freezer, ready for the next day. Rotating them also gives each toy time to dry fully between uses.

  • Slight fading or staining from food is normal and does not affect how the toy works. Look instead for cracks, missing pieces or rubber that feels sticky or crumbly. Those are the signs that a toy needs replacing.

Shop this guide

Buy 2 save 15% · 3 save 20% · 4 save 25%

Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

Share this guide Pinterest Facebook

Keep reading in Chewing & Toys

Video recipes

What's going in the FreezBone tonight?

Step-by-step videos for every FreezBone, from 5-minute fills to layered overnight freezes.

Watch the recipes