7 Ways to Dry Dog Toys Before Putting Them Away

A damp toy put straight into a bin stays damp for hours, and that is why a quick dry step supports fresher-smelling toys.

What if the toy still feels dry on the outside but holds water inside? That hidden moisture is the part that causes odor and that slick, musty feel a day later.

Quick checklist you can use today:

• Shake off water, then press — don’t wring — to remove drips
• Sort by material: rubber and plastic, plush with stuffing, rope and fabric
• Air-dry with space around each toy, stuffing fluffed and openings down
• Sniff and touch-check before the bin; if cool or damp, give it more time
• Store only fully dry toys in a clean, ventilated basket

This order matters because each material traps water in a different place.

Drying has one limit most owners miss

Towels help, but they cannot reach inside squeakers, seams, or knotted rope cores.

In day-to-day practice, that trapped water is what keeps a toy smelling off even after washing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that indoor moisture that stays for a day or longer can support mold growth on porous surfaces, which is a good reason not to seal damp plush or rope toys in a closed bin or bag.

Vets often see the same pattern with bath time: the coat looks dry while the undercoat stays wet. The same idea applies to toys, and a drying routine like The Right Way to Dry a Dog After a Bath shows why airflow and a touch-check beat rushing to put things away.

Forget the myth that heat fixes everything

A hot dryer cycle or radiator feels faster, but high heat can warp rubber, melt glue around squeakers, and mat plush fur.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends drying porous materials promptly with airflow and ventilation rather than trapping moisture, and that principle fits dog toys well: moving air is gentler and more effective than intense heat.

Air wins.

A same-day sequence by toy type

1. Rubber, silicone, and hard plastic

Rinse, shake hard over the sink, then wipe crevices with a clean towel. Stand treat-dispensing toys opening-down on a dish rack so water drains out of the hollow center.

Check the squeaker hole and any narrow slit. Press the toy a few times to push trapped water out, then leave it out for at least 1–2 hours before storing.

2. Plush toys with stuffing or squeakers

After washing, press between two towels to blot. Do not twist, which can tear seams and bunch stuffing.

Fluff the shape back with your hands, then set the toy on a rack with air on all sides. A small fan nearby may help maintain airflow on humid days. Turn once halfway through drying.

Sandra noticed this with Vanna, her 5-year-old spayed Maltese in Jersey City, when a favorite plush duck still felt cool to the touch after 3 hours on a flat counter and needed another 2 hours propped on a rack before it felt fully dry and ready for the toy basket.

3. Rope, canvas, and fabric tug toys

These hold the most water. Shake, press in a towel, then reshape knots loosely so air can reach the center.

Hang rope toys or drape them over a rack rather than laying them flat. If your home is humid, leave extra space between toys and wait until rope fibers feel dry and springy, not cool or heavy.

A ventilated basket or open bin supports ongoing airflow in storage, much like prepping a clean rest area in A Quiet Recovery Room Away From Kids and Other Pets. If you use a lidded toy box, leave the lid open until you are sure everything inside is dry.

When to wait — or let go

Keep toys out one more night if stuffing still clumps, rope still smells sour after drying, or a squeaker still gurgles. That extra time supports odor control and helps maintain the toy’s shape.

Toss toys with split seams and exposed stuffing, cracked rubber that traps slobber, or persistent musty odor after a full wash and dry. If you are unsure whether a cleaning product is safe for chew toys, ask your veterinarian or groomer what to use, similar to asking Questions to Ask a Dog Groomer Before Booking.

Prevention is quiet work, and dry storage is one of the simplest parts.