Beyond Bath Time: What Are You Washing Your Pet’s Bowls, Toys and Laundry With?

Oct 2026

Because the things they eat from, sleep on and wear deserve a little thought, too.

We spend a lot of time thinking about what goes directly onto our pets.

Their shampoo. Their wipes. Their paw care. What they eat. What they drink.

But there is another part of their everyday routine that is easy to forget about: the things they constantly come into contact with.

Their food and water bowls. The toy that spends half its life in their mouth. Their favourite blanket. The bed they curl up in every night. The bandana they wear on walks. And — at this time of year — the Halloween costume that is about to sit against their fur for an afternoon of photos and treats.

Keeping those things clean may not be the first thing that comes to mind beyond bath time, but it is still part of everyday pet care.

And as we head from Halloween into the festive season — when outfits, bedding, toys, visitors and general household business tends to multiply — it is a useful time to take note of what is being washed, how often, and what you are washing it with.

Clean care doesn’t stop at bath time

In our recent article on why gentle pet skincare matters, we looked at why the products used directly on the skin and coat deserve great thought.

The same principle extends to the things pets touch over and over again.

A dog may spend hours lying on the same blanket. A cat might curl up against the same soft bed every day. Dogs mouth toys, lick bowls and wear clothing or accessories that sit directly against their fur.

For everyday pet items, regular cleaning can help maintain good hygiene. The CDC distinguishes cleaning from disinfecting: cleaning physically removes dirt and germs using soap or detergent, while disinfecting is an additional step used in specific situations.

Keeping everyday pet items clean

A good rule of thumb is to start with the things that go near their mouth.

Food bowls, water bowls and toys are a good place to start.

The US Food and Drug Administration recommends washing pet food bowls with soap and hot water after each use and washing water bowls regularly.

And then there are toys.

Think about where your pet’s favourite ball has been today.

On the floor.
Under the sofa.
Outside.
In the dog park.

In the garden.
Back in their mouth.

Soft toys also collect dirt, saliva and even urine or faeces too. Enrichment and interactive-feeding items like lick mats, puzzle feeders and the basic rubber toy can hold onto food residue if they are not cleaned properly.

The CDC recommends regular cleaning of pet supplies and notes that hard items such as bowls and rubber or plastic toys can simply be cleaned with soapy water, while soft items such as plush toys can go into the washing machine depending on their care instructions.

This is exactly the kind of everyday job Plume Care’s Dish, Toy & Clothing Soap was designed for. It can be used on pet bowls, toys and washable clothing.

Included in the ingredients are:

Sodium lauroyl glutamate, a very mild cleanser derived from coconut oil that helps lift dirt gently and is also suited to sensitive skin.
Coco-glucoside, another ultra-mild cleanser also derived from coconut alongside fruit sugar that is also suitable for sensitive skin.

Together, these help clean everyday pet items without relying on harsher cleansing agents. The formula is also fragrance-free and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

One bottle, rather than a separate product for every little job.

Laundry means more than pet clothes

When we say pet laundry, we don’t just mean tiny jumpers, winter scarves, and adorable beanies.

Think about everything made from fabric that regularly sits against your pet’s fur or skin:

beds
blankets
crate liners
towels
bandanas
harness covers
washable soft toys
clothing
costumes

These items can sit against your pet’s skin and fur for long periods of time.

The CDC recommends washing pet beds and blankets regularly — around once a week as a guideline — while also following the care instructions for each item.

For pets with sensitive skin, keeping bedding, blankets and clothes clean regularly can help reduce the build-up of dirt, saliva and other residues from their everyday environment.

And for households with both fur babies and little ones, Plume Care’s Dish, Toy & Clothing Soap can also be used on baby items, including bottles, toys and clothing.

We have purposely made our formula this way to make it easy for households that are juggling both pet and baby bedding, clothes, toys and other washable everyday items.

Before the Halloween costume goes on...

Halloween is a good reminder to check what your pet is wearing before it goes on.

Pet costumes, festive bandanas and seasonal outfits may have been packaged, transported, and handled before they reach your home. Or, they have been stored under your bed or at the top of your wardrobe for the whole year.

Give costumes and accessories a wash before your pet wears them, especially when they are going to be sitting against their fur and skin for a few hours.

Once everything is clean and dry, give the outfit a quick check too. Look out for loose fastenings, scratchy seams or anything that might rub, and make sure your pet can move around comfortably in it.

After the photos, treats and inevitable layer of fur, wash the costume again before putting it away.

Do the same for Christmas too — give jumpers, festive bandanas and seasonal outfits a wash before they go back on your pets.

Toys need cleaning too — but not on the same schedule

Not everything needs washing at the same time.

A food bowl that is used every day will need more attention than a plush toy that only comes out every now and then.

As a guideline, the CDC recommends:

Food bowls: after use for wet food
Water and dry-food bowls: daily
Beds and blankets: around once a week
Toys: around once a month, or sooner if they are visibly dirty or start to smell

Of course, some things will need cleaning sooner.

If a toy has been dragged through the park, dropped in mud, covered in saliva or had food pushed into every corner, there is no need to wait for its “scheduled” wash.

Give it a clean before it goes back into rotation.

For toys with squeakers, batteries, stuffing or other inserts, check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first so you know whether they can go into the washing machine or need to be cleaned by hand.

What should you look for in an everyday cleaning soap?

When something is being used regularly on bowls, toys, clothes and bedding, it is worth looking beyond the front label.

A few things to check:

what the product is actually designed to clean
whether the ingredient list is clear
whether the formula is suitable for repeated household use
whether it cleans effectively without unnecessary fragrance
whether the rinsing instructions are easy to follow
whether it is suitable for sensitive skin where relevant

Our Plume Care Dish, Toy & Clothing Soap formula is purposely made with plant-derived cleansers that help remove dirt, grease and stains.

Included in the ingredients are:

Sodium lauroyl glutamate, a very mild cleanser derived from coconut oil that helps lift dirt gently and is also suited to sensitive skin.
Coco-glucoside, another ultra-mild cleanser derived from coconut alongside fruit sugar that is also suitable for sensitive skin.

The formula is also made without parabens, SLS/SLES, sulfates, silicone, artificial colours or dyes, fragrance, drying alcohols and phthalates. To have a closer look at each ingredient’s purpose, read here.

Remember — one ingredient on its own does not tell you everything about a product. What matters is the formula as a whole — what is used, how much is included and what the finished product has been designed to do.

After the outfit comes off: don’t forget the coat underneath

Once the costume, jumper or bandana comes off — give more belly rubs — then take a quick look at the areas where it has been sitting. Especially take a look around the neck, chest, underarms and belly.

You can give a good brush through with our Everyday Brush if the coat looks flattened or tangled. If the skin looks a little dry or the coat could use some extra moisture, this is also a good time to add a hydrating step.

Our Plume Care veterinary dermatologist recommends using a leave-on hydrating mist after bathing as a good way to add moisture back to both the skin and coat.

Conditioners can be useful for the coat, but when they are worked directly into the skin and roots, more product can sit on the skin and potentially contribute to build-up. Think about how we use conditioner on our own hair — we usually focus it through the lengths rather than rubbing it directly onto the scalp.

With pets, that can be harder to do because their fur sits much closer to the skin. A leave-in hydrating mist makes it easier to spread a lighter layer across the skin and coat. Unlike heavier conditioners on the market, the mist is designed to hydrate.

The Soft Cloud Baby Lavender Hydrating Mist is a leave-in conditioning spray designed to hydrate, nourish and help untangle the coat.

You can spruce up your pet’s fur with our formula containing aloe vera, glycerin, jojoba oil, cucumber extract and Vitamin E. Simply spray it onto the coat and brush it through.

Spray it on whenever your fur baby’s coat could use a little extra hydration.

FAQs

How often should I wash my pet’s food and water bowls?

The FDA recommends washing pet food bowls after use and cleaning water bowls regularly. The CDC also recommends cleaning wet-food bowls after use, with dry-food and water bowls cleaned daily.

If food has dried onto the bowl or the water bowl is starting to feel slimy, give it a wash sooner rather than later.

Top Tip: Wash with a final rinse of boiled water to wash away any remaining grime and bacteria.

How often should pet bedding be washed?

The CDC recommends cleaning pet beds and blankets around once a week as a guideline.

If bedding is visibly dirty, wet, covered in fur or starting to smell, it can be washed sooner.

Always check the care instructions first, especially for beds with removable covers, inserts or filling.

Top Tip: Place bedding and blankets into laundry net bags to prolong longevity.

Can you wash dog toys with soap?

Yes. Many hard pet toys can be cleaned with soap or detergent and warm water.

Washable plush toys can also go into the washing machine where the care instructions allow it.

For enrichment and interactive-feeding items such as lick mats, puzzle feeders and rubber toys, make sure food residue is removed properly, especially from grooves, corners and textured surfaces.

Top Tip: Use a scrub brush to get into the grooves with the bristles or even a straw brush.

Should I wash my pet’s Halloween costume before they wear it?

Yes. Give costumes, bandanas and seasonal outfits a wash before your pet wears them, especially if they have been packaged, transported or sitting in storage for months.

Once they are clean and dry, check the fit, fastenings and seams before putting them on your pet.

After Halloween, wash them again before putting them away.

Do the same for Christmas too.

Top Tip: Store the washed items after use in a vacuum storage bag to keep them fresh for next year. This keeps moisture, dust and smells away — and saves a wash cycle before the next dress up comes around.