If you find yourself surrounded by a variety of colorful items that are not easy to break and are safe for your baby, you may have just become a new parent. Enriching your child’s life with baby toys and playthings is arguably one of the most fun aspects of the job.
But when you look affectionately, you may notice that your baby is drooling on those once sparkling toys, dropping them to the ground and then putting them back in their mouths. Because of this, people often wonder how to clean baby toys safely and effectively. Here’s what you need to know.
What You Need to Clean Baby Toys
You may have some cleaning products that are safe to use on plastic baby toys, such as Clorox or Lysol wipes, a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, and chlorine bleach. You can also check out the baby care section of any grocery store or drugstore, as you’re bound to find some bottled cleaners that specialize in cleaning toys.
Toys are likely to get into your baby’s mouth, so be sure to consider disinfecting with safe chemicals such as vinegar, alcohol, or peroxide.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Stuffed Animal
When it comes to cleaning your baby’s stuffed animals, the most effective way is to wash them in a washer and dryer. Here’s how.
- Place a plush animal in a linen or mesh bag, especially if the toy is small or has clothing inside, which can be lost or damaged during washing.
- Run the washing machine on the gentle wash mode. For hygiene, you can add vinegar instead of bleach to the washing process. Bleach might fade those beloved stuffed animals, which no one wants.
- Then use the dryer to make the laundry fluffy and soft – also set to Gentle mode.
Plush toys can get dirty very quickly. Most people underestimate the power of the simplicity of washing these stuffed animals in the washer and dryer! It’s nice to have a freshly washed stuffed animal once in a while.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Plastic Toys
Soaking: Soak the toy in water along with the cleaning product. “Make sure the surface of the toy is soaked for as long as it takes to sterilize, usually a few minutes,” says Winch. She also advises against using disinfectant wipes, as wipes may not be able to keep surfaces moist and effectively kill those pesky germs.
Spraying: Another method is to spray the toy on the toy and place it on a clean surface to soak for two to three minutes. Allow the toy to air dry with detergent. Then, rinse the toy with warm water to remove any chemicals in it. Finally, let the toy air dry again instead of wiping it with a towel.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Bath Toys
Bath toys are usually plastic, so you can use a similar approach to other plastic toys:
- Soak them in a bucket filled with cleaning products.
- Spray them with cleaning products and marinate for two to three minutes.
- Disinfectant wipes may seem like an easy solution, but they often have a hard time getting into all the nooks and crannies of the toy.
Bath toys are notoriously dirty quickly due to constant contact with water. This can quickly lead to mold, especially in areas that may be filled with water (such as those pesky holes in the bottom of hollow toys). To solve this problem, fill these areas with cleaning solution and soak them. Once the soak is complete, squeeze out all the product before rinsing.
After bath toys have been soaked, you should allow them to dry while they still have cleaning products left. Then rinse with warm water (including any sunken areas) and allow to air dry again.
Important Precautions for Cleaning Baby Toys
First of all, don’t put anything with batteries in the washing machine. If the lovely dancing Amore, who used to say cute words, is washed, he will no longer have this talent.
Pay special attention to bath toys, which often have holes in the bottom. Be sure to squeeze all the water out after each use to give them time to dry completely before dipping into the tub. Otherwise, these toys can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Prevention is a key factor in the care of bath toys. First, make sure that all or most of your bath toys are impermeable. Cloth bath toys or bath toys with holes need more care. Second, buy a mesh bag that you can hang from and allow the toy to drain and expose to the air between uses. Third, make sure to rinse the toys quickly after use before placing them in a mesh bag.
Frequency of Cleaning of Baby Toys
Wash plush toys as needed or every few months, plastic toys every other month, and wooden toys two to three times a year.
Keeping your baby happy and healthy is important for parents and caregivers. This often requires extensive washing and cleaning to prevent bacterial growth. Follow this advice when organizing your child’s toy box, but give yourself some grace if these items aren’t thoroughly cleaned this month or next. You and your baby are doing well.