Toys are arguably the most valued possessions that your child has, and it’s not unusual to find them keeping their favorites by their side at all times. That means that they get played with, tossed around, spit up on, and drooled on, and after all this, chewed on incessantly. Besides the visible grime and dirt, these toys can harbor allergens, germs, or even mold. Here is how you can clean your baby's toys.
1. Plastic Toys
Plastic toys are extremely popular with babies. They come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, from complex battery-powered varieties to simple lightweight varieties. A lot of simple plastic toys can be cleaned by tossing them in the dishwasher. If they are not dishwasher safe, wipe down plastic toys with some water and dish detergent. If the toy features a battery compartment, remove the batteries before cleaning it.
2. Bath Toys
Bath toys are almost always used in water, so you can easily neglect cleaning them. However, they get just as grimy (if not more), especially since bathwater contains dust and grime that you wash off your little one’s body, not to mention pee.
This makes bath toys susceptible to nasty microbes and mold, so you need to wash and dry them every time you use them. Wash bath toys in soapy water and hang them in a net bag or an open basket to dry. To disinfect them, dip them in a bleach solution.
3. Soft Toys
Soft toys made of fabric tend to get dirty quite quickly, so you need to clean them regularly for the sake of your child’s safety. Some toys need to be tossed in the washing machine, while others can only be hand washed – make sure you check the label on the toy for cleaning instructions.
If your baby’s fabric toy is machine-washable, use a gentle hypoallergenic detergent. If it can’t be laundered, hand wash the toy using mild soap and air dry it in the sun or run through a low-heat dryer cycle.
4. Wooden Toys
Some models of train sets, building blocks, and rocking horses are made of natural wood. Cleaning toys made of this material requires some level of care as you don't want to saturate the wood with water. This is because the accumulation of moisture in wood can encourage the growth of mold. To clean wooden toys, use a damp cloth dipped in a 50/50 vinegar solution to wipe them down, and then use a brush to get rid of debris that may be trapped in the grooves.
5. Rubber And Silicone Toys
These toys are soft, squishy, and light, making them easy for children to handle, which also means that they pick up a fair amount of debris and grime. To clean these toys, soak them in warm soapy water with some added disinfectant for half an hour, and then rinse them in clean water before air drying.
Final Thoughts
With everything that goes into taking care of a baby, it can be easy to forget to clean your little one’s toys, or you might not do it often enough or in the right way. It is important to clean toys regularly to create a safer playtime for your child.
