When you have children, an essential part of everyday household chores involves frequently cleaning and disinfecting everything they touch. These include all their toys, which are constantly exposed to dirt, dust, and other contaminants. Plus, when shared with other children, these fun and colorful playthings can quickly become a breeding ground for germs. Most of the customers who book our professional cleaning services are parents with little kids. So, we asked our expert house cleaners, created a complete guide on cleaning and disinfecting children’s toys depending on the material, and answered the most frequently asked questions on this topic.
Let’s delve right in!
Basic Toy Cleaning Tips
- Read the care instruction on the label.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when cleaning children’s toys. Some toys may not be intended for machine washing or drying or can be discolored and permanently damaged by some cleaning solutions. That’s why it pays to check the product label for proper care instructions. Contact the manufacturer directly for advice if the tag is missing or unclear.
- Separate the toys depending on the material.
Divide your kids’ toys into different categories to make cleaning easier and more effective—for example, group soft toys, hard plastic toys, and wooden toys from one another.
- Use only mild detergent or natural cleaning solutions whenever possible.
Because toys come in close contact with children (often sniffed, licked, or chewed on), avoiding toxic, chemical-based cleaning products known to cause harmful effects is highly recommended.
How frequently should I clean toys?
How often you clean your children’s toys depends on how much they’re played with. The more they play with them, the more cleaning and disinfecting their toys need. In addition, specific toys that they take outside, share with other kids, or love to chew on definitely requires more attention.
Teething toys and baby toys
Clean them daily or wipe them with gentle baby wipes every time they drop them on the floor. According to Michigan State University, any plastic or rubber toy that enters a child’s mouth must be sanitized with 200 ppm bleach (1:250 dilution) and air-dried or washed at a high temperature (170 degrees Fahrenheit or 76.67 degrees Celsius). You can conveniently wash these types of toys in a freshly deep cleaned dishwasher, but be sure to check the label first.
Hard plastic and bath toys
Wash and clean them weekly. The good news is they’re usually washable in the dishwasher like teething toys. Secure tiny toys in a mesh bag. In addition, you can also submerge and hand-wash them in a basin filled with mild detergent, followed by a soak in sanitizing solution.
Are you worried about color fading your child’s favorite toy? Don’t fret. You can wipe them down using Clorox or Lysol wipes and keep them wet for at least 10 seconds to kill any lingering germs and bacteria. Don’t forget to dry them with a towel after each use and inspect for molds regularly. Don’t hesitate to discard any toy with molds immediately because exposure to them they can make your little one sick.
Stuff toys or plush toys
Wash soft, fabric toys every two weeks. Luckily, most of them are washing machine-friendly, making them easier to clean if they get dirt or dust, especially the huggies your kids sleep with every night. Set them in a gentle cycle with warm water and slow spin-drying. Air dry if possible.
For non-washable fabric toys, you can spot clean stains and use a steam vacuum or a handheld clothes steamer and a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment to effectively suction and eliminate dust mites and other potential allergens in its fibers.
Electronic or battery-operated toys
Anything that moves or makes a sound is typically not washable with water. The best thing you can do is wipe them down with disinfecting wipes weekly or more frequently when your child is sick or shared with other kids. Focus on cleaning and disinfecting every nook and cranny, particularly the keypads, toggles, and buttons. Wipe the surface repeatedly to keep it wet for the recommended contact time.
Enjoy a Happy and Healthy Home for Your Family with FreshSpace!
Keeping every inch of your home clean and germ-free can be tedious, but trust us; the benefits of a clean home are worth all the trouble, especially for your little ones. FreshSpace Cleaning Service is always only one call away for your home cleaning needs.
Let our professional house cleaning team ease your mind with their high-quality service and efficiency. We offer flexible, no-contract cleaning services, such as:
- One-time or regular residential cleaning
- Deep cleaning services
- Post-construction cleaning
- Move-in/move-out cleaning
Experience our premium home cleaning. Book a clean today
