When a child joins the family, the list of things to clean around the home suddenly gets a little bit longer. Disinfecting pacifiers and bottles, sanitizing plates and child-safe cutlery, and perhaps cleaning a crayon masterpiece off the wall. But how often do you clean your child’s toys? A favourite toy almost becomes an extension of your child, going everywhere with them and getting just as mucky! They get dragged around the house, dropped on the floor, have food spilled on them and get put in mouths. So regularly cleaning your children’s toys is important for keeping harmful germs and bacteria at bay.
At Helpling, we’ve brought you our top tips to keep your children’s favourite toys clean, and give you peace of mind.
1. Stuffed animals / Fabric Toys
Disinfect stuffed toys by placing them in a plastic bag and freezing for at least 18 hours. The low temperature kills any mites. Then warm wash the toys and dry thoroughly. Most fabric toys can go in the washing machine if the material is a cotton or polyester blend. For any heavy stains, sprinkle a little baking soda over the stain before putting it in the washer.
2. Plastic Toys
Cleaning and sterilizing plastic toys is really simple. Here’s a few effective ways to wash your child’s favourite plastic toys:
- Place the plastic toys in a bucket of warm water mixed with a couple of teaspoons of baby bottle cleanser and leave them to soak for a few hours. Rinse, then the toys are good to go.
- A quicker method is to use vinegar. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the solution on to the toy and wipe off after ten minutes. You can even get a mini-spray bottle to take out with you, so you have a quick fix if your child drops their toy on the floor.
- Any toys that are durable to heat can also be placed in the dishwasher.
3. Teething toys
Soak teething toys in boiling water for 10 minutes and allow them to completely cool. Anything that can’t be boiled, you can clean with washing up liquid and hot water, then rinse thoroughly afterwards.
4. Wooden toys
While not as common as they used to be, some classic wooden toys remain popular (Helpling remembers their BRIO train set very fondly). Wood has an anti-bacterial affect, so doesn’t need to be cleaned as often as other toys. To wash, spray a solution of white vinegar and water onto a cloth, then wipe the toy. Do not soak wooden toys, as the porous nature of wood means soaking can warp and damage the toy.
About The Author
Helpling is a platform for booking cleaning services, launched in Australia in September 2014. Book an insured and background-checked cleaner from just $29/hr and gain back free time to do the things you enjoy.
__small.png)
