How to Clean Kids Toys (and the Health Risks if You Don't) (2023)

FAQs

What is the safest way to clean kids toys? ›

Mix a bowl of warm water and hand soap (or dish soap). Dip a washcloth or sponge into the soapy solution and clean the entire toy. Follow up with a damp washcloth that's only wet with water (no soap). Allow the toy to air dry completely or blow dry with a hair dryer.

The best sanitizing agent for hard-shelled toys (i.e., plastic toys) is a mixture of water and bleach. The proper ratio of water-to-bleach for a safe sanitizing solution is 1.5 teaspoons of bleach to 1 gallon of water. A water/bleach solution is ideal because it is: Approved by state licensing/certification.

Mix 1 teaspoon of bleach with 5 liters of water and soak the toys in the solution for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly and let them air dry. For a natural disinfectant, try a mix of white vinegar and water. Just mix equal parts in a spray bottle and spritz it on the rubber toys.

To give toys a wipe down, just make a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water (or just plain white vinegar if you don't mind the smell) in a spray bottle. Spray down toys, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse off and let air dry.

Vinegar is an all-natural disinfectant, making it perfect for cleaning kid's toys. Here's the best types of vinegar to use for cleaning. Fill your sink with equal parts vinegar and water, then place the toys in to soak. Allow them to soak in the mixture for 15 minutes, then drain the water and rinse the toys.

For larger toys, use Lysol® All-Purpose Cleaner and then rinse with water after use. Whichever product you use, always remember to follow the label instructions. Ensuring baby's toys are sanitized is bound to be a high priority, but it needn't be a source of worry.

If there is dirt or grime I the grooves, use a scrub brush to remove. Allow the toy to dry completely and then wipe the toy with a cloth that has been soaked in a disinfecting solution (ex. bleach and water solution or another EPA approved disinfectant.

White vinegar is one of the best ways to sanitize toys. It's a safe, proven solution multipurpose cleaner; it's particularly good for disinfecting toys because of its high acidity.

Previously it was believed that the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes would not survive long on inanimate items like furniture, toys, or dishes. But a recent study from the University of Buffalo shows that this bacteria can actually live for weeks or even months on inanimate items.

How long does bacteria live on plastic toys? ›

Your preschooler is sick — again. It could be other kids spreading germs through close contact, but toys could also be the culprit. A new study from Georgia State University found that germs can survive on toys for up to 24 hours.

If you are washing toys and toys only, consider adding a half-cup of bleach to your dishwasher or washing machine. If you are soaking your toys in the sink, we recommend adding a half-cup of bleach per gallon of water. Let the toys soak for about five minutes, rinse and then air dry.

Most children are capable of cleaning up after themselves by 18 months, but children can be increasingly independent with age and practice.

Hard plastic and bath toys are the easiest to clean, so you should clean and sanitize them weekly (especially if they're played with daily). Toys that don't get played with as much and stuffed animals can be cleaned a couple times a month or as needed.

Simply combine equal parts vinegar and water or mix water with one tablespoon of baking soda to create a cleaning solution. Place solid plastic toys in the mixture, and let them soak before rinsing off and drying. For wooden or electronic toys, dampen a towel with the mixture and wipe down the toy's surface.

Vinegar: Make sure the vinegar you use states food grade; safe for pickles or made from grain on the label otherwise it is made from petroleum. Vinegar has been proven to kill more germs than bleach. Mix 1 part vinegar per 5 parts water to clean baby furniture and surfaces in the nursery.

Mix together one gallon of water and ½ cup of white vinegar. Let the toys soak in the mixture for one hour. Squeeze them out and scrub them down. After letting them dry, if they still smell like vinegar, rinse them off and lay them out to dry again.

Get 1/2 a cup of white vinegar and 1/2 a cup of distilled water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil and lemon oil (these essential oils are used to fight bacterial and viral properties). Once you have a batch mixed together, pour this into a spray bottle and wipe down the toys you want to disinfect.

Disinfect Plastic Baby Toys in the Dishwasher

You could also wash plastic baby toys by hand with an antibacterial dish soap, then submerge them in a solution of a one-quarter teaspoon household bleach and a one quart water.

Disinfect toys and surfaces when you can. Dishwashers are a convenient and effective way to disinfect some toys. Chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and bleach are used to disinfect surfaces and objects.

Should kids use Clorox wipes? ›

Children should not apply disinfectants, including disinfectant cleaning wipes. All disinfectant labels include the statement “Keep Out of Reach of Children,” as children are considered a sensitive population.

Disinfect dirty surfaces and soiled items:

If you are able, first wash items with soap and water, then disinfect them with a solution of chlorine bleach (made by mixing 1 tablespoon of bleach with 4 cups of water) or a cleaning product that contains bleach.

You likely own a number of cleaning products that are safe to use on plastic baby toys, such as Clorox or Lysol wipes, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, and chlorine bleach.

When used as directed, bleach and water solutions made with Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach will safely sanitize or disinfect hard non-porous surfaces in baby's room and around your home, including baby toys.

Use eco-friendly liquid castile soap diluted or at full strength to reduce the amount of all germs and chemicals. With proper washing, soap works well on most viruses, even better than disinfectants, wipes and gels containing alcohol, because soap dissolves the virus's fat membrane.

Wipe each toy down with a solution that is equal parts white vinegar and water. Alternatively, you may substitute the vinegar with a couple of drops of a mild soap (like dish soap). Use a dampened towel to wipe away any residue. Allow the toys to air dry on a clean, dry towel.

Or you could use a sanitizing spray like the Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface Spray. It's powerful enough to kill 99.9% of germs and gentle enough to use around kids. Ensure the toy is thoroughly wet and let stand for 2 minutes, then wipe it or let it air dry. There's no need to rinse.

Clean toys when visibly dirty and at least once a week. If toys are used a lot, clean them daily. Remove toys, that children have put in their mouths or that have other body fluids on them, from the play area until they can be cleaned.

Pine-Sol can be used on plastic toys, home decor, and yard ornaments to clean and disinfect. Dilute ⅛ cup of Pine-Sol in a half-gallon of water and wipe down the surfaces with the mixture.

Yes. An individual can become infected with an STD by an adult toy previously used by another person.

How do you disinfect non toxic baby toys? ›

Instead of using a harsh chemical like bleach, consider cleaning toys with an eco-friendly and chemical-free cleaning solution of vinegar and water. Create a mixture of one part water with one part vinegar (add an essential oil if you want to cut the smell of vinegar) and get to cleaning!

Drop smaller toys into the bleach and water solution and stir with the spoon so all surfaces stay wet for 6 minutes. For larger toys that won't fit easily in the dishpan, use the sponge to apply the bleach and water solution to the toy. Reapply the solution as needed to keep the toy wet for 6 minutes.

Toxic chemicals in most old toys

The hazardous chemicals that were discovered included phthalates and short chain chlorinated paraffins used as plasticizers and flame retardants in toys.

Playing with old plastic toys may not be good for your child's health. Toxins found in old toys and dress-up items made of plastic. Reuse and recycling of old products helps prevent environmental degradation and can significantly reduce air and water pollution.

Ideonella is exciting because it's particularly adept at breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – the plastic we use to make things like plastic bottles and synthetic fleece. In the right conditions, scientists have shown that these microbes can fully degrade PET in about six weeks.

We can throw some things away and give some things away, but at the end of it all, you are only going to have 20 toys left.” We called it The 20-Toy Rule. 20 toys sounds like a lot… or maybe it doesn't. But you'd be surprised at how many things children can accumulate.

“My rule of thumb is, you let kids be responsible for their own rooms when you know they can do the job, because you've taught them how to do the job,” she says. If they can make a bed, put away clothes and pick up toys, you can hand over room responsibility (usually around age seven).

Asking children to tidy up after themselves gives them discipline, skills, and a sense of responsibility and pride. These qualities will be useful as they grow older and become "messy" teenagers; they'll be much more likely to keep their things tidy if they've always had the responsibility to do so.

While it's tempting to use spray disinfectant to sanitize toys, especially in cold and flu season, the chemicals could damage the synthetic fur. Whether you're washing one or multiple stuffed toys, protect each by putting them in a zippered pillowcase or mesh bag.

What is the best way to clean kids toys? ›

Mix a bowl of warm water and hand soap (or dish soap). Dip a washcloth or sponge into the soapy solution and clean the entire toy. Follow up with a damp washcloth that's only wet with water (no soap). Allow the toy to air dry completely or blow dry with a hair dryer.

Clean toy tips

In a pinch, a disinfectant wipe, a baby wipe, or hand soap and water, can safely clean a toy that's dropped on the floor of a restaurant or at the playground.

Plastic baby and children's toys can be disinfected and sanitized with Clorox or Lysol wipes or a cloth wet with a mixture of 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and one gallon of water. Make sure you let the toys air dry for 30 seconds or more to let the cleaning solution do its work.

To sanitize hard, non-porous baby toys that have batteries or can't be washed in the washing machine, simply wipe down with a cloth using a solution of soap and warm water. Dry, and then wipe down with a Lysol® Disinfecting Wipe.

When used as directed, bleach and water solutions made with Clorox^® Disinfecting Bleach will safely sanitize or disinfect hard non-porous surfaces in baby's room and around your home, including baby toys.

Water + Soap Solution

Warm water with a splash of soap is a quick and easy way to clean and disinfect toys. In the same way as how you can wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs, using soap and water to clean toys can stop germs in their tracks.

Make sure you thoroughly wipe the detergent from the crib mattress to ensure that no residue is left. Spritz the mattress all over with Lysol® Disinfectant Spray. This will ensure that mold and bacteria don't have a chance to latch onto the damp mattress.

Don't use them on other absorbent surfaces.

Like most disinfectants, Clorox wipes are approved for disinfecting only non-porous surfaces. It's best to avoid unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled, or worn surfaces.

Get 1/2 a cup of white vinegar and 1/2 a cup of distilled water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil and lemon oil (these essential oils are used to fight bacterial and viral properties). Once you have a batch mixed together, pour this into a spray bottle and wipe down the toys you want to disinfect.