Cleaning Baby and Toddler Toys
We’re guilty of it – not cleaning our daughter’s toys as often as we should. I’m sure we aren’t the only ones who just don’t seem to have cleaning the toys high on the priorities list, although we certainly should. Kids? toys, especially when shared with other children, can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses that can get your kids (and anyone else who touches the toys, including parents cleaning up the playroom) sick. Or, if your child has been sick recently, it’s important to clean his or her toys to remove any germs and keep him or her from getting sick again.
The next time you’re gathering up all those hard plastic blocks, cups, rattles or whatever it is that blankets your play room or living room floor, don’t just dump them back into the toy bin – clean them.
How often should you clean baby and toddler toys? Clorox says weekly, or every other week, especially if your kids have been sick. Always clean toys according to the instructions (especially wood, cloth or plush toys). For hard plastic toys, remember that most of them can simply be run in the top rack of the dish washer or scrubbed by hand with some soapy water in the kitchen sink.
To disinfect hard plastic toys, use a combination of bleach and water. First, wash, rinse or scrub the toys with water. Then, in the sink, a clean bucket or even the bath tub, mix together a solution of bleach and a gallon of water. Let them soak for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly and let them air dry, spread out on a clean, dry towel.
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