Parenting comes with a host of new joys, responsibilities, and challenges, one of which is keeping everything clean with little ones determined to make huge messes everywhere they go. This is especially true of a baby’s toys, which may easily start to get dirty as they are played with.
You may be wondering what the best way is to clean your baby’s toys when they get dirty, and don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many parents face the issue of trying to keep their baby’s toys clean and are looking for the easiest way to do this.
In this article, we’re going to explain 10 of the best ways to clean baby toys, delivered to you straight from the most experienced cleaning experts. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about keeping your baby toys clean.
1. Clean Baby Toys Based on How Much They Get Played With
The first tip that you should keep in mind when cleaning your baby toys is the frequency with which your child plays with their toys. The toys that rarely get played with won’t need to be cleaned quite as often as the ones that are played with more frequently.
For example, your baby might have a rattle that they play with every day, or a stuffed animal that they sleep with in their crib. Toys like these, that are used every day multiple times a day, should be cleaned far more frequently than those that may only get played with once in a while. A toy sitting at the bottom of the toy basket will not get as much saliva or dirt on it as one that is enjoyed more often.
This will not only save you time and energy but will also save on cleaning supplies. There’s no sense in wasting time, energy, and cleaning materials on cleaning toys that aren’t dirty. As a parent, it’s important to know when to pick your battles, and the same goes for knowing what you should spend time and effort on during your busy day.
2. Clean Bath Toys and Plastic Toys in Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers are great appliances that help relieve some of the stress of kitchen cleanup, but they can also be used to help clean things besides dirty dishes. A smart tip for cleaning baby toys that are made of hard, heat resistant materials like plastic is to put them in the dishwasher. Just like with dirty dishes, the dirty toy will get the same wash cycle treatment and will come out looking as good as new.
There are a few things you should keep in mind when putting baby toys through the dishwasher, though. First, make sure the toys you put in the dishwasher are heat resistant and waterproof. If you put a soft or fragile toy into the dishwasher, like a stuffed animal for example, it may come out damaged when the cleaning cycle is finished.
A few examples of toys you could put into the dishwasher include plastic toys like rattles, plastic blocks, or chew toys. Others that should probably not go in the dishwasher include stuffed animals and other fragile toys.
3. Wash Baby Toys in Hot Water or a Plant-Based Cleaner
For most any kind of baby toy, you can try using hot water and a plant-based cleaner to clean them. Hot water alone may be enough to loosen up whatever is on the toy, but in the cases where it’s not doing the trick, you can try using a cleaner as well.
Plant-based cleaners are the best option for use on baby toys because they are generally less abrasive and harsh than other chemical-based cleaners. They’ll be able to get the gunk off your baby toys while not causing any damage to them. Chemical cleaners could strip paint or coloring from toys, or even corrode them.
4. Clean Plush Toys in the Washer
Stuffed animals and other plush toys are often more fragile than many other kinds of baby toys and should be cleaned in a gentler manner. A perfect way to clean softer toys like these is to put them through the washer. Washing machines are good for cleaning toys with softer materials, as they’re built to handle clothes without damaging them.
Washing plush toys in the washer can save you time and effort, too. Simply throw the dirty toys in with a load of laundry, and let the washer do its thing! You’ll get a load of laundry done at the same time that you get some of your baby’s plush toys cleaned.
Keep in mind that the detergent you use to clean the plush toys should be one that is gentle on your baby’s skin, as some harsher detergents have been known to cause skin rashes or irritation in some infants.
5. Use a Pillowcase to Clean Stuffed Animals
Even though washers are typically gentler when washing fragile toys, some toys should be kept in pillowcases to ensure they don’t get damaged while being cleaned. Try placing your baby’s stuffed animals inside pillowcases while they’re being washed in the washer to prevent them from getting snagged on anything or from coming apart at the seams. Make sure to tie a knot at the top of the pillow case to keep the stuffed animal from coming out while it’s being washed.
Because stuffed animals may be softer and more fragile than other kinds of plush toys, they require some extra protection while being washed. Keeping them in a pillowcase while in the washer can be a good idea if you want to ensure they do not get damaged in the process.
6. Wipe Plastic Toys That Have Batteries with Surface Wipes
There are some baby toys that should not be placed in a washer or dishwasher to be cleaned due to sensitive circuitry. Any toy that has buttons or switches, makes noises, flashes, or moves on its own, should not be washed with using water. Water could damage the internal circuitry and make it stop working.
Instead, you should use surface wipes to wipe these toys down. This will prevent any of the internal wiring from getting damaged by water or heat. You can try using baby wipes or other kinds of surface wipes to clean stains, gunk, or bacteria off the toys. After doing this, your baby’s battery powered toys should be clean and ready for them to play with.
7. Boil Hard, Plastic Toys
For those toys that are made of hard, tough plastic, boiling is another great cleaning option. This is an especially good option for toys that may have gotten so dirty that they need a deep clean. Boiling water will automatically kill any bacteria that could be living on your baby’s toy, while also working to loosen and dissolve any gunk that may be caked on.
You should make sure to only put hard plastic toys in boiling water, as softer plastics or other materials may get damaged or melted by the extreme heat. Let the toy boil for about 5 minutes, and they should be totally clean when you pull them out. You may need to wipe off residual gunk in some cases, which may have been loosened but not entirely removed by the hot water.
8. Vacuum Precious Stuffed Animals
For plush and stuffed toys that are too fragile to be washed with water, you may have to get a little creative. If you’re not sure whether a toy should be cleaned in the washer or not, you can try a quick water test. Place a drop of water on the toy and then dab it with a cloth or paper towel. If color comes up on the cloth, then the toy should not be washed in a washer or dishwasher.
Instead, you should only hand wash these kinds of toys. First, use a cloth that has been dipped in warm soapy water and gently wipe down the toy. You’ll then need to rinse the toy with a cloth that has been dipped in water only, to remove any residual soap or suds. After cleaning the fragile plush toy in this manner, allow it to air dry. You can also use a hand dryer to speed up the process and to fluff the material.
The final step should be to vacuum the toy to remove dust mites, residual bacteria, and any other allergens from the toy’s surface or stuffing. When vacuuming a plush toy, make sure to pass over it gently with its upholstery attachment. Using the hose alone may cause damage to the toy or suck out stuffing.
9. Use a Vinegar Solution for Wooden Toys
Wooden toys, such as wooden blocks or dolls, may be damaged by putting them in the dishwasher or with trying to use hot water. As such, you should use a vinegar solution to clean them instead.
Mix a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar and, using a wash cloth or paper towel, scrub the surface of the wooden toy. Not only will this help to loosen any gunk that may be stuck to the surface of the wooden toy, it will also work to kill bacteria that may be living on it.
This is a great alternative to using chemical based cleaners, as they are less abrasive, and any residual vinegar will not be harmful to your baby. This is only a good option to use for wooden toys, however, as plastic toys and plush toys will benefit more from using soap or plant based cleaners.
10. Wash Doll Hair with Baby Shampoo
One of the trickiest things to clean when it comes to baby toys is doll hair. You don’t want to put a doll with long hair into the dishwasher or washer because all that hair can easily get tangled and snagged on things, which would end up causing damage to the doll. It’s also difficult to wash by hand with normal soap, as many soaps may cause the doll hair to become tough and tangled.
The solution is to use baby shampoo for cleaning a doll’s dirty hair. Baby shampoo is a soap that is specially designed to be gentle while also getting the job of cleaning done, which is perfect for doll hair. Baby shampoo will help to loosen gunk and with disinfect doll hair, helping to neutralize any bacteria that may be living on it and to help untangle it at the same time.
No baby should have to play with a doll that has tangled and dirty hair, so make sure to try baby shampoo next time you need to clean your baby’s doll hair. It’s sure to get the job done!
Final Words
Cleaning baby toys can be a serious hassle, and when paired with all the other duties of parenting, you may find yourself looking for the quickest and easiest solution. The tips we’ve outlined above should help you clean your baby’s toys in the best and easiest manner.
For toys that can handle the heat and water pressure, try using the dishwasher. Dishwashers are great for cleaning gunk and bacteria off dirty dishes, so they can be great for cleaning toys too.
With softer and more fragile toys, try using the washer to clean them. You may even need to wash some toys by hand, especially those that are not colorfast. In such situations, try using a solution of warm water and soap to clean them, making sure to rinse the soap off and air dry the toy after. Finishing the process with a quick vacuum can help to remove dust mites and allergens that might be trapped inside the toy, especially if the toy is plush or stuffed.
We hope these tips and tricks have given you some ideas on how best to clean your baby’s toys. For other helpful guides, check out our other articles now, and thanks for reading!