Babies love exploring their environment and putting things in their mouths, so you can bet they have probably chewed or drooled on every toy. By putting these objects in their mouths, they may be exposed to germs and illnesses in their very own homes, so it is essential you are cleaning their toys properly.
How to clean plastic toys
For toys made of hard plastic, you can place them inside a mesh bag or pillowcase to keep them from clunking around in the washing machine or clean them in boiling water. But make sure there are no batteries used in the toys before washing them in the machine or boiling water. If there are batteries, use a hot cloth to wipe down the toys and let them air dry. If you want to machine wash them, we recommend a hot wash and letting them air dry.
How to clean plush toys
Many plush toys are just a whirl in the washing machine away from being good as new. But first, double-check the labels in case there are any special instructions. No one wants the wrong water temperature or dryer setting rendering their beloved toys unrecognisable. We recommend a cold wash and a 15minute medium heat dry to see the best results.
How to clean play mats
If you want to spot clean any stains or spills on the mat, baking soda is safe to use. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply the paste over any stain on the play mat with a sponge and allow 10 minutes for it to work. Remove the paste by soaking a sponge in water and gently blotting the paste away.
How to clean bath toys
No, these toys aren’t being cleaned each time you run a bubble bath. You will need to soak them in a 50/50 mixture of hot water and white vinegar every week.
How often should I be cleaning toys?
There is no need to go overboard scrubbing your baby’s toys and play equipment too frequently. We recommend ‘everyday toys’ which are used often to be cleaned weekly. You will also need to clean toys in these instances as well:
If your baby is recovering from an illness such as diarrhoea or a cold
After a play date with other children if they have put your toys in their mouths
If the toy hasn’t been played with for a while as it may be holding old bacteria
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