How To Clean Baby Toys That Can’t Be Washed?
What to do with your toys that can't be washed
Toys are tools for baby’s entertainment which can also be a great learning tool for their development stage. They often take some of these toys from place to place because it can also be their comfort to keep themselves happy, but it is also important that every toy they play with is free from germs and bacteria to stay healthy. As a parent, you must make sure that your baby’s toys must be cleaned right away whenever you notice drool, leftovers, or other mess on them. As you go through this article, you will learn how to clean baby toys that can’t be washed.
Several toys can’t be washed. Some of these are teddies and soft toys, Plastic toys, Silicone and rubber toys, electronic toys, and even wooden toys. Advisably, the everyday toys’ of your baby must be cleaned at least once or twice a week because it is exposed to dust and germs.
How to wash toys
For toys that can’t be washed, most parents wipe toys with and damp soapy cloth on them then make them dry. To understand further, the following are ways to clean baby toys that can’t be washed in terms of the type of toy that your baby plays with.
Teddies and Soft Toys or Fabric Toys
Fabric toys are not all washable. You can check on the toy’s instructions the details of cleaning up the toy on its packaging if it has. Toys like bears and dolls washed with detergents may cause skin allergies to your baby so most fabric toys are air-dried. Also, you can run it through a low heat dryer cycle after a light hand washes to help in killing germs and bacteria. In some cases, you may also follow these steps using baking soda.
- Get a plastic bag and put ½ cup of baking soda into it.
- Place the stuffed toy inside and let it rest on the bottom.
- Tie the plastic bag and blow it up inside enough to give some air.
- Grab the top and bottom parts of the toy to shake and tumble the plastic bag up and down or in a circular motion.
- Keep it enclosed in the bag for 15 minutes
- Take the toy out and remove residual baking soda using a vacuum cleaner.
- Gently shake and pat the soft toy with your hand to liberate the remaining soda that may still be present on the toy.
Plastic Toys
Plastic toys may come in different sizes and colors but not all are safe to wash, especially those that have a battery compartment. You must first consider removing the batteries before wiping them down using an old brush to clean the compartment of the battery. One of the best options to clean it perfectly is to wipe the toy with a washcloth dipped in a diluted bleach solution before drying it fully. These are the two things you can use to create the mixture
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of bleach
- 1 gallon of water
Take note that you may also have an equal ratio in preparing this.
Silicone and Rubber Toys
A baby loves soft and squishy toys because it is flexible to play with and can easily be handled. Such toys can’t be heated due to their texture. You may use a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water and leave the toy there for a few minutes before rinsing and drying. Also, you may boil it in a pot for 3 minutes.
Electronic Toys
Surface cleaning is only needed for electronic toys. You cannot wash it nor soak it in water. Here’s how you can clean them:
- Use a clean cloth to dip in warm soapy water to wipe up dirt on the toy
- Avoid sticky spots around buttons and in crevices to avoid liquid seeping into the electrical component of the toy.
- Rinse it with a clean dump then air dry.
- You may use disinfecting wipes or alcohol to wipe the toy.
- Let it dry for 5 minutes then air dry.
Wooden Toys
An example of baby wooden toys is rare building blocks and rocking horses. Cleaning this kind of toy requires more care because you don’t want the wood to get too wet since moisture can be trapped in the wood. You may consider using a damp cloth with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water as well. After that, use a brush to remove dirt from grooves
A baby’s toy is an integral part of the baby's development state, so cleaning a toy is an important task. It may look complicated to think about but it’s just simple once you try. You may follow the ways above to clean a certain toy but often, most parents use baking soda and vacuum cleaner to freshen up and clean toys. There could be instances that those toys will be the reason for illness. That's why it is necessary to keep in mind that cleaning your baby’s toys is important.
Sources
https://infantino.com/blogs/the-baby-monitor/how-to-clean-baby-toys