How to care for toys: life hacks every parent should know

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Soft, plastic, electronic - every toy needs a different approach.

A child may not part with a favorite toy around the clock. This means they play with it and sleep with it, gnaw it and throw it on the floor. As a result, a new thing quickly loses its appearance, and also becomes a source of dust, bacteria, and sometimes mold.

Experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute laboratory, which tests the safety of various products, told how exactly to care for toys to keep them clean and safe.

How often to clean toys

It all depends on how often your child plays with them. Here are the general rules:

• The easiest way to take care of rubber and hard plastic toys. If they are used every day, clean and disinfect them once a week.
• Plush toys that your child sleeps with and interacts with often should be machine washed once a week. The rest can be washed once every two weeks (or even less often if they are just in the box). We will tell you about those that cannot be washed below.
• Wipe electronic toys once a week with a disinfectant wipe.
• Small toys, which are most often taken in the mouth and thrown on the floor, require special attention. Wash them every day or every other day.

Also, remember that when your child is sick, you need to clean the toys more often. And after recovery, be sure to disinfect them again.

Can toys be disinfected with vinegar

No. Vinegar is a great home cleaning option and does kill some bacteria. But still not as powerful as special disinfectants. If this is not at hand, it is better to just wash the toys with soap.

If you're looking for a more natural formulation, look for thymol products. It is a component of thyme essential oil, which is a natural disinfectant.

How to keep toys made of different materials clean

Plastic

One-piece plastic toys, including building blocks, can simply be washed with soap. The easiest way to do this is in the dishwasher. Send large toys to the basket for dishes, and first put small ones in a bag so that they do not scatter throughout the unit. Start the normal washing and drying cycle.

After washing, they should be disinfected. There are three ways to do this:

• special disinfectant wipes;
• a rag soaked in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution;
• a mixture of chlorine-containing bleach with water (at the rate of 30 ml of bleach per 1 liter of water).

While all of these disinfection methods are safe for your child, it is best to rinse the toys with water after they are dry. This will remove any cleaning agent residue.

Most of the hassle comes from bath toys. They usually have holes in them, and if water remains inside, mold can start. To prevent this, shake them vigorously after use and squeeze out as much water as possible, then let dry. If you do notice mold inside, it is better to throw the toy away.

Soft

They can usually be machine washed without any problems. Many toys have directions on the label, so check the manufacturer's recommendation for the temperature. Here are the general rules.

• Make sure buttons and other small parts are firmly in place. If there are holes, sew them up.
• Place toys in a pillowcase or laundry bag.
• Select a low temperature setting with a slow spin. Put in less powder than usual.
• If your machine has a drying mode, dry the toys directly in the pillowcase. Or use a hair dryer: blow cool air around the toy until it is barely damp, then turn the temperature up to medium to dry.

Do not wash soft toys with batteries or metal parts, or items that make sounds, as water can damage them. Also, be careful with toys that shed. To test, drip some water onto a cloth and pat dry with a paper towel. If it gets stained, do not machine wash the toy with the others.

If the toy requires extra careful handling, proceed as follows:

• Soak a rag in warm soapy water and run it over the surface of the object.
• Then wipe with a damp cloth dampened in clean water.
• Let the toy dry (or use a hair dryer to speed up the process).
• To get rid of harmful bacteria, dust mites and other allergens, use a steamer and then thoroughly vacuum using a furniture nozzle.

Electronic

Before cleaning these toys, unplug them or remove the batteries (remember to close the battery compartment with the cap). Then:

• Soak a rag in warm soapy water and squeeze well. Wipe down the toy to remove dust and other dirt.
• Walk especially carefully around the buttons, along the various grooves and other similar places. Be careful not to get water inside.
• Dry with a clean damp cloth.
• To get rid of bacteria, wipe the surface with a disinfectant or alcohol wipe. If the child usually pulls this toy into his mouth, wipe it again well with a damp cloth.