Toys for children are their most prized possessions, and they keep them by their side 24/7. That means toys get played with, tossed around, slept with, chewed on and whatnot. Infants and young kids share their toys and often place them in their mouths. This increases the risk of infection. And as a parent, one of the most critical roles is to keep your child healthy. Play areas and kid toys should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to reduce the risk of infection.
Keep reading to know- how to clean & disinfect toys to keep your kids healthy.
What\’s the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
One should do cleaning to remove dust or dirt present on the toys. In contrast, Disinfecting refers to taking care of germs and microbes that may be present on the toys or inside them.
How To Clean Toys?
There are different types of toys that kids play with. Various toys have other cleaning methods. Here\’s how you can clean your kids\’ different kinds of toys.
- Stuffed Toys
The materials from which stuffed toys are made can get dirty fast and carry lots of germs and bacteria.
Stuffed toys can be cleaned with water and soap using hands or putting in the washing machine. However, don\’t wash it with daily soap; instead, use baby shampoo because your baby will be playing with them later. If using a washing machine, put them along with other clothes and wash them gently.
- Bath Toys
Bath toys are those ducks and boats that your kids play with during their bath. Yes, they need cleaning as well. This is because they are constantly wet and are around both clean and dirty water. It would be best if you cleaned bath toys daily. Since they are wet all the time, they make way for microbes to thrive on them. It would help if you washed them after each bath and then keep them dry.
- Plastic Toys
Plastic toys are present in all shapes and sizes. They are the most loved toys for every kid. Many plastic toys also have batteries in them. So it\’s safe to remove the batteries before cleaning them. And the battery portion should be covered while cleaning. You can easily clean plastic toys by using hot water, soap, or dish detergent. For any toy with smaller moving parts, you can use a toothbrush to clean the inner areas.
- Rubber Toys
Rubber toys are easy to play with and are very handy. They are softer in contrast to plastic toys and can be easily handled by kids and infants. But they also hold germs on their body very quickly. Rubber toys should be cleaned using soapy water. And this should be washed by hand to keep the texture intact. The proper procedure is to keep them in soapy water for an hour before washing. You can use a toothbrush and also a tiny amount of vinegar to clean more efficiently.
- Silicone Toys
Silicone toys are very much similar to rubber ones. They are also easy to play with and are very durable. Since they are durable, they quickly find their ways under the bed or behind almirahs picking up dirt and germs. The easiest way to clean such a type of toy is to take warm water, add some disinfectant, and put all the toys inside it. Keep them soaked for about an hour. Then clean it with a cloth or wash them in clean water and let it dry.
- Wooden Toys
Most of the time, wooden toys are old toys from your childhood, or you have picked them up because they are attractive. Wooden toys need to be washed with a little more care than others. Make use of wet cloth. It is also necessary to not wet the wood thoroughly.
- Dolls
Kids of all ages love dolls. Kids love to dress them up, comb their hair, and play house-house with them. It\’s good also because this is how they learn to imitate social behavior. Dolls are made up of different elements that make their cleaning a bit tricky. Each component of the doll requires another cleaning method. For their body parts, which are made up of plastic, simple washing liquid can be enough. If the details are made up of fabric, then little water and shampoo can suffice. The hairs of dolls need more care as they can easily be tangled and ruined. It would be best if you handled it the same way you manage your hair.
- Battery Toys
Most of the battery-powered toys are produced up of plastic. Before doing anything, remove the batteries. The only way to clean such toys is to take care of the outer areas. Ensure that the battery contacts are not touched while doing so.
How To Disinfect Toys?
To disinfect your kids\’ toys, use warm water, white vinegar, and rose water solution. This solution is a better alternative as it is free from harmful chemicals.
Soak the toys in the solution for half an hour, then wipe them with a clean cloth or allow them to dry.
One should clean toys regularly to maintain hygiene to avoid any infection that can harm your child.
Hope this article on- how to clean and disinfect toys to keep your kids healthy? It will help you to maintain your kids\’ health.