Cleaning baby toys

[onomatopoeia]

What do you use to clean your baby's toys? Like the jumperoo (DS spit up all over it) or the teething toys that your child puts in his or her mouth?

[ce_Kathleen]

I was wondering the same thing, I need to clean DS exersaucer and I am not sure I should use a spray cleaner (like 409) but that doesn't seem healthy to use on something DS will be chewing on.

[SaphirimalMei]

I bought a Scunci Steamer ($50-$60) and it seems to work great :)
I use it on DDs excersaucer (the tray area) and other toys as they get icky.
For cloth items that can't (or shouldnt) be wached in the washing machine, I'll use a washcloth with soap on it to get any really grimy spots then I'll hit it with the steamer and let it air dry.

So far...so good!

[onomatopoeia]

I was wanting like a spray I can use to clean toys -- is Lysol okay or do they make one just for baby stuff?

[SaphirimalMei]

Ah...

I did a web search and I found:

from fisher price.com
An inexpensive, effective and safe sanitizing solution can be made from diluting household liquid chlorine bleach—1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 quart of water or ¼ cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Properly diluted bleach is considered non-toxic and safe for cleaning children’s equipment since the chlorine evaporates within minutes.

You can also use other approved sanitizing solutions if the label states they are non-toxic. Be sure to follow the directions carefully.

~~~~~~~~~~~

So you could just put a diluted bleach solution into a spray bottle. :)

[lauren f s]

A recent issue of Parents magazine had an article devoted to cleaning sticky baby toys and it suggests using hydrogen peroxide to disenfect. The article says it's a natural disenfectant that won't leave behind a long-lasting residue.

Parents article (http://www.parents.com/articles/moms_dads/6101.jsp)

[Marisa]

You can also use white vinegar as a safe, non-toxic disinfectant. I mix a 50/50 solution with warm water and keep it in a spray bottle.

I know the vinegar stinks to some people, but the smell goes away as it dries. :)

[ce_Kathleen]

thanks for the suggestions!

I think I might try the vinegar since I know we have that at home. If that doesn't work I may try the bleach.

[Phen]

I've been using Clorox wipes; that is what the kindermusik teacher in our town uses on the toys that are used in her class. Obviously I don't wipe 'em down and then jam the toy right in the kid's mouth, though. :p

~ phen

[phart]

Uh...I don't clean them much. I cleaned the exersaucer with some Method cleaner but I think that's about it. Might seem awful but Aiden had been sick once or twice in 19 months.

[maggieb]

I use a vinegar mix too, but have only done it once or twice. I do wash her bath toys a little more often b/c they really don't have a chance to air dry and the thought of mold grosses me out. I just soak them in hot water and vinegar. Oh, and lots of times I just use one of her wet wipes to wipe down a toy that looks particularly nasty.

[Mickey&B]

In my classroom I use bleach/water solution in a spray bottle. It's one tablespoon (i use a cap full) to one bottle. It's what is used commonly in preschools it evaporates quickly and isn't as stinky as vinegar. The only thing is you have to mix a new batch everytime you disinfect.
You can also use the clorox wipes they work great too.
The steamers are nice but I wouldn't spend the money. You can get the same effect in a dishwasher.

[JRPAGV]

I clean what toys I can in the top rack of the dishwasher.

I also found a GREAT all-purpose cleaning product by Pampers. It's called Pampers Clean 'n Play. It says it's safe enough to use on anything baby comes in contact with. It comes in a bottle that's clear and shaped like a Lysol or Windex bottle.

Here's what the website says:
Clean ’n Play is kid-safe daily cleaner specially formulated to effectively clean the surfaces your child touches – from toys and high chairs to windows and more!

I'd post a picture from the website, but that bottle looks nothing like the ones I've purchased from Babies 'R Us. It's only about $3.99. I use it as an all-purpose spray on everything now. Oh, and it smells good too.

I've also been using the new Clorox Anywhere Spray to disinfect things.

Here's what Clorox's website says about it:
Gentle as Water™
Clorox® Anywhere Hard Surface™ spray is a new sanitizing spray that's gentle enough to use around kids and food, yet has the power to kill the common household bacteria found on surfaces like: plastic cutting boards, baby toys, lunch boxes and most anything around kids, pets and food.

[goldengbridge]

We used clorox wipes on the exersauser etc before the Clorox anywhere spray came out. We still use the wipes though too. Just like Phen said though, I don't give him the toys right after they've been wiped down.

[JRPAGV]

Oh yeah, I forgot why I visited this thread in the first place. :)

QUESTION: How do you clean your baby's cloth toys (like stuffed toys, etc.)?? I want to clean his Lamaze Inchworm, Clutchcube, and similar toys.

[BeachBum]

I want to clean his Lamaze Inchworm, Clutchcube, and similar toys.

I've put those exact ones (and others)in the washing machine.

[JRPAGV]

I've put those exact ones (and others)in the washing machine. Really? What cycle? Do you just let them airdry? Thanks for your help!

[newyorkgirl]

Hard plastic toys - I will put the small ones in the dishwasher. Bigger plastic toys like Exersaucer get a wipedown with Medela sanitizing wipes. They're made to clean breastpumps when potable water isn't available - you just have to wait until the item dries (a few minutes) before letting your baby play on the toy.

Stuffed toys go into the washing machine and then line dry. If you're worried about parts coming off, you can put them in one of those mesh laundry bags for lingerie and stuff.

[miaclear]

Bumping....

So I just had a friend over who's baby is DSs age and played with some of his toys. Not that I think she infected everything but I thought it'd probably be a good time to clean them anyhow.

Just curious if anyone has a good recomendation for something quick to wipe 'em down with? Do the Clorox and such wipes work good? Do you just need to let the toy dry before giving it back to them to play with?

[boilermaker]

Glad to see this thread bumped as I am on the look out for second hand toys (like play kitchens, slides, art tables, etc) and was wondering the best way to clean them. For those of you who recommended vinager a few years back, do you think that did enough of a job for used toys or would you go with the bleach. Though I have been looking for an excuse to get a steamer....

[Ilovemygeek]

I use Clorox wipes for larger toys and put the smaller plastic things in the dishwasher. I just let the toys dry after using the wipes and they have kept DD and her cousin that comes over frequently from passing any illness back and forth.

Stuffed toys go in the washing machine and line dry.

[roberta]

Small hard plastic toys go in the sink with hot water and dish soapinto the dishwasher. Big plastic items (exersaucer tray) gets wiped down with a baby wipe. Stuffed toys (including the Lamaze toys) go in to washing machine and air dry.

But I don't clean the toys too often. A few germs are good for building the immune system. ;)

[MichelleRenee]

I heard that a good way to kill dust mites in stuffed toys is to put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for a few hours. I don't know if that kills bacteria and/or viruses as well.