Like shower walls, your child’s bath toys are prone to mold growth, which is unhygienic and might also be dangerous for health. Moreover, these toys come in contact with germs floating in the bath water, which can also be hazardous. In this article, we will walk you through some tips on how to clean bath toys.
Keeping your children’s bath toys clean is essential since they have a lot of contact with them, and they often tend to put them in their mouths. Mold can affect people of all ages, so it is crucial to keep the toys sparkling clean. It is also important to clean the toys with something that will be effective but will not hurt your child’s skin. There is a lot to cover, so without further delay, let us get into it.
What Is the Most Effective Way to Keep the Mold at Bay?
Before we touch on the topic of cleaning toys, we will first discuss how to prevent them from forming in the first place. Avoiding mold formation completely is very difficult, but there are ways to keep it at bay and minimize the amount that will form both on bathroom walls and children’s toys.
The first thing you can do is to squeeze as much water as you can from the toy after each bath and leave it to dry on a warm surface, preferably somewhere where it can be exposed to the sun. You can also try to turn on the bathroom exhaust fan for at least 15 to 20 minutes after bath to draw the humidity out of the room, which will make the toy dry faster as well.
You should keep in mind that the most prominent place for mold growth is inside the bath toy, which is the toughest space to remove the moisture from. When the mold grows inside the toy, it means that part of it will eventually get into the water, so if you want to prevent it from forming inside, seal the wholes on toys.
Effective Ways to Get Rid of the Mold Forming in the Bath Toys
There are several effective methods that help you get rid of the mold from the bath toys, and all of them work wonders and keep them hygienic. We did research and came up with some of the best ways to do so that are, at the same time, very simple and effective.
1. Clean the Toys With Vinegar
Even though one might think that the bat toys are getting enough cleaning up from the baths, the fact is that you should, at least once a week, remove all the toys from the bathing area and clean them thoroughly.
One of the easiest and most accessible options to do so is by using vinegar. It is a natural cleaning agent that is highly effective in dissolving soap scum and getting rid of stains, making it a perfect choice for cleaning bath toys.
Fill a bucket with 50/50 vinegar and warm water (you can also add a few drops of tree oil or lemon oil) and submerge the toys inside and let them soak for an hour. After this process is complete, rinse the toys thoroughly and let them air dry.
2. Wash the Toys in the Dishwasher
If your daily schedule is very busy and you do not have time for cleaning methods that will take much of your time, our second recommendation is to wash the toys in the dishwasher. Simply place bath toys in the top rack of the dishwasher and run it on a hot cycle.
Before you opt for this method, we recommend you read the toy’s manufacturer’s instructions to check whether or not you can place it in the dishwasher. Some toys are not compatible with dishwashers, so make sure to check the instructions to prevent any unnecessary damage.
3. Boil the Toys in the Hot Water
Boiling the toys in hot water is one of the most effective and thorough methods to get rid of the mold. This method is best for toys that are made of hard plastic and foam. You need to pour the water into the pot, get it to boil then add toys inside.
Allow the toys to soak in the boiling water for a few minutes, then remove them and place them on a dry towel and let them air out. It is one of the best methods for cleaning the inside of the bath toys.
4. Clean the Toys With Disinfectant Wipes
Some toys that are available on today’s market can be easily cleaned using only disinfectant wipes and prevent the mold from forming. As long as there are no places on the toy where water can leak in, cleaning them with disinfectant wipes and allowing them to dry between baths fully should do the trick.
5. Sanitize the Bath Toys With Bleach
Bleach is an effective cleaning product that will grant you a deeper clean. You should use a solution that is strong enough to kill bacteria and viruses but weak enough to ensure that no dangerous bleach remains on toys that your children are bound to put in their mouths eventually.
In order to get a perfect balance, it is best to use one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. After that, mix this solution in a bucket and submerge the bath toys and let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes. When the whole process is done, rinse the toys thoroughly with tap water and allow them to dry in the air or the sun.
6. Clean the Toys by Hand
In case you own delicate or foam toys and want to clean them thoroughly, the wisest choice would be to clean them with your hands. Washing up liquid and elbow grease should do wonders on general grime. However, if you suspect that the mold is hiding inside the material, you will have to try some other method.
7. Clean the Toys with Hydrogen Peroxide (Fizz)
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) is a monster of a cleaning solution that will do wonders on bath toys. It is non-toxic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-mold. It is a miracle solution that does an excellent job in cleaning various surfaces and objects, including hard bath toys.
8. Clean the Toys with Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal solution for cleaning. It comes from the Australian native, Melaleuca, and it is absolutely spectacular in getting rid of the mold and keeping it at bay. Simply add about ten drops of tea tree oil into four cups of water and spray it on bath toys. Afterward, wipe the toy dry, and you are all set.
9. Clean the Toys With Vodka
Although you might think that cleaning a child’s bath toys with vodka is not such a good idea, it is actually quite an effective way to get rid of mold. Being a natural disinfectant, vodka will leave the bath toys sparkly and clean. Just pour some vodka into a spray bottle and mix it with water. Afterward, just spray on the dirty surfaces and watch the magic happen. After the whole process is done, remove any residue with a cloth.
10. Wash the Toys in the Washing Machine
This method is one of the easiest to clean the bath toys, especially for hard-wearing toys such as rubber duckies. Put the dirty toys in a delicates bag and add some towels to wash for a more quiet spinning cycle.
Final Words
Cleaning the bath toys is a fairly simple task; you just need to do it consistently to prevent bigger build-ups that can be hazardous to your and your child’s health. With proper maintenance, there is no reason to worry about bacteria, viruses, and germs.
We hope you enjoyed our guide and that you will find an adequate method for cleaning the bath toys on our list. Each method and solution is quite effective, so there is no wrong choice, just the one that will suit you best.