When it comes to babies, you will watch in awe as they find a way to get every single thing possible into their mouths, which will leave you scrambling to figure out how to disinfect baby toys and items that they come into constant contact with.
But have no fear, we’ve got you covered. From how to best disinfect various types of toys, to how often you should clean, read on to put your mind at ease.
The Top 7 Methods for Disinfecting Toys
Washing Machine
The easiest way to disinfect plush toys, bedding, playmats, and removable fabric to baby gear is by utilizing the washing machine.
Wash on a hot cycle with a normal or baby detergent for the best disinfection rate. You can also look for a disinfecting detergent/laundry sanitizer.
The extra heat from the dyer will help kill lingering germs. If your plush toys cannot be machine dried, set them outside in the sun for a natural way to kill off bacteria.
Dishwasher
The combination of enzymes in dishwasher detergent and hot water are effective ways to disinfect your plastic toys. This is a quick and easy option for plastic toys (without batteries!), teething toys, pacifiers, etc.
If your dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle and/or heated dry option, both will help to make sure toys are thoroughly disinfected.
It’s a good idea to make sure your toys are dishwasher safe first, to avoid melting pieces or breaking down rubber seals.
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes, like Lysol, are a great option for larger baby gear, plastic toys with batteries, or high touch areas surrounding where your baby plays.
As an example of why it’s important to read labels, Lysol Disinfecting wipes indicate that you need to pre-clean the surface first, then wet the surface with disinfecting wipes. Allow the surface to stay wet with the Lysol solution for 10 seconds to sanitize, or 4 minutes to disinfect.
Other popular disinfecting wipes are Clorox and Seventh Generation, both with similar disinfecting instructions. Also check the label because if you are using these on a surface that will come in contact with food or likely go in baby’s mouth, the item will need to be rinsed after disinfecting.
Bleach
A classic and super effective disinfecting option is bleach. Clorox recommends mixing 1/3 cup of bleach to one gallon of water, soaking toys for 6 minutes, thoroughly rinsing, and then allowing them to air dry for the best results.
If you’re looking to use bleach to clean play surfaces or other larger baby gear, you can add the same mixture, 1/3 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water, to a spray bottle. Spray the surface and allow to stay wet for 6 minutes before wiping dry.
It is important to note that after 24 hours bleach will begin to break down when mixed with water. You will need to make a new mixture every day for it to have effective disinfecting properties.
Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner
Lysol is a convenient spray bottle of solution that does not need to be diluted. You can spray onto high touch areas, plastic baby gear, or spread out plastic toys and give them a generous spritz.
Leave on your toys for 2 minutes before wiping dry to properly disinfect. If you’re looking to cut down on time and steps, this is a great alternative that doesn’t require a long wait time or rinsing with water.
CleanSmart Toy Disinfectant
If you’re looking for a safe disinfectant to use around your baby, CleanSmart Toy Disinfectant is a good option. It’s great to use on pacifiers, toys, bath toys, plastic baby gear, etc.
However, make sure to read the label. Currently, it is considered 99.9% effective in killing cold, flu, strep, and RSV, whereas other disinfectants have a wider scope of viruses (including the COVID-19 virus) and bacteria that they disinfect against.
Pure Green 24
This is an effective, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal natural disinfectant all in one.
If you’re using it for cleaning plastic toys it is recommended that you spray to wet the toys, allow them to sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe dry with a microfiber towel. This is a super effective product for over 20 forms of bacteria, viruses, and fungus.
A bonus is that you do not need to pre-clean toys or surfaces before disinfecting with Pure Green 24.
How to Disinfect a Toy With Cleaner
Step 1: Read the directions on the bottle of your disinfectant or detergent. Make sure that it is appropriate for the surface you are cleaning. For example porous (fabric) versus non-porous (plastic).
Step 2: Pre-clean the surface. If your disinfectant does not include a cleaner, you will need to use soap and water to remove dirt and buildup in order for the disinfectant to be effective.
Step 3: Use your disinfectant. Either spray on your toys or add to a bucket to soak. Make sure that you have proper ventilation depending on the chemical you choose. Wash your hands or wear gloves in order to keep yourself safe.
Step 4: Follow the contact time. This should be on the label of your disinfectant. The surface of your toys should remain wet for the indicated time in order for the disinfectant to effectively work. Do not rinse off your toys or wipe them dry until the allotted time has passed.
Step 5: Wash your hands after completing the disinfection process. You do not want to risk unintentionally transferring the solution to yourself or your baby.
Step 6: Properly store away all disinfecting solutions so that they always remain out of reach of little hands! Secure child-safe caps, turn spray nozzles off, and store them out of reach or in a locked cabinet for added security.
Recommended Products to Keep On Hand
As busy parents, we know that your hands are full. Here are some of our recommended products to help aid in the cleaning and disinfecting process.
Mesh Laundry Bags
Perfect for gathering plush toys for the washing machine, a mesh laundry bag can be a lifesaver. You won’t have to worry about small pieces falling and getting damaged or lost, and you can easily keep everything wrangled and together in one place.
OXO Tot Dishwasher Basket
Similar to a Mesh Laundry Bag, an OXO Tot Dishwasher Basket is ideal for corraling small parts and toys when using the dishwasher for disinfecting. You can easily secure it in your top rack and avoid having to track down all the small toys when the cycle is over.
Boon Drying Rack
Boon Drying Racks aren’t just for bottles and silverware, they’re great for giving plastic toys a place to air dry after being disinfected. Don’t waste your precious time hand drying all your toys. Just dump them on the Boon Drying Rack and you can gather them in the morning when you’re ready to play.
Kidco Bath Toy Organizer
Another great option for giving toys a place to air dry is a Kidco Bath Toy Organizer. Once disinfected, just dump your bath toys back into the toy organizer and let them drip dry over the tub.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
Let’s face it, you’re not always going to be in the comfort of your home to disinfect your baby’s toys. Babies will throw toys of the floor of a restaurant, drop a pacifier in the grocery store, or want to play on surfaces at the playground. Clorox Disinfecting Wipesare a great option for tossing into your backpack or diaper bag for when you’re out and about.
FAQs About Disinfecting Baby Toys
What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?
Cleaning removes dirt, dust, and grime on surfaces by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing. According to the CDC, cleaning does not kill germs but removes them reducing the risk of spreading infection. Sanitizing reduces germs and bacteria to a safe level, again, reducing the chance of spreading infection. Disinfecting destroys bacteria and viruses preventing them from being able to continue to spread.
Think of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting as removing, reducing, and destroying. Depending on the product you use, each label will indicate how long you need to leave the product on a surface to adequately sanitize versus disinfect. This is an important step to follow to make sure that you are adequately treating bacteria and viruses so that they will truly be eradicated.
How often should you disinfect baby toys?
Now that you know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, the question is how often should you do each? As a general rule of thumb, we recommend disinfecting commonly used toys, especially that babies put into their mouths, at least daily. You can clean and sanitize throughout the day, but true disinfection is important at least daily.
This answer can vary depending on the situation. For example, toys that are shared between multiple children should be disinfected far more frequently than if you just have one baby at home. If you have friends or family visiting, or you’re babysitting another child, toys should be disinfected before and after each use. For example, if your baby puts a teething toy into their mouth, make sure to disinfect it before another baby grabs it and puts it into their mouth. If you’re just at home with your baby, keep a bucket handy for used toys so that you can disinfect all at once at the end of the day.
Does vinegar disinfect baby toys?
Vinegar is a popular “all-natural” sanitizer that parents like to use around kids. However, it is not a disinfectant. According to EPA standards, a disinfectant needs to kill 99.9% of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Vinegar does not do this, however, it is a good all-natural sanitizer that reduces germs and bacteria.
Does rubbing alcohol disinfect baby toys?
Yes, rubbing alcohol is a safe disinfectant when used properly. You need to make sure that your rubbing alcohol contains at least 70% isopropanol, make sure to follow the instructions on the label. As with other cleaners, make sure to store out of reach of babies.
Is a UV disinfecting box worth it?
Honestly, it comes to baby toys, we don’t think that a UV Disinfecting Box is worth it. While it is a great way to disinfect things without the high heat, water, etc., it’s not as practical for disinfecting toys and surfaces daily or more. A UV Disinfecting Box is a great idea for cell phones, keys, accessories, toothbrushes, and more. However, most of the above options will be faster and more effective for baby toys.
Wrap Up
Keeping your baby away from germs is a job in and of itself, but we’re happy to provide you with some tips on how to disinfect baby toys to give you a leg up. Whether you choose to go with a tried and true chemical or stick to a cleaner option, the end goal is the same: keeping your baby safe from nasty germs, bacteria, and viruses.
We know your plate is already full and as a parent you’re already juggling a million different things. Try to keep cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting simple and easy to maintain so that you have more time to enjoy your little one!
