Toys offer the company for your kid or baby. Babies love playing with different types of toys. Besides offering a source of entertainment for the baby, some toys are educational. However, baby toys may harbor germs and disease-causing microorganisms, as the babies drool on them, throw them on the ground and even spit on them.

With the accumulation of dirt, it’ll be vital to clean these baby toys to prevent transmitting germs or diseases to your baby. Cleaning the toys involves removing the stains or dirt by placing toys in a tub or bucket with soapy and hot water. Afterward, use a brush to scrub the entire debris before rinsing in clean water and drying.

However, we’ve got some toys with special features and materials that make it hard to wash them. Experts advise that you get or adopt the best cleaning techniques or ways. This article outlines the different ways to clean baby toys you can’t wash.

The Process of cleaning the different baby toys that you can’t wash depends on the type and size of the material. Different materials, such as wood, clothes, silicone, plastic, etc., have different cleaning techniques. You can consider using vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and wiping to remove dirt off these toys.

Cleaning Different Toys That You Can’t Wash

Most parents or individuals prefer to wipe the toys they can’t wash with damp soapy clothes before drying them. Nonetheless, you can use other ways and techniques to clean these toys to keep them safe for your kids. Let’s look at the ways of cleaning the different toys you can’t wash:

Teddies and fabric or soft toys

You can’t clean fabric toys or teddies by washing. Most manufacturers provide a detailed cleaning process in the product's description. Experts warn that washing these toys with detergents may result in allergic reactions after getting in contact with your baby's skin. Remember, you can only ensure they are safe for your kid by running the toys through a low dryer heat cycle to kill the germs.

Alternatively, you can use baking soda to clean the toy. Remember to get the best proration when using baking soda to clean your fabric toys. Follow the below procedure when using baking soda to clean the toy:

● Placing cup of baking soda in a plastic bag

● Place the doll inside and allow it to rest

● Tie the bag and blow air inside

● Grab the toy’s top and bottom parts to tumble and shake the bag

● Enclose the toy in the bag for 15 minutes

● Get the toy out to remove all the residual baking soda using a vacuum cleaner.

Plastic toys

Plastic baby toys come in different designs and sizes, which makes not all of them safe to wash. Experts warn against washing plastic toys with a battery compartment. When cleaning these toys, ensure that you remove the batteries. After removing the batteries, wipe the whole toy using a brush to clean the battery’s compartment.

Using a washcloth with a diluted bleach solution will offer the best results for cleaning these toys. The beach solution solutions contain equal proportions, 1 - 2 gallons of bleach and one gallon of water. After wiping the toy, allow it to dry before allowing the kid to play with them. Experts advise that you consider air drying to kill off the disease-causing microorganism.

Rubber and silicone toys

Most babies love silicone and rubber toys, which are squishy and soft. This nature makes them flexible, making it easy for them to play and handle them. Due to the texture, you can’t wash them like the others. Alternatively, you can consider using a 1:1 vinegar and water mixture to clean the toy. After cleaning them in this solution, rinse and allow them to dry or boil them in a pot for approximately three minutes.

Electronic toys

Electronic toys are the most common toys kids prefer. However, these toys have a complicated cleaning process, which only involves surface cleaning. When wiping the toys, ensure water doesn’t get to the interior parts of the toys to prevent electrocuting or short circuits. Below is the process of cleaning electronic toys:

● Get a clean damp cloth to wipe the dirt on the toy’s surface

● Avoid sticky spots in crevices and bottoms to prevent water from seeping into the appliance.

● Rinse the toy using a clean cloth before air drying it

● Wipe the toy using disinfecting alcohol or wipes

Wooden toys

Manufacturers create wooden toys from different materials, which may damage if you expose them to water or other detergents. Thus, it’ll be vital to avoid washing the different wooden toys, like the balance bike, in water. Instead, it'll be wise to wipe the equipment with dampness before air drying to prevent the material from trapping moisture.

You also consider using a clean and damp cloth to wipe the toy. Prepare a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar for dipping the cloth before using it to wipe the toy. You can also incorporate a brush in the cleaning process. The brush will help you get rid of the dirt or debris from the grooves.

Educational toys

Manufacturers create educational toys using different sophisticated materials, making washing them unsafe or improper. The best way to clean these toys is by dipping a clean cloth in water and vinegar solution and wiping the toy. Alternatively, you use warm & soapy water and detergent to wash other parts before air drying the toy. Remember, when wiping, ensure that water doesn’t enter the interior parts of the toys, making them difficult to experience.

Wrapping Up

Studies show that a toy is a core part of your baby’s development state, making cleaning it an essential task. However, with the different materials and designs manufacturers use to create these appliances, preventing washing is the only way to clean them. You can adapt the different safe methods or washing mechanisms to ensure that these baby toys are clean and safe for your kid. Above is safe and appropriate cleaning for the different toys you can’t wash.