Sanitizing Toys

[TGT09]

What are your sanitizing procedures? How often? Do you clean everything or just the things that are most played with?

How do you clean toys that have areas where water can get in?

Is there a good way to clean stuffed animals? Does the heat of the dryer kill germs?

Do you use antibacterial wipes? If so, how long before you let a baby put something in their mouth?

FWIW: I looked through some different posts but didn't find exactly these questions so sorry if it's been asked before.

[missnikki]

For hard plastic, I use my dishwasher (works on everything from dolls to trucks to blocks) AND the wipes for in between or if someone is 'sneezy'. I usualy let them dry really well before they can be played with.
If you don't have a dishwasher, I guess I would soak them and handwash them in the sink occasionally, and dry them on a dish rack.

For stuffed animals, I seal them in a plastic bag for 2 weeks (Kills Lice and most infestations), THEN soak them in very mild detergent, and low heat on the dryer. (I rotate once every 2 weeks)

[Greenshadow]

I wash all the handled toys on the weekends in my sink. I dont use my dishwasher ever. I scrub the toys by hand and let them air dry. Stuffed animals get thrown in the wash with the bedding over the weekends too, if they've been handled. I rotate toys from time to time so thats why I say "if they've been handled". I sanitize throughout the day with a antibacterial spray and washcloth if the kids have runny noses, etc. to keep the germs down.

[countrymom]

I have way too many toys to deal with seperate washing, so at night I do lysol the stuff and when I have a free moment I wipe down the toys little by little. I usually use soap and water and a mr clean eraser for the hard plastic toys.

[DancingQueen]

stupid question - what do you mean when you say at night you lysol them?

[TGT09]

stupid question - what do you mean when you say at night you lysol them?

I'm assuming she means she sprays them with lysol disinfectant spray. I do this to all my hard surfaces such as light switches, door knobs, stair railings, etc.

[laundrymom]

hmm,.. , I cant handle the lysol smells, no matter what 'flavor'. it reminds me of stomach flu. . Thats what I use when someone is sick. I couldnt bear it to smell daily. . I use quantinary (sp?) water for hard surfaces, the dryer for stuffies, and sunlight for everything else.

I'm assuming she means she sprays them with lysol disinfectant spray. I do this to all my hard surfaces such as light switches, door knobs, stair railings, etc.

[TGT09]

Oh trust me, I don't lysol daily but weekly. Normally I lysol right before I'm about to leave for a couple of hours. I HATE the smell too and can barely get done. I have tried all the flavors as well. I can't even stand the smell of febreze (although the Christmas one is ok)

[laundrymom]

Oh Ill hve to try that one,.. I love my yankee candle plug in things for smells.... I have pumpkin spice right now. =-)

Oh trust me, I don't lysol daily but weekly. Normally I lysol right before I'm about to leave for a couple of hours. I HATE the smell too and can barely get done. I have tried all the flavors as well. I can't even stand the smell of febreze (although the Christmas one is ok)

[DancingQueen]

So you spray lysol along the hard surfaces and larger structured toys in the play room - do you think it helps and makes a difference?

[TGT09]

Oh Ill hve to try that one,.. I love my yankee candle plug in things for smells.... I have pumpkin spice right now. =-)

It's cranberry something....at least that was the flavor last year. :-)

Mmmm I love Yankee candle. I like the Bath&Body works plug ins too. I got a really smelly one though and need to get a replacement because it's smells like bug spray!

[legomom922]

First of all I HATE stuffed animals and do not have any in my house. They are the biggest lint collector of all. I had watched the Today show some time ago and their advice was to get rid of them..So I did years ago. The only stuffed animal that is in my house ever, is if one of the kids bring theirs from home, then it's not my problem and I dont have to deal with it.

I use the clorox wipes on everything on the weekends. I never wash anything in the dishwasher or by hand. Soap still doesnt clean germs like the disinfectants can!

I spray the pnp's with lysol spray daily, and the high chairs nightly.

[TGT09]

First of all I HATE stuffed animals and do not have any in my house. They are the biggest lint collector of all. I had watched the Today show some time ago and their advice was to get rid of them..So I did years ago. The only stuffed animal that is in my house ever, is if one of the kids bring theirs from home, then it's not my problem and I dont have to deal with it.

I use the clorox wipes on everything on the weekends. I never wash anything in the dishwasher or by hand. Soap still doesnt clean germs like the disinfectants can!

I spray the pnp's with lysol spray daily, and the high chairs nightly.

Oh, I agree about the stuffed animals and they are VERY limited here....like less than 5. They are actually mine from childhood. My Mom brought them out when I started the daycare.

Yeah, lysol is most effective on hard surfaces. I do spray on some porous surfaces i.e. couches etc but not sure if it actually works. And, to be honest, I'm not sure it works on the hard surfaces either. I was finatical (not a word but you get my drift) last year and my kids were sick A LOT! BUT, I had 1 dcg that brought it all in....she was sick almost every other week. It was annoying. I even kept same dcg for a week while parents were on vacation and she was sick 1 day into it. She just has no tolerance for germs....anyway besides the fact........Yes, I think lysol helps but I don't think ANYTHING will eliminate (nor should) all germs.

[kidkair]

Wow all of you are very focused on killing germs. I clean things that have been in mouths or are intended for mouthing (teething rings) in the dishwasher.
Other than that I rotate toys once a month and have 12 months of bins so they are stored for 11 months before they come out again.
I don't wash stuffed animals unless they have been outside or chewed then I throw them in the washer with their bedding.
I dust and clean handles, switches, sinks, toilet, windows, mirrors, and chalkboard about once a week.
I wipe hands and faces with a wet washcloth after meals so food doesn't get everywhere and of course hands are washed before meals and after toileting.
I don't go crazy about cleaning because I believe if things are too clean that they spread the bad germs faster and everyone gets sick rather than building immunities slowly.

[WImom]

I spray the toys nightly with disinfecting spray (7th generation brand) and wash bedding and stuffed animals weekly (I have only 4 stuffed animals and they are annoying enough but the kids love them so I'll keep them for now)