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How often do you sanitize your toys and what do you use?
I just hate to use bleach on the toys since my little ones put everything in their mouths.
I just hate to use bleach on the toys since my little ones put everything in their mouths.
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That's ^^ why you use bleach.
Mixed properly (1:4) using bleach is THE best method of sanitizing.
My state allows bleach alternatives but I would check with your licensing regulations to be sure.
As for how often I sanitize toys....as often as needed I guess. My toddlers have their own space here and dont mingle much with the older kids so it's easier for me to keep mouth toys separated from others. -
I also use bleach and water .
I do a deep clean of everything once a month . And spot clean as needed . I always have a spray bottle mixed with bleach and water handy , it is a quick way to spray and wipe something down .Comment
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We are required to sanitize toys weekly per licensing. I put anything that can go in the dishwasher in it and wash anything that can go in the washing machine in there. Everything else (few wood toys) get wiped down with Clorox wipes once a week or so. I should make my own bleach solution but I am such a klutz- I spilled bleach a inexcusable amount when I worked at a restaurant
I also rotate toys so much that I think that helps, any germs not killed by being washed are dead by the time a toy is cycled back in a month or so later.
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Oh and to speak to being afraid of bleach being in their mouths- it's all about the correct ratio. My dr. Recommends we put a capful in our daughters baths and plastic wading pool as it will help stop her eczema sores from becoming infected.Comment
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Bathtub. Fill with bleach and hot water and dunk toys. Let sit for a bit. Drain. Toys are dry the next morning and ready to go.Comment
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Agree with all the above. It is the safest and best method because it kills everything and when mixed correctly just evaporates and is gone.Comment
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Clorox wipes
Dishwasher for toys on a regular basis (one group each week) but not toys with labels/stickers.
I wipe down toys with the wipes every couple days. And yes a chemical residue is probably left behind. I HATE bleach and won't use it. I've gotten bleach on my clothes and I hate the smell.
I'm especially careful to wipe off toy phones, dishes, door knobs, etc. things that are touched lots or go into or near the mouth.Comment
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Question - How do you clean art supplies? Do you? Markers? Crayons? Also - books? I wiped down te outside of all my books yesterday and the pages of the board books. I am eyeing the art supplies though...they were coughed on A TON yesterday
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Thanks everyone! That is very helpful!
I was just nervous to use a harsh chemical on something that goes near the babies mouths. Looks like it's the best thing though.Comment
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As others have said, when mixed properly it's one of the safest sanitizers out there.
I actually had a bad experience with a "natural" sanitizer when I worked in a group home years ago. Another staff member wound up with severe chemical burns after coming into contact with it. They switched back to bleach after. And a lot of alternative sanitizers haven't been tested to see if they actually work - I'd much rather use something that's proven to work.Comment
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Please do not use only Clorox wipes to sanitize toys. Clorox wipes may disinfect (they meet 2/3 of the requirements here so we can't use them) but they are not recommended for sanitizing.
The label says that if you use it on a food prep/eating surface or on anything that will be put in mouth, a water rinse is required.
So unless you use the wipe and then rinse, it's dangerous.Comment
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Thank you! I had an outbreak of Hand, foot, and mouth go through early summer the week before our family trip to Myrtle Beach! It was very time consuming and annoying to put all toys in dishwasher each night and wash all big ones by hand with bleach water rag. The tub would've made it so much easier! :
: The good thing is my kids didn't get it! We escaped that darn virus
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