Hi everyone, I’m a new mom and I’m looking for advice on how to disinfect my baby’s toys. Lily is three months old and loves to put everything in her mouth. I want to make sure I’m using safe and effective methods to keep her toys clean. What do you all use to disinfect baby toys? Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!"
Hey, this is the childbirth educator.
If the toys can’t be submerged in water or cleaned with hot water and a chemical-free soap like Dr. Bronner’s unscented baby soap, you can wipe the outside of the toys with a cloth soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol to kill most germs. This is especially useful if you are worried about infection risks, such as when another child has played with the toys and you want to clean them before your child uses them.
A distilled 1:1 solution of water and white distilled vinegar-soaked for 30 to 60 minutes will work well in place of bleach if the toy can be submerged in water (i.e., not electronics). The greatest ways to eradicate germs are with friction and heat, so if you can clean a surface or use a toy sanitizer, you should be ready to go.
Are there any other concerns than common germs? Simply desire to maintain a state of frequent sanitization? While cleaning and sanitizing is undoubtedly a good idea, there may be a better solution to recommend if your child is at risk for an infection or other concern. For basic cleaning purposes, low-chemical alternatives include heat, soap, isopropyl alcohol, and vinegar.
Best wishes to you.
Congratulations on becoming a mother! Regularly wash toys with a mild soap and water. Use vinegar and water or a weak bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per gallon) to disinfect. Make sure to thoroughly rinse, allow the toy to air dry, and refer to the toy labels for further information.
These types of items can be washed generally. All the fabric books or those teether plushes washed well for me in a warm cycle and hang dry them.
hey…you can use disinfectant wipes that are safe for use around children.