How to Clean Toys When You or Your Child Is Sick
Cold and flu season can be particularly nasty business when you have children’s toys lying around the house.
Up next in Children's Health & Safety (21 videos)
Keep your kids happy, healthy, and safe with the advice in these Howcast videos.
You Will Need
- Washing machine
- 2
- wash basins or a double-basin sink
- Mild dish soap
- Bleach
- Clean rags (optional)
Steps
-
Bleach can be hazardous to you and your child’s health if ingested. Thoroughly rinse any bleach off before returning toys to your child.
-
Step 1
Wash fabric toys in washing machine
Wash fabric or plush toys that are washing-machine-approved in the washing machine to clean and sanitize.
-
Fabric toys that are washed in the washing machine should be dried following the manufacturer’s directions.
-
Step 2
Fill basins with soapy water and water
Fill one basin with warm water and the other with one capful mild dish soap and hot water.
-
Step 3
Clean toys
Place the toys into the soapy water and give them a good surface cleaning.
-
Step 4
Rinse toys
Rinse the soapy toys in the clean water basin and set them on a towel to dry.
-
Step 5
Pour water out
Drain the two basins, fill one with clean warm water and the other with one capful of bleach and a gallon of hot water.
-
Step 6
Sanitize toys
Place the toys in the bleach water basin and let them soak to sanitize for at least two minutes.
-
Large toys may be sanitized using a rag soaked in the bleach water mixture and then wiped with a clean, wet rag.
-
Step 7
Rinse toys
Rinse the toys in the warm water basin to remove the bleach and then place them on a towel to dry.
-
Step 8
Pour out basins
Drain the basins and allow the toys to thoroughly dry before returning them to your child to play with.
-
The toy store FAO Schwarz was founded by Frederick August Otto Schwarz and opened its doors in 1862.
