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When my kids are unwell, I want to clean their toys to prevent the germs hanging around – any recommendations on how to best do this?

Posted by anon, 1/8/13

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  • Some things can be chucked in the dishwasher otherwise but them in the bath with the kids


  • Plastic blocks can be washed in the sink with soap and water. Soft toys just wipe down with a damp cloth and let them get some sun. Diluted vinegar is a safe disenfectant for hard toys that might be put in mouth or locked etc. A toothbrush is good for getting in the grooves of plastic toys to get any gunk out of hinges etc.


  • Some soft toys can be chucked in the washing machine. Most others can be washed with a damp cloth. Hard toys can usually be wiped by a disinfectant wipe.


  • Eucalyptus oil has a wonderful fresh, clean fragrance. The proven disinfectant and antiseptic properties of Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil and Spray make them a natural, environmentally friendly cleaner with numerous household uses. They are non-toxic for sinks, drains, toilets and our waterways. You can make Eucalyptus Spray yourself with white vinegar water and eucalyptus oil.


  • Often touching dirty things like toys isn’t too much of a problem as long as they keep their hands away from face and mouth, so try and reinforce that habit along with doing the cleaning. Keeping hands clean for eating is important – especially after being in public places. Shop doors, computer keyboards, shopping trollies, bus seats etc. apparently have lots of germs on them. So maybe have them (and you) wash before coming home and spreading them around the house.


  • I’ve always used soap and water and it has been quite effective from the day my kids were born


  • I put soft toys in the washing machine and harder plastic toys in the dishwasher like Lego.
    Electronic ones get the baby wipe over them as well as a spray with eucalyptus


  • Spray with glen 20 or eucalyptus spray


  • I fill the bath with hot water and pine o clean and throw them all in, and the ones that cant go in the bath i spray with Glen 20


  • Depends on the toys, I would wash what I could in the washing machine. I have washed Lego in a laundry bag before.


  • good old fashioned soapy water.


  • give them a wipe over with soapy hot water and then spray with eucy spray! kills the germs :)


  • Steam Them!


  • I make my own cleaning product/ disinfectant by placing citrus peel in white vinegar with a pinch of salt, leave for a week then use as normally would a disinfectant cleaner. I sprayed my little ones toys with the fine mist then dried them in the sun, this has no harsh chemicals so it does no harm to either the toy or the child that chews the toy.


  • I guess it depends what type of toy and what the illness is.
    Sadly kids will get sick no matter what you do and that doesnt always have to be a bad thing as i think it helps them to build up immunity.
    Wash soft toys on delicate cycle in the washing machine and then hang on the line in the sun and finish off with 15mins in the dryer.
    Larger toys can be sprayed and wiped over with glen 20.


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