Bath time can be chaotic but your days of worrying about how to clean bath toys are now over. Bathroom toys are the ultimate trick to keep babies entertained long enough to get them bathed. But, if you are on bath duty, you know that the real problem is keeping children’s bath toys clean. While the tub may be filled with water, the tub toys aren’t always clean. From time to time, you should devote some time to cleaning the bath toys your child uses. So read below to see how to keep them clean.

Why You Should Clean Bath Toys

From the yellow duckies to the purple octopus, there are different bath toys for kids. These toys are the perfect trick to get them into the tub – keep them there. Most bathroom toys are water squirt toys that will certainly make your infant giggle, but they can also be a nightmare. Inside the bath toy is where the real problem lies.

Your kid’s favorite bath squirt toys have holes, some more than one. And, because bath squirt toys have limited air circulation, they don’t completely dry out. You may have noticed some black or dark-colored substance floating in the bathwater. Sorry to announce but, that may not just be soap scum. As soon as you spot or smell anything odd from the bathtub toys, it could be a sign of mold and bacteria.

While it is scary to see odd-colored water floating in your bathtub, you don’t have to panic. There are easy tips on cleaning bath toys and how to disinfect bathtub that will help keep your child safe. But, before we dive in, you should know that there are other reasons to clean bath toys for babies. If your child uses bath toys without holes, you may be wondering if you still need to clean the tub toys. The answer is yes.

Also, all toys get slimy if they aren’t cleaned from time to time. So, it is simply hygienic to clean bathtub toys because your infant may chew on them while teething. When it comes to cleaning bath toys for babies, there are several options that are effective and healthy. However, you have to make your own choice on how to clean bath toys.

How To Clean Bath Toys With Bleach

Are you running through 101 reasons why bleach is bad for your baby? Well, you should know that bleach is an excellent disinfectant that helps you keep kids bath toys clean and safe. While you are right to not want the exposure, this method doesn’t put your baby in harm’s way. It completely kills bacteria and molds so, it is quite effective.

This method of cleaning bath toys should only be used when there are visible signs of mold. When the toy is discolored, smelly, or oddly-colored water comes out of it, these are the signs to look for before reaching for the bleach bottle. If you can’t spot any, look through other options but, if you can, here is the best way to bleach toys.

Making the Bleach Solution

To clean bath toys with bleach, you can follow the following steps for an effective cleaner.

Get a bucket large enough for all the toys to soak.
Add ¾ cups of bleach for every 1 gallon (4 liters) of water – the number and size of the toys determine your bleach bath ratio.

And that’s it for the solution.

Cleaning Bath Toys with Bleach

While working with bleach in your bathroom, be sure to open the windows and door to avoid irritation from the fumes. When your solution is ready, throw the toys into the bucket and make sure it gets into the holes (if any). You may need something to hold them down so that they soak.

You can leave the toys in the solution for an hour or overnight, depending on the concentration of bleach. Squeeze and rinse the toys in running water to get any residue solution out. You can pour clean water into the toy holes and squeeze out for a proper cleanse.

You can’t see bleach but you can smell it. So rinse the toys till there is no leftover smell of bleach – then rinse it some more. Put them in the sun or on a towel to air dry.

Be patient when drying and make sure any child bath toy is completely dry before letting them play with it. Your baby will have sparkling clean, bacteria-, and mold-free bath toys!

How To Clean Bath Toys With Vinegar

Vinegar is so multi-functional, it might as well be the eighth wonder of the world. It is natural, harmless, and effective. With no additives, it is an excellent solution for cleaning infant bathtub toys. If you would rather disinfect toys without using bleach, you are in luck.

Vinegar is great for cleaning bath toys without holes and any toy that grows in water like the Grow in Water Animal Capsule. For these types of bath toys, you can simply wipe them down with a vinegar solution.

Making the Vinegar Solution

To make this, you just need to mix two portions of water for every portion of vinegar. You can use any vinegar on your shelf because the acid will dissolve any dirt away. However, for the best results, use white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is also effective but it may leave residue because of its color.

Cleaning Bath Toys with Vinegar

You can soak the toys for a few minutes, hours, or overnight, in a bucket of the vinegar solution. Toys with holes should be properly drained and dried before soaking. Make sure the solution gets inside the holes so that it can clean all the accumulated dirt and any mold or mildew.

After soaking, you can scrub the toys with a small brush to cover all the surfaces. Then rinse the toys with clean water until you can’t smell the vinegar. Vinegar helps you solve the riddle of how to clean bath toys. It gives you results that are completely mold-free and safe for your teething toddler.

Alternative Methods To Clean Bath Toys

Bleach and vinegar may be the top options for a soak but there are other things you can try while figuring out how to clean bath toys. Any of these can work just fine to help you clean both the outsides and insides of bath toys.

a) Dishwasher

You can put the toys in a net bag meant for washing delicate clothing and place them on the top tray of your machine. Add your choice of soap and set the temperature to a warm mode. It is important to get the temperature right because the material for any child bath toy could melt. When the cycle is done, inspect the toys carefully. You can use a hand towel or set them out to air dry. Easy-peasy!

b) Washing machine

You can also make the best use of your washing machine’s delicate cycle to clean bath toys. Place them in a mesh lingerie bag and start the process of cleaning. An article on mumsgrapevine.com advises tossing a few hand towels in the machine along with the toys to avoid an unbalanced load. As with the dishwasher method, inspect the toys and make sure they are completely dry when the cycle is over.

c) Spirits

Alcohol spirits are also a great disinfectant. It may be the last thing you would have thought about but it could be the best option for a quick clean. Mix some vodka with water, use a soft towel to wipe down the toys, rinse and dry!

d) Boil

When it comes to baby products, boiling is a crowd favorite. Essential Home Garden suggests boiling the toys in water for 15 – 20 minutes. You can also choose to boil the toys in a vinegar solution. Scrub, rinse, and dry. It is fast and efficient.

Ways to Prevent Mold in Bath Toys

Now you have all the tips and tricks to get mold and dirt off your kid’s bath toys. How about preventing the mold from ever getting there? Yes, it is possible. Check out our top suggestions below.

a) Plugging the holes

The best way to prevent mold in bath toys is by sealing the holes shut. According to an article on Fatherly.com, this will make the toy less squeezable but it won’t affect it. You can use hot glue to seal the holes shut. Check the sealed holes to make sure the glue isn’t getting loose, and if it is, reapply. By doing this, water won’t be able to get into the toy. And that way, no more molds. You can also opt to get only water-tight toys.

b) Proper storage

After the toys have been used in the tub, they must air dry as completely as possible. When the moisture is gone, mold and mildew won’t grow. Mesh toy holders that allow for plenty of air circulation are best. A bathtub toy holder like this Bathtub organizer can hang beside the tub, or on the bathroom wall. Proper storage allows the toys to dry and remain dry until use, preventing molds.

c) Creating larger holes

If you still want the water squirt toy effect, this is an ideal option. The bigger holes make it easier to clean the insides and you get to amaze your baby with a splash during bath time. Win-win!

In Conclusion

These methods, tips, and tricks help you understand how to clean bath toys. Infuse them in your lifestyle. When done with regularity, you’ll never worry about molds from the squeaky Mr. Ducky!

FAQs

a) What should I clean my baby bathtub with?

For basic cleaning, a simple detergent will do the trick. You can use a bleach or vinegar solution to disinfect.

b) What can I use to clean my baby’s toys?

You can use a vinegar or bleach solution, regular soap, or disinfectant wipes.

c) How often should you clean bath toys?

A quick rinse after every bath time is ideal. For thorough cleaning though, Jolie Kerr from Lifehacker suggests that once a week can do the magic.

d) Can I use baby wipes to clean toys?

Yes. Disinfectant wipes can work for a quick clean but you should devote time to proper cleaning.

e) How to clean molds in bath toys?

Soak the toys in a disinfecting solution (bleach or vinegar), use the dishwasher, or manual wash.

f) How to disinfect toys without bleach?

You can use vinegar or alcohol to disinfect bath toys without bleach.

g) How to prevent molds in bath toys?

You can prevent molds by sealing up the holes, cleaning regularly, and storing them appropriately.

h) What is the best cleaning agent for bath toys?

You can use bleach, vinegar, alcohol, or your regular dishwashing soaps. It is based on preference.

i) How long should I soak bath toys to disinfect?

You can soak for 10-15 minutes, an hour, or overnight. It depends on the (assumed) quantity of mold.

j) Can I clean bath toys in the dishwasher?

Yes, you can. Just make sure you place them on the top tray of the dishwasher.

Next: Bathing A Newborn: Guide To All Baby Bath Types