How To Sanitize Toys That Cannot Be Washed?

How to sanitize toys that Cannot be washed? Toys are the most beloved possessions of kids. They are so in love with their toys that they can do literally everything with them. They play with them, sleep with them, bite, chew, and even use them as a football ball. It’s not a surprise that over time toys get a dirty and bad smell.

To prevent the dust and bacteria get in kids’ mouths when they playfully bite the toy, clean it regularly. While most product labels of toys say that they are machine-washable, it’s still risky to put them in the machine. The most sensitive toys are plush ones. They may not resist the tumbling and high temperatures of the washing machine.

That’s why you are better off finding other ways of cleaning stuffed toys. Besides being non-destructive, the cleaning method must be safe. That is, it shouldn’t imply the use of harsh chemicals and toxins that may harm vulnerable kids. Here is an article – “How To Sanitize Toys That Cannot Be Washed?” to help you sanitize toys safely and efficiently without washing machine help.

Method 1. Baking soda and garbage bag

This method features no water use, but it promises to sanitize and deodorize the plush toy pretty well. Add half a cup of baking soda into a plastic trash bag. Put the toy inside the bag. Squeeze the bag to drive most of the air outside, leaving just some space for the toy to move freely inside. Tie the bag as if you were tied to a balloon.

After making sure the soda isn’t seeping through the bag, start shaking. Grab the bag safely, placing one hand at the top and one at the bottom. Shake up and down and back and forth for 2 minutes. If the toy doesn’t have solid parts that can puncture the bag, you can tumble more vigorously. Then, leave the bag rest for about 15 minutes.

As the time is up, open gently the bag and remove the toy. It should be clean and odour-free thanks to baking soda’s dirt liberating and deodorizing properties. Place the toy over the bathtub and shake the baking soda off the fabric. Then, use the vacuum cleaner’s narrow nozzle to suck up all stuck-on particles of soda. Brushing the toy is also a good way to scrape away the product residue.

Method 2. Hand wash with soapy water

Some toys are compatible only with hand-washing. Whether because of their delicate fabric or being non-colourfast, they don’t tolerate machine washing. While hand-washing is a safe process, you still need to follow a set of rules. First of all, prepare the cleaning solution. Fill a small bowl with warm water and add some drops of mild detergent.

The rule “more soap, better cleaning” doesn’t work here. You want to add a small amount of detergent to ensure you rinse all soap residue easily afterwards. Avoid using hot water, as it may damage the delicate fabric.

Dip a cloth in the soapy solution, but not oversaturate it. If you do it, wring out the cloth to eliminate the excess moisture. Start cleaning the toy using up-and-down and circular motions. Don’t be afraid to scrub the tough stains with more vigour. Make sure to dip the cloth again in solution after some rubbing motions.

Rinsing is an important part because you don’t want soap residue to remain on the fabric. Dip a clean cloth in clear water and rinse. If suds are plenty, you can pour water on the toy, but not in large quantities. Then, leave the toy to air dry. Alternatively, you can blow dry it to make the process faster. The blow dryer will also make the toy fluffier and more pleasant to play with.

How to disinfect plush toys?

Besides cleaning the toy, you are also good to disinfect it to kill bacteria and potential pathogens. Remember that the child bites and chews the toy pretty often. If you don’t sanitize toys regularly, the risk of disease is high.

So, how to fight off germs on plush toys?

There are several ways you can try that are both efficient and safe. You can treat the toy with disinfecting wipes. Their advantage is that they contain little moisture. So, drying will take just a few minutes. Moving on to another disinfection method, dip a cloth in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Apply the cloth on the toy using up-and-down motions.

You can also use chlorine bleach to disinfect the toy. But, since bleach is a harsh product, you will have to dissolve it in water. Generally, experts recommend adding 1/2 cup of bleach to 4 litres of water for the disinfection of household items. For small toys, you will need fewer solutions. That’s why to use 1/8 cup of bleach to 1 litre of water.

Dip a cloth in the solution and run it across the toy surface. Don’t forget to wear gloves to protect your skin. Once the toy dries after the disinfection, you are good to rinse it with warm water. This will ensure no chemical residue remains on the fabric, and potentially harm the child. While the disinfectants dissipate during air drying, you are better off to stay cautious and take the extra step.

Rinse the toy and let it air dry. After that, you can hand down the toy to your kid, being sure it’s totally safe to play with. Exposing the toy to sunlight will also help kill a part of germs on it. The UV light disrupts the vital processes in bacteria, leading to their death.

How To Sanitize Toys That Cannot Be Washed? – Final thoughts

You are better off keeping delicate plush toys away from the washing machine. Use instead one of the non-destructive ways of cleaning we have mentioned above. Whether you choose the baking soda method or prefer to hand-wash the toy, cleanliness is guaranteed. Though, make sure to remove the cleaning product residue from the toy before giving it to the child.

Don’t forget to disinfect the toy, as it collects a lot of germs over time. Rinse the toy with warmth after disinfection to eliminate product residue.

We hope you enjoyed the article – “How To Sanitize Toys That Cannot Be Washed?”!