Keeping Your Bath Toys Squeaky Clean
The bath might be a good place for getting clean, but the toys that go in them can be perfect homes for mold and other grime. Little ones’ immune systems are tough enough to fight off most mold-based nasties, but since they can occasionally be harmful (not to mention gross!) it’s always worth staying on top of.
Mold loves wet places like the inside of bath toys, so you can avoid it growing in the first place by squeezing them out when you’re done splashing. Leave them to dry on the edge of the tub or a drain, and stick the bathroom fan on if you’ve got one to get rid of moisture even faster.
Even after drying, there’s a chance a bit of mold could hang around and make its way into the tub through the tiny holes in some toys. If that makes you squirm, you can seal any openings with a dab of hot glue. It might make squirting water trickier, but it’s a surefire way to be certain there’s nothing icky inside…and that you don’t get soaked!
When it comes to cleaning bath toys, we take the same approach as we do when we’re developing our products - natural ingredients are best. Anything that’s been used on toys can end up in the bath water, so it’s more important than ever to use safe, gentle stuff to get rid of the muck. Fill a bucket with equal parts vinegar and warm water, along with a splash of a nice-smelling oil if you’re feeling fancy. Soak the toys for an hour, rinse them off, let them dry thoroughly, and they’re ready for their next dip.
If you want to make extra sure you’ve zapped any germs, turn up the heat and get sterilizing. The easiest way to do that is by running them through a dishwasher with your usual detergent. Pop them on the top shelf where it’s not as hot so they don’t come out a funny shape, and run them through on their own (nobody wants dinner on their bath toys or bath toys in their dinner!). If you don’t have a dishwasher, soak the toys in hot water and soap in the sink for a couple of minutes and dry them off.
Like anything else that gets played with, bath toys are bound to get grubby. Finding ones that aren’t prone to mold could make life easier for grown-ups, like our easy-to-clean silicone mixing bubble bowl or our phthalate, BPA, and latex-free Dabble Ducky – but no matter what you choose to take into the tub, you better be sure you’re having plenty of good, clean fun!
