Are you wondering how to clean wooden toys? As you know, wooden toys are safe, natural, and durable but also porous.
Wooden toys are not easily affected by germs as plastic toys because of their natural antibacterial quality.
The way required to keep them clean is quite different from cleaning tissue, plastic, or metal.
In this article, we will share a step-by-step guide to cleaning all of your baby’s wooden toys, how often to clean them, and how to wash other types of baby toys.
Table of Contents
- Cleaning All Your Baby’s Wooden Toys: What to Use
- How To Clean Wooden Toys
- How Often Should I Clean My Baby’s Wooden Toys?
- How To Wash Different Types Of Baby Toys
- Conclusion
Cleaning All Your Baby’s Wooden Toys: What to Use
You should use mild, all-natural cleaning products when cleaning your baby’s wooden toys. Mild soaps (like castile soap) or vinegar can do the trick.
Just dilute it with water for a 1:4 ratio. We recommend you paste baking soda and water for tough stains and scrub with a damp cloth.
How To Clean Wooden Toys
Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning your baby’s wooden toys so they can be passed on for years. We put together these easy steps on how to clean wood toys below. Read on
1. Keep it Simple
When dealing with baby toys, it’s best advised to use mild or gentle cleansers on their toys, inkling wooden toys.
Anything from natural vinegar and water solution (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water), mild, eco-friendly dish soap, and some warm water, or your favorite gentle multi-purpose cleaner diluted with water will do the trick.
While doing this, avoid using bleach or harsh chemicals, as this can dry out the wood.
2. Do Not Soak
This is one simple rule you must keep, as wood is very porous. Wooden toys can change shape and warp with too much moisture.
And if the toys don’t dry completely, they can become a place where germs and bacteria will want to hang out.
If your baby’s toy swells, it can cause the wood to crack or damage any painting or art finishing on the surface of your baby toy.
The best way to clean it is by using a wet washcloth to clean the wood to prevent it from getting too drenched.
3. Easy To Clean
Cleaning your baby’s wooden toys can happen in three easy steps.
- The first step is spraying the toys with your cleaner of choice.
- Wipe it down gently with a sponge or washcloth and a bit of warm water
- Finally, allow the toys to air dry completely.
Placing the wooden toys under the sun will help kill even more germs and fasten up the drying process.
4. Treat the Stains
Using vinegar or apple cider diluted with water effectively disinfect your wooden toys! Just make a more concentrated mixture of vinegar and water. You can use a solution of 1:1 ratio for stains.
After creating the mixture, spray it on the stain and scrub it with a sponge. After this is done, put it out in the sun to dry it and help “bleach” out the stain.
If you encounter a stubborn stain while cleaning, use sandpaper to buff it.
5. Moisture the Wooden Toys
Occasionally, you will want to moisturize your baby’s wooden toys, just as you would with cutting boards, butcher blocks, or wooden utensils.
Depending on the type of wood, you could also use mineral or olive oil; they both work very effectively.
Beeswax polish is another great option to choose from since they’re a non-toxic option. All you need is a clean washcloth or rag for easy application.
Read Also: How To Clean Squishy Toys
How Often Should I Clean My Baby’s Wooden Toys?
You can do this occasionally, depending on a few factors.
Since woods are naturally antimicrobial, harmful bacteria and viruses capable of posing threats to a baby’s health, don’t accumulate on them like they can on plastic toys.
Generally, you should clean your wooden toys when your baby has been sick or when you notice mold build-up or dirt of unknown messy substances.
If your baby or toddler likes playing around with his wooden toys with his mouth (of course, we all know they do!), you should clean them more often. Your baby’s favorite toys may also need to be cleaned daily.
If your baby’s wooden toys are used in a daycare or childcare facility, ensure you follow the facility’s guidelines for proper toy sanitation. Try not to soak the toys, as this can damage the wood!
How Can I Wash Baby Toys During Covid?
We all know germs are a year-round concern for parents and caregivers. Avoiding illness and infection can be stressful, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), children do not appear at greater risk for coronavirus than adults. Still, they can pick up viruses from infected toys and dirty surfaces.
Research has shown that this virus can live hours to days on various surfaces. And the virus can be easily spread through hand-to-face contact, specifically through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
While baby wipes might be an easy alternative, they aren’t recommended for handwashing, according to CDC.
The best way to protect your children and those around them – is by practicing good hand hygiene and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that people always come in contact with within your home.
How Can I Get My Outdoor Wooden Toys Clean?
As you may know, outdoor wooden baby accessories like playhouses are bound to get dirtier than indoor toys. Thankfully you can apply the same guidelines when cleaning them.
All you need to get the job done effectively is a garden hose, vinegar, or mild soap like castile soap cleaning solution, and a good scrub brush.
Read Also: Can I Spray Lysol On Baby Toys
How To Wash Different Types Of Baby Toys
Plastic, metal, and rubber toys
If your baby’s toy is dishwasherable, save yourself some time and energy and toss them inside the dishwasher. Use the top rack to prevent it from melting and mangling.
While cleaning, use bleach (diluted) to disinfect washable, nonporous toys (the ones made of material where stains or dirt can’t sink into them).
Wipe down excess dirt and place the toys in a bucket containing 1/3 cup bleach and a gallon of water for 3-5 minutes. Afterward, rinse the toys using warm water and let them air dry before using.
Keep this in mind when dealing with baby bath toys! Just because they always sit in the tub does not mean they are germ-free.
Board books and wooden blocks
When dealing with this kind of toy, do not submerge them in water. Just wipe them clean using an alcohol-based wipe or spray. Allow the surfaces to air dry completely after wiping them down.
Paper books
Unfortunately, you can’t wash paper, but there are measures you can take to make sure your baby’s favorite coloring books, magazines, and paper books aren’t bacteria and virus playing ground.
You should always dispose of any tattered items or used-up books that may be collecting dust – and germs.
If the paper book has a hardcover, disinfect the surface, and avoid getting cleaner on the paper pages.
If there are certain books or magazines you worry about because they have been exposed – but do not want to part with – you can quarantine them for two weeks before use.
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Conclusion
Washing your baby’s toys can sometimes be daunting, especially when proper tools and guides are not applied.
However, following the step-by-step carefully or improvising with the information you do have will help ensure your toys are kept fresh and well-cleaned with minimal damage.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any tips or tricks on how to clean wooden toys better? Kindly share your tips and experiences with us with cleaning wooden toys or other baby toys.