As a parent or caregiver, the last thing you want to deal with is the allergies that your baby can contract from their dirty old baby dolls.
Whether it’s a keepsake from your childhood or your child’s doll, baby dolls need to be washed regularly to ensure that they are dirt-free for your baby to play with.
In this article, I will be sharing with you easy steps on how to wash baby dolls and why you need to do it. These cleaning tips are for dolls that do not have batteries or electrical parts.
Why Should You Clean Baby Dolls?
Babies love playing with their dolls or toys but have you ever thought about what your baby could do with them. Babies usually throw them around the floor, drivel on them, spit upon them and, in all, put them in their mouths.
These toys could be a breeding habitat for germs, which could eventually make your baby sick. This usually happens in a situation when another family member has been struggling with ill health and has made contact with the toy. Or it could be a situation where other babies have played with the toys and left germs behind.
This is why regular cleaning of baby dolls or toys is essential to ensure bacteria or germs don’t use them as breeding spaces.
How To Wash Baby Dolls in Washing Machine
Things you’ll need:
- Laundry detergent (Woolite)
- Pillowcase
- Rubber band or string
- Old pantyhose
Easy Steps:
- First, begin by removing any clothing and repairing any weak or damaged areas.
- If the doll comes with corn silk hair, what you need to do is place a piece of nylon (about 12-15 inches long) over the head to hold the hair in place. This will prevent it from frizzing after it has dried out.
- Now place the doll inside of the pillowcase and tie the end close with a rubber band or with a string. Most stuffed toys can be thrown directly into the water with no protective covering, but if they have any sewn-on parts, using a pillowcase can help keep them safe.
- Launder as usual on a gentle cycle using either warm or cold water.
- After you’re done laundering, remove the toy from the pillowcase.
- Straighten any hair (using a brush) or areas that were rustled around.
- Then allow the doll to air dry fully.
How To Wash Baby Dolls By Hand
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- A bowl or tub
- A towel
Easy Steps:
- Firstly, get a bowl and fill it with water and some baking soda.
- Place the toys into water and wash. You can get your baby to do this with you if you want to make it more fun.
- Rub extra baking soda into any dirty particular area.
- Once you’re done cleaning, rinse the doll thoroughly with clean water to remove any baking soda residue.
- Then use a towel to wrap the toy to remove any excess water. Avoid wringing the toy you could damage it.
- Finally, allow it to air dry.
How To Wash Baby Dolls Without Water
Things you’ll need:
- Large bag
- Towel or wipes
- Vacuum hose
- A sock
- Sunlight
- An absorbent powder: Such as wheat germ for brown or black toys, cornmeal for beige toys, baking soda or flour for white or colored toys
Easy Steps:
- To get your dolls or stuffed animals without getting them wet, you need to get a large bag that the doll can fit into if possible. (If the doll is huge, the powder can be sprinkled onto it directly rather than using a bag.)
- Put the doll in the bag and sprinkle in enough amount of absorbent powder to coat the toy completely. It is recommended to use an absorbent powder that resembles closely the color of the doll.
- After this is done, seal the bag and shake it vigorously to distribute the powder evenly onto the toy.
- Let the powder sit with the toy for about an hour or two. The powder will mop up any stain or oils on the doll.
- Then use a towel or anti-bacterial wipes to wipe the fur to remove the powder and dirt.
- If the powder refuses to come off, you can make use of a vacuum hose. Make sure you hold the hose several inches away from the toy to avoid damaging it. You can also cover the hose with a sock or any permeable material like a cheesecloth or a jersey to decrease the suction.
- Repeat this process if needed.
- If you notice that the toy needs extra cleaning, we suggest you leave it in the sun for an hour. Sunlight can help deodorize the toy, and also kill any surface bacteria or germs. Make sure you don’t leave the toy out for too long or the fabric dye could lighten.
Read Also: 20 Best Toys For Six Months Old
Additional Cleaning Tips and Advice
- When learning how to wash baby dolls, you must be very gentle when especially when wiping off dirt and cleaning the hair.
- Always be mindful of the water temperature and environment when cleaning your baby doll. The temperature of the environment can affect how the doll is cleaned, and if the water is too hot it can damage the doll, and if the water is too cold it will not clean it properly which only makes it difficult.
- To hasten the drying process, place the doll or stuffed animal near a dehumidifier.
- Some dolls or toys can withstand the heat of the dryer or can be dried in a no-heat setting. You can throw in a pair of clean shoes to help toss the toy around and remove any dirt.
- Always examine the seams before and after cleaning, and ensure you fix any weak or torn areas.
- You can use a suede brush on stuffed animals to brush clean and remove dirt build-up.
How Often Should I Clean My Baby Dolls?
Baby dolls or toys need to be cleaned when you notice they’re getting dirty. However, you should clean them at least once a week and disinfect them once a month even they look good.
If you notice that your baby or others have been sick, if other kids have been having a fun time with them, or the fur baby has licked them, you should disinfect them immediately.
This helps kill off the off germs and bacteria that normally soap and water won’t get rid of. By doing this, you’ve reduced the risk of your baby or other family members being reinfected.
Read Also: How To Clean Squishy Toys
Wind Up
I hope this article has given in-depth knowledge to answer the question of how to wash baby dolls and reasons why you should clean them regularly.
As parents we all know, baby dolls are the most adorable and one of the most popular toys that babies, and even some grownups, play around with. However, it can also be the most breeding environment for bacteria because they are stored in various areas for long periods.
That is why, in this article, I shared with you easy steps on how to wash baby dolls to help you ensure your baby dolls are safe to play with by disinfecting well.