This week we have been Spring Cleaning in preparation for the spring season and since we have a lot more time on our hands staying at home. Some days I love to clean and there are other days where it really isn’t my favorite thing to do.
As we have been cleaning, I have been thinking back to the days when I would flood our home with toxic household cleaners and fragrances. Overtime, we have switched out all of our products for toxin-free effective products for our cleaning.
Today I wanted to share with you some great ideas for cleaning your baby toys, without any toxic ingredients or chemicals. Cleaning baby toys doesn’t have to be a hassle and a lot of the suggestions I have for you today, can be used on several items in your home.
Dr. Bronner’s Soap and Water
One of the simplest ways to clean hard, solid surface toys is with Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap and Hot water. I do not use this method for toys that have holes in them, because I don’t want to take on the possibility for mold or mildew buildup inside if water gets in. However, this method is great for solid toys like blocks, legos, cars, or even play kitchen tools.
I simply fill a bowl or one side of the sink with hot water. While the water is filling, I squirt in a couple squeezes of Dr. Bonner’s soap. It is probably about 1 tablespoon of soap. Dr. Bonner’s is effective at removing dirt, germs and grease off of any surface. Dr. Bronner’s soap uses simple, organic, and ethically found ingredients for their soaps. Plus, you can use the soap for so many other things.
My preference is the unscented baby version of the soap. There is no added scent ingredient and double the olive oil for moisture.
Fruit Enzyme Alcohol Cleaners for Toy Surfaces
One of my favorite ways to clean is using a homemade fruit enzyme alcohol cleaner. The combination of citrus, yeast, sugar, and water, creates a cleaner that is able to remove grime and germs from surfaces.
This cleaner is great for surfaces like tables, chairs, carseats, etc. I make sure to completely wipe the surface to remove any cleaner.
I shared a post (here) with step by step instructions on how to make your own fruit enzyme cleaner. The cleaner is multipurpose and eco-friendly, too.
Hot Water Washing for Clean Plush Toys
For soft, plush toys, I use a hot water and gentle cycle in the washing machine. I have also purchased garment bags to protect the toys when they are in the wash. Unless your soap is a free and clear soap with safe ingredients, I wouldn’t wast the item with soap.
In our home, most plush toys are held for extended periods of time. Residual fragrances from detergents or fabric softeners can linger and become toxic to anyone smelling them.
I have a post about fragrances and how I believe they are the new second-hand smoke. When you are finished here, you should take a look at this post.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning Toys
Our goal as moms is to provide the safest environment for our children to play and grow in. More than ever, it is so important that we know what ingredients, chemicals, and potentially dangerous chemicals are in the products we are using in our home.
Soap like Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap mixed with water removes germs and dirt from the surface. Most commercial sprays, especially those labeled “antibacterial”, simply add anti-bacterial ingredients to the surface, but don’t actually completely wipe/clean them away.
If you are looking for more information about safe products to use or want to learn more about what ingredients might be toxic to your family, the EWG is a great resource. They also have an app that you can use to search specific product and review their ingredients. Think Dirty App is also another great resource that scores products based on their toxin level.
