I was wondering how often we should clean our children’s toys (ages 2 years and 8 weeks)? I’ve read that one should clean as often as once a week, but then there is the opposite extreme of cleaning only when noticeable dirty, after sicknesses, or after playgroups come over. Also, what is the best method of cleaning those items that can’t go into the dishwasher or laundry machine--those pesky “surface wash only” items?
Cleaning only as needed is the best way to go. The few people I know who sterilize everything religiously have the sickest children! Kids need some "dirt" to build their immune systems. :)
Hi S.,
I would be very careful about cleaning toys that will potentially end up in children's mouths. At my home and in our church we are very aware about the dangers of toxic chemicals in cleaning products that can have a very long term effect on our kids. Check out this short news video that was made about this, www.toxinvideo.com . PLEASE watch this video.
We use many non toxic cleaners but mainly one called Soluguard botanical which is a EPA approved disinfectant which kills all the same stuff as bleach and lysol (registered pesticides by the way) but it is completely safe.
You do not have to sacrifice your children's health for a clean home.
Take care and God bless,
J.
____@____.com
Ok, some germs are good for the kids' immune system actually. You know that they have found that kids with too clean houses get more allergy? I would say: Life is too short to add another chore to the list of things to do. How about cleaning the toys once every sixth months, unless they are visibly dirty?
There is a non toxic vegetable based product called Botanic Gold that can be used safely for this. It is environmentally friendly, 100% natural and humanly safe. In fact, it can be used for brushing teeth, bathing or even greasy/grimy jobs. You dilute it according to what the job it that you need it for. I have even used it full strength one time to clean some old metal household keys and they became sparkley clean without any scrubbing within 10 minutes!
Check it out at my website www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon
and give me a call if you have any questions.
Victorious Living to you and yours,
D. Hendon
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www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon
Toy cleaning is such a hard job!! I used to throw everything I could in the dishwasher! OR, better yet, how about in the tub, with the kids... a few at a time - especially with the hot weather coming, it's something different and fun.
Those surface wash only items?.... depending on what fabric they are, check to see who makes something you can spray on them for convenience (I usually got rid of those when they started to look gross).
R.
bathtub! with a mild soap!
Hi S.,
I L. the Clorox anywhere hard surface spray, which is a VERY diluted mix of water and bleach, because it doesn't have to be rinsed off if you don't want to. I also try only buy stuffed animals that can be machine washed and I give Paige's animals a "bath" every few weeks. I have to admit that I only clean her other toys every couple of months, unless they are visibly dirty or someone has been sick. She rarely gets sick, which I think is because she is well rested and is exposed to lots of germs.
Sincerely,
L.
Hi S.,
As a Preschool Teacher/Owner, we clean our toys to the extreme of normal "house-hold" toys, However, unless you have had an over-load of toddler company, 4 weeks is honestly fine, unless and I stress UNLESS,the kids have had Pink-Eye or anything in that nature..
My great helper in cleaning those toys NOT for water submersion are the Clorox wipes..They are great for that purpose, or a few paper towels sprayed with a water/pine-sol mix. This is also very cool for teaching the little ones to pitch on on the task.
Hope I've helped!
