Do You Need to Clean New Toys Before Giving Them to Children?

When a new toy enters your home, it may look clean and shiny, but that doesn̵7;t mean that there isn̵7;t unseen bacteria, viruses or other contaminants lurking on the surface. To keep your child safe and healthy, his toys need to be cleaned and sanitized to get rid of this unwanted gunk. A few minutes of your time is much better than a sick kiddo on your hands.

  1. Is It Necessary?

    • You don̵7;t really know who has handled the toy or where it has been before it joined your family. Even if it has a package, you don̵7;t know if anyone had removed the item to take a look at it. An unpackaged item poses even more of a risk as it could have been handled by a large number of people before it found its way to your home. Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing your child̵7;s toy when he first gets it is advisable.

    Frequency

    • After the initial cleaning, regular cleaning should be upheld. According to the toy company Fisher-Price, you should clean and sanitize your child̵7;s toys at least once every month. Choose a certain day every month to make it easier to remember, like the first Saturday of the month. You should also go through the proper cleaning procedure when you notice the toys are dirty, after a play date and when your child is recovering from an illness.

    Cleaning Fabric Toys

    • For machine washable fabric or stuffed toys, wash them in the washing machine with hot water and detergent. For fabric or stuffed toys that are not machine washable, the Jefferson County Department of Health recommends surface cleaning with warm water and a washcloth and then use an EPA-certified sanitizing spray marked as a disinfectant or sanitizer. If the product label indicates that you must rinse the product off before your child plays with it, do so.

    Cleaning Plastic Toys

    • Plastic toys without batteries can be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher and run through a regular washing cycle. This also sanitizes them. For plastic toys with batteries, scrub the surface with a sponge and warm soapy water to clean them and then sanitize them. Disinfecting wipes, sanitizing sprays or diluted bleach will sanitize and disinfect the surface of plastic toys. Dilute bleach with water according to product instructions.

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