Last Updated: February 25, 2021
Toys go through a lot, so we've listed our best toy cleaning tips to keep them looking their best and your little one's hands germ-free.
Kids spend a lot of time touching their toys as they play, so it's important to keep toys as germ-free as possible, especially in a day-care facility or other group environment. Because toys have different types of surfaces, cleaning methods will vary.
Babies put their toys in their mouths as they explore them. It's also common for babies to drop their toys on the floor repeatedly. These factors make it important to wash baby toys frequently.
Hard plastic toys need regular sanitizing, even for older children who may not put their toys in their mouths as frequently as babies do. Disinfect plastic toys at least once a week.
Clean stuffed toys about once a week if children sleep with the toys or twice a month if not. Check instruction tags for plush and stuffed toys.
Wooden toys need to be sanitized periodically. However, you can't submerse these toys due to damage that will occur to the wood.
Always follow manufacturer instructions regarding cleaning of electronic toys. If you don't have an instruction manual, try to find one online.
Disinfect metal toys carefully to prevent rust. Don't place these toys in the dishwasher, especially if they have rubber components.
Any favorite toys that a child plays with daily need to be disinfected at least once a week. This is also true of toys a child sleeps with. Toys that children often put in their mouths need to be cleaned every one or two days. Toys children play with less frequently may only need to be cleaned once or twice a month.
Looking for more home advice, cleaning how-tos, and sustainable swaps you can make at home? Grove has you covered with our buying and cleaning guides. And let us know how if you have any cleaning questions (or share your own tips using #grovehome) by following Grove Collaborative on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
If you're ready to make the transition to natural cleaning products, shop Grove Collaborative's cleaning essentials for the cleaning tools to tackle the job.
